Food Bank of West Central Texas

Kids Cafe is a national program sponsored by ConAgra Foods and America's Second Harvest. The program was developed so that low-income children at risk of going to bed hungry could receive a hot, nutritious evening meal throughout the year. Two years ago, the Food Bank of West Central Texas applied for and received a grant from ConAgra ($20,000 for 1 st year, $10,000 for 2nd year, and $5,000 for 3 rd year) to establish our first Kids Cafe location. We partnered with the Boys & Girls Club of Abilene at 1925 Shelton. The club is adjacent to Fannin Elementary, and through a collaborative effort with the Abilene Independent School District, we are allowed to use the kitchen at the school to cook meals. Several factors went into picking the B&G Club at Fannin. Number one is that the poverty rate is high. Eighty-nine percent of the children in that neighborhood receive free breakfast and lunch during the school year. Number two is that the Club is well established and offers dozens of programs that draw the kids to the site each day. Number three is that it is a safe place for the children to hang out and get a nutritious meal before they go home in the evening. The Cafe provides meals to an average of 130 children on Tuesdays and Thursdays – kids that might otherwise not receive food at home.