In 2020, when the pandemic hit, the WNDC Educational Foundation (EF) learned that one of the schools we work with needed food for affected students and families. In response, we launched Food*4*DC*Kids and over the past 3 years, collected, prepared, and delivered more than 34,000 healthy and delicious meals and many boxes of groceries to DC students and families!  

The Columbia Heights Educational Campus has delivered the prepared meals to its neediest students and families. CHEC is an extraordinary school. Pre-pandemic, CHEC students were regulars at EF’s International Women's Day and other programs; we have provided computers to graduating seniors and EF’s civic education calendars to their classrooms; and supported them in other ways. But in 2020, we focused on the most basic needs for a school that serves low-income families from across the city including 26% who live in Washington's “food desert” east of the river.

Many people have made this program possible. Rotary has made significant contributions to support the program with a Community Service Grant from the Rotary Foundation of Washington, DC as well as individual and club donations and volunteer time. Generous donors—WNDC members and many others—have donated funds to cover staff, packaging, and staple foods. Chef Iris Galeas and the dedicated WNDC kitchen staff prepared and packed delicious, nutritious meals. In 2021, the Arts Club of Washington and their noted chef Patrick Orange took on the job of preparing wonderful dinners for needy students and families. 

Celestial Manna and Francis in the Schools routinely provided protein, produce, and many other products. Route 11 donated potato chips. And many farmers at the DuPont Circle FreshFarm Market have provided wonderful fresh produce and other products:  Anchor Nursery, Atwater Breads, Chicano Sol, Deep Roots Farm, Gardeners' Gourmet, Garners' Produce, Smith Meadows, Spring Valley Farm & Orchard, and Toigo Orchards. On National Service Day, hundreds of individuals donated non-perishable groceries and supplies which we delivered to Ballou High School in Anacostia.

Thanks to efforts like these and many others, food insecurity for DC children and households has improved from its peak during the pandemic (see figure below).  However, even as the situation has improved, food insecurity adversely affects many children, families, and neighborhoods with disproportionate levels among Hispanic or Latino and Black populations (DC Food Policy Council).

In the spring of 2022, we began to explore ways to make this program more sustainable and to address access to food.  CHEC began a student-run school garden.  We reached out together to FreshFarm Market, the DMV farmer organization and they helped establish a student-run Pop-UP Food Hub at CHEC which offered low cost locally-grown produce.  We are now working with CHEC, FreshFarm and others to define how the program will evolve and how we can best serve DC kids going forward.

Please Help Us Keep Food*4*DC*Kids Going!

We appreciate your contributions! If you wish to support Food*4*DC*Kids, go to DONATE or send checks to WNDC–Educational Foundation, 1526 New Hampshire Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20036.