Smart Bellies

BACKPACK FOOD PROGRAM

“We have been hit hard by the pandemic and the loss of one of our full-time incomes has been very stressful. Not having to choose between food and bills has been a lifesaver for us. We appreciate you guys more than words can express. Thank you so much for helping our family!” 

 – Smart Bellies Parent

Smart Bellies strives to eliminate childhood hunger in Summit County by providing nutritious food for kids to enjoy every weekend.  Smart Bellies was founded in the Fall of 2018 by two friends, Margaret and Sarah, who heard there might be hungry children in Summit County. They contacted a few schools and not long after, were delivering bags full of breakfast, lunch, snacks, and fruit to 13 kids every Friday at one (1) elementary school in the county. By the end of that first school year, they had partnered with three (3) schools providing weekend food for 75 children. In the Fall of 2019, Smart Bellies expanded to offer their programs to all six (6) elementary schools, quickly serving close to 300 children a week.

Then the pandemic hit, and schools shut down!  Smart Bellies’ dedication to continue to provide weekend food to all who needed the extra help led them to partner with Summit School District to provide bags on Fridays for families at seven (7) pick-up locations across the county. They also started a delivery service for those families who were unable to leave their homes. This continued through the summer and because of uncertainties around virtual and in-person learning this school year, they decided home deliveries for the unforeseeable future was the best option. Currently, Smart Bellies is providing nutritious food to an estimated 270 kids from 120 families.

This year may look a little different for all of us, but Smart Bellies programs remains the foundation of their work and they believe consistency is important for every child’s growth and development. In addition to the weekend backpack food program, Smart Bellies provides snacks to teachers’ classrooms to keep kids fueled and focused throughout their school day. They also provide food over the summer and ingredients to make a holiday meal over the Thanksgiving and Christmas breaks.

Margaret and Sarah continue to say, one of the silver linings to the pandemic has been the volunteer outreach and community support for Smart Bellies during these uncertain times. They are forever grateful and could not have adapted and increased services, such as handmade sandwiches and a bag of fresh produce each week, without this extra support. If you would like more information or to support Smart Bellies programs by donating or volunteering, please visit www.smartbellies.org.