A Lifeline When it Was Needed Most
Daniel spent nearly six months in the hospital, critically ill and fighting for his life. His mom stayed by his side around the clock. His dad worked every hour he could.
Before Daniel’s hospitalization, his mother received supplemental income as his full-time personal care assistant—he’s medically fragile and requires constant care. But once he entered the hospital, that income was terminated. They desperately tried to hold everything together but struggled to feed their other children at home while their son fought to survive.
“People just don’t realize how everything fits together every month for families. They need every piece of that puzzle to fit in order to survive, in order to get by, and eventually, hopefully, thrive. But when you’re living paycheck to paycheck, you literally depend on every piece of that puzzle. When one of those pieces comes out, it has a domino effect.” — Emily, Social Worker at Bridge View School
At Bridge View School, Emily works with families raising children with significant disabilities, families already carrying an enormous mental load of planning for what comes next, managing medical appointments, therapies, and paperwork that never stops coming.
During Daniel’s hospital stay, Every Meal food bags gave his family something they could always count on. Daniel’s mom knew she could get meals from the food bag for her children at home—one less thing to figure out. It was, in her words, “truly a lifeline.”
Right now, more than 300,000 Minnesota children face food insecurity. Over 180,000 children across our state rely on SNAP benefits to put food on the table. Even before the shutdown, “We have had many families lose their supplemental assistance, and it takes time to have benefits reinstated,” Emily shares.
Help families like Daniel’s
The Growing Need Across Minnesota
- More than 300,000 Minnesota children face food insecurity.
- Every Meal provides weekend food support to over 12,000 students each week.
- Our programs reach nearly 400 schools statewide.
- Nearly 200 schools are on our waitlist.
- Every weekend food bag is culturally and situationally tailored so families receive food that truly meets their needs.
Your Impact is Doubled
Through December 31
Your gift does two things: it ensures the over 12,000 children we currently serve have weekend food throughout the school year, and it moves us closer to serving the nearly 200 schools on our waitlist. Thanks to a longtime friend of Every Meal, matching funds are available up to $478,000!
Donate by December 31 to double your impact!
Why Weekend Food Bags Matter
For many children, school meals are the most dependable food they receive during the week. Weekends can be unpredictable. When families face sudden crises — job loss, illness, hospitalization, or delays in receiving benefits — these gaps become even larger.
Weekend food bags provide consistency, dignity, and stability during moments when families need it most.
Common Questions
Yes. Every Meal is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit. Contributions are tax-deductible as allowed by law.
Every dollar donated before December 31 is doubled, up to $478,000, thanks to a generous matching donor.
Your donation funds the purchase and distribution of weekend food bags for Minnesota children during the school year.