EVERY MEAL

IN THE FALL OF 2010, THE PRINCIPAL AT LAS ESTRELLAS (FORMERLY SHERIDAN ELEMENTARY) TOLD MILL CITY CHURCH AND EVERY MEAL FOUNDER, ROB WILLIAMS, HER STUDENTS DIDN'T HAVE ENOUGH FOOD ON THE WEEKENDS AND ASKED IF THEY COULD HELP. IN RESPONSE, THEY PROVIDED MEAL BAGS EACH FRIDAY AND THE ORGANIZATION WAS BORN. SINCE THEN, THE ORGANIZATION HAS WORKED TIRELESSLY TO REMOVE THE BARRIERS TO FOOD ACCESS THAT SO MANY CHILDREN FACE. EVERY MEAL HAS PROVIDED OVER 14.5 MILLION MEALS TO THOUSANDS OF CHILDREN WHO ARE LIVING IN FOOD INSECURITY. EVERY MEAL (FORMERLY THE SHERIDAN STORY) WORKS TO FIGHT CHILD HUNGER IN MINNESOTA BY FILLING THE GAPS THAT CHILDREN FACE DURING WEEKENDS, SUMMERS, AND EXTENDED BREAKS WHEN THEY ARE NOT IN SCHOOL TO ACCESS MEALS.(CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O)THROUGH A NETWORK OF NEARLY 500 PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS, EVERY MEAL PROVIDES THOUSANDS OF CHILDREN WITH THE FOOD THEY NEED TO LEARN AND GROW.A DIFFERENTIATOR OF EVERY MEAL IS THE QUALITY OF FOOD PROVIDED. OVER 98% OF OUR FOOD IS PURCHASED FROM OVER 25 LOCAL, NATIONAL, AND GLOBAL VENDORS. FOOD ITEMS AND BRANDS ARE DETERMINED THROUGH GUIDANCE FROM REGISTERED DIETICIANS WHO ANALYZE NUTRITIONAL CONTENTS AND TASTE TESTS TO ENSURE THAT THE FOOD IS NUTRITIOUS, DELICIOUS, AND RELEVANT. TO COMBAT INFLATION AND SUPPLY CHAIN DISRUPTIONS, EVERY MEAL STABILIZED AND STREAMLINED INVENTORY, PURCHASING, AND DEMAND FORECASTING. INVESTING IN TECHNOLOGY AND LEVERAGING PURCHASES AT SCALE HAS ALLOWED EVERY MEAL TO PROVIDE A GREATER VARIETY OF HIGH-QUALITY FOOD WHILE REDUCING COSTS. THESE EFFORTS HAVE RESULTED IN A WIDER RANGE OF FOOD OPTIONS AVAILABLE TO CHILDREN INCLUDING REGIONALLY SPECIFIC BEANS, SPECIALIZED GRAINS AND FLOURS, AND FAVORABLE VEGETABLES AND FRUITS FOR VARIOUS CULTURAL COOKING NEEDS. REGULAR FEEDBACK FROM FAMILIES HELPS ENSURE CHILDREN RECEIVE FOOD THAT IS NUTRITIOUS, DELICIOUS, AND CULTURALLY AND/OR SITUATIONALLY RELEVANT.