Nearly one in four students (24%) enrolled in the Branford Public School system receive free or reduced price meals. This alarming statistic is one of many reasons why helping the children in our community is important to the Branford Community Foundation. In 2018, we were proud to provide a $2,500 grant to Feed Branford Kids (FBK), an all-volunteer, self-funded group founded in 2012 that provides take-home weekend meals to Branford elementary school children. Our grant ensured that FBK could continue to provide 1,600 meals per month to children in their program, and also to expand to new students, as needed.

Feed Branford Kids honors each child’s need for privacy by partnering with Branford school administrators to ensure anonymity, as well as privacy of food delivery (bags are placed in backpacks). FBK currently assists more than 1,200 kids each academic year—almost 200 kids per week. Throughout the academic year, FBK volunteers shop, pack, and deliver weekend meal bags. The bags contain two breakfast meals, two main meals, two cartons of milk, two cartons of juice, and snacks for the entire weekend. If all of the students receiving free or reduced meals were enrolled in FBK’s weekend backpack program, FBK would need an annual budget of $85,000 to provide for them.

FBK currently focuses on elementary school children, but are seeking funds to expand into middle and high school. You can help! To learn more about FBK or the Branford Community Foundation, please call 203.444.4898 or donate today.