For some children, the end of the school week doesn’t just signal two days of rest — it means two days without a reliable source of food. The Greater Lansing Food Bank’s weekend kits program steps in to fill that gap, ensuring kids return to school nourished, focused and ready to learn.
Last year, the Greater Lansing Food Bank distributed nearly 100,000 weekend kits across its seven-county service area and is expecting to provide at least 110,000 kits for the 2025-2026 school year.
“We recognized that for families who rely on school meal programs for meals throughout the week, weekends and longer breaks away from school mean time away from an essential source of nutrition,” said Katlyn Cardoso, senior manager of marketing and communications at the food bank. “This program addresses the immediate need of a child’s empty belly while also contributing to long-term academic outcomes and a more equitable, supportive learning environment.”
The food bank brought on 21 new schools in the 2024-2025 school year and added 11 new access points for distribution during the 2025 summer break. The total number of schools participating in the weekend kits program is currently 188.
A donation of just $8 provides one weekend kit — filled with enough food for up to eight meals, plus snacks — for a child. Monetary donations are one of the best ways to make the biggest impact, as the food bank can stretch the dollars much further.
Caregivers can contact a child’s school administrators to get more information about enrolling in the program. Those interested in helping can make a monetary donation at GLFoodBank.org/Donate or learn more about volunteering at GLFoodBank.org/Volunteer.
ELEVATOR PITCH:
“The impact of childhood hunger goes far beyond an empty belly. When children have enough to eat, they are able to reach their full potential because they can concentrate on their schoolwork, extracurriculars and graduation, rather than on feeling hungry.”
Jason Schmitt
Jason Schmitt is a social media manager for M3 Group. Originally from St. Johns, he spent more than 20 years in the field of journalism, working for several newspapers across the state. He and his wife, Sue, currently reside in Royal Oak and enjoy golf, pickleball, bowling and traveling to warm destinations.
