Food For Free has worked closely with schools to better understand how to reach food-insecure kids and families. Our suite of innovative programs have made it easier for working families and their children to access healthy foods.
Our primary child-hunger-focused program is Weekend Eats and our reloadable debit Carrot Cards.
During the pandemic, when schools closed for safety, Food For Free lost a significant component of our physical food distribution process: kids being in school.
With the local need increasing and more families inquiring about resources, we introduced the Carrot Card; a reloadable debit card renewed monthly by Food For Free that provides school families with funds to purchase food.
Over this transition, Food For Free has been able to reach more food-insecure families than ever before. As of fall 2022, Food For Free has pivoted entirely to distributing the Carrot Card in place of physical food, allowing families and students independence and autonomy in their dietary choices, including culturally-appropriate food items.
Working with the school liaisons, we distribute Carrot Cards to over 1,200 food-insecure families across Cambridge and Somerville, providing over 2,200 PK-12th grade students with critical food every weekend.
Food insecurity is campus-wide concern. Food For Free is an additional resource allowing us to provide multiple meals to approximately 110 students a month.
― Kristine Larkin, Bunker Hill Community College Single Stop, Charlestown
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