
10 Thoughtful Holiday Gifts Made by FoodCorps Alumni
Help nourish students’ minds, bodies, and hearts this holiday season
FoodCorps’ service is directly improving the health and lives of students across the country and working to affect systems change at every level, from local districts to federal policy.
FoodCorps’ work is making a difference in kids’ relationships with food. Learn more about our corps, who we reach, and the impact we make every day.
2021-2022 school year
schools served
students reached through direct service
Strong relationships are a cornerstone of FoodCorps service. Five years of FoodCorps support in Iowa helped service member Dainese Pridgeon step into her role in 2018. So when schools closed in March 2020, she had the trust that was needed to immediately begin helping cafeteria staff cook and bag meals for Cedar Rapids families five days a week. Dainese credits those who came before her: “It makes me so grateful to the first FoodCorps members, who let me do what I was doing.”
2021-2022 school year
of service members identify as BIMPOC*
of service members are serving in their local communities
*We are working to ensure that service members reflect the communities they serve. See our EDI report for how we are working toward this goal.
of service member alumni continue to make an impact through careers in policy, education, and public health
Of the 254 schools we serve in 2021-2022:
lessons taught
food tastings led by service members so far
of schools have received taste tests of new menu items in the cafeteria
of schools have received support for over 350 school gardens
When FoodCorps arrived in Connecticut in 2012, conversations with other organizations sparked an interest in getting farm to school — or healthy, local foods served directly to students — off the ground. A few years later, through partnerships with state agencies, anti-hunger groups, and food systems organizations, the Connecticut Farm to School Collaborative was born. Members met with legislative champions and shared stories about the impact of farm to school, eventually testifying before the Education Committee. In 2021, their work paid off. The CT Grown for CT Kids program launched with $500,000 of federal funding, helping to ensure Connecticut kids eat more fresh, local foods.