Connecting Kids to Meals
Connecting Kids to Meals is a Toledo-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2002 that provides free, nutritious meals to children ages 18 and under across five Northwest Ohio counties through 100+ school, library, and community partner sites.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2002
- HeadquartersToledo, United States
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Connecting Kids to Meals does
Connecting Kids to Meals is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization headquartered in Toledo, Ohio, that provides free hot, nutritious meals to children ages 18 and under in low-income and underserved communities across Northwest Ohio. Founded in 2002 (formerly known as Feed Lucas County Children), the organization operates a Summer Meals Program, an After School Meals Program, and a Weekend Meal Bags program, distributing meals through a network of 100+ partner sites including schools, libraries, community centers, parks, pools, and churches across Lucas, Wood, Hancock, Seneca, and Williams Counties. All meals are provided at no cost with no income verification required, and meals must be consumed on-site at the serving location.
The organization operates a state-of-the-art kitchen facility at Cherry Street Mission Ministries' downtown location (established 2017), where meals are prepared, packaged, and delivered to partner distribution sites. The operational model relies heavily on volunteer labor drawn from businesses, universities, community groups, and corporate sponsors, supplemented by a staff of 51-100 employees coordinating logistics, programs, kitchen operations, and volunteer management. Meals meet or exceed USDA Child Nutrition requirements, with steam-cooked preparations, no fried foods, and minimally processed ingredients.
Revenue is generated through four streams: individual and corporate donations (including one-time, recurring, employer matching, and cryptocurrency via PayPal), federal reimbursements under the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) and Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP), corporate and foundation grants, and cause marketing programs (Kroger Community Rewards, AmazonSmile, Round Up App). Major funding partners include Fifth Third Bank, Huntington Bank, Taylor Automotive Group, City of Toledo, First Energy, Kroger, Promedica, Designetics, and Owens Corning. The organization does not charge fees to beneficiaries and does not conduct income verification, positioning itself as a barrier-free nutrition safety net for food-insecure children.
Connecting Kids to Meals firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Connecting Kids to Meals
- Legal name
- Connecting Kids to Meals
- Website
- https://connectingkidstomeals.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2002
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- Connecting Kids to Meals is a Toledo-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2002 that provides free, nutritious meals to children ages 18 and under across five Northwest Ohio counties through 100+ school, library, and community partner sites.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Connecting Kids to Meals industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Child Hunger Relief / Community Meal Service
- NAICS
- Community Food Services (62421), Food Service Contractors (72231), Child and Youth Services (62411)
- SIC
- Services-Social Services (8300)
- akta.pro primary industry
- School Feeding & Child Nutrition Programs (BPADAJAD)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Child Nutrition & Meal Programs (CACFP/Snack Programs) (EDACAMAA), Food & Nutrition Assistance Programs (BPAIAKAF), School Feeding & Social Protection Partnerships (Conditional Cash Transfers, etc.) (EDADALAL)
Keywords
Where Connecting Kids to Meals is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Toledo
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
Connecting Kids to Meals business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Donations and Charitable Contributions: Individual and corporate donations from the community, including one-time and recurring donations via PayPal, cryptocurrency, gift card donations, and employer matching programs. Major funding partners include Fifth Third Bank, Huntington Bank, Taylor Automotive Group, City of Toledo, First Energy, Kroger, Promedica, Designetics, and Owens Corning.
- Federal Child Nutrition Program Reimbursements: Reimbursement funds received under the Federal Child Nutrition Programs including the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) and Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP). These funds cover a portion of meal costs but do not cover the full cost of meals.
- Corporate and Foundation Grants: Grants from foundations and corporate giving programs to support operations and specific programs such as the Children First Relief Fund.
- Cause Marketing Programs: Revenue generated through Kroger Community Rewards, AmazonSmile, and Round Up App where a percentage of purchases or transaction round-ups are donated to the organization.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Free meals for children 18 and under |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels8 records
Connecting Kids to Meals product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Connecting Kids to Meals is a nonprofit organization that provides hot, nutritious meals at no cost to children ages 18 and under in low-income and underserved areas of Northwest Ohio throughout the entire year. Its core services are the Summer Meals Program and After School Meals Program, which deliver USDA-compliant meals through a network of schools, libraries, community centers, and other locations where children gather during out-of-school time. Meals are prepared at a centralized state-of-the-art kitchen in downtown Toledo and distributed across Lucas, Wood, Hancock, Seneca, and Williams Counties; no income verification or ID is required.
Product overview
Connecting Kids to Meals operates as a nonprofit meal service organization providing hot, nutritious meals at no cost to children in low-income and underserved areas. The organization functions as a single, unified service model rather than a platform architecture. Its core offerings consist of the Summer Meals Program and After School Meals Program, which serve free meals to children ages 18 and under through a network of partner locations including schools, libraries, parks, community centers, and churches across Lucas, Wood, Hancock, Seneca, and Williams Counties in Northwest Ohio. Weekend Meal Bags provide supplementary nutrition on Fridays. The organization also conducts fundraising campaigns including the Children First Relief Fund and annual Hunger Action Superhero Campaign, which leverage matching donations to expand services.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Summer Meals Program Provides free, hot, nutritious meals to children ages 18 and under during summer months when school is not in session. Operates at partner locations including schools, libraries, parks, pools, churches, and community centers across Lucas, Wood, Hancock, Seneca, and Williams Counties. Meals meet or exceed USDA Child Nutrition requirements.
- After School Meals Program Provides nutritious meals to children ages 18 and under during after-school hours throughout the academic year. Partner sites include schools, community centers, and other locations where educational or enrichment programming is conducted.
- Weekend Meal Bags Pre-packaged meals distributed on Fridays to provide food-insecure children with nutritious meals over the weekend when school meal programs are unavailable.
Quantifiable outcome
- Nearly 600,000 meals served in 2024; Over 8.5 million meals served since 2002
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Connecting Kids to Meals
Customer profileNamed customers5 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Connecting Kids to Meals technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Connecting Kids to Meals partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
14 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- United Way of Greater ToledocoreEmergency partnership during coronavirus outbreak to provide meals while schools were closed. Created 15 sites for meal pickup and distributed weekend snack bags.
- Cherry Street Mission MinistriescorePartnership to build and operate a new state-of-the-art kitchen facility at Cherry Street Mission Ministries' downtown location. The kitchen prepares and packages meals that are then delivered to partner sites across Lucas, Wood, Hancock, Seneca, and Williams Counties.
- Taylor Automotive GroupcoreCommunity partner supporting the organization's mission to provide low-income and underserved kids with nutritious meals. Partnership announced September 2021.
- KrogercoreCorporate partner through Kroger Community Rewards program where shoppers can designate Connecting Kids to Meals as their charitable recipient. Also a volunteer source for meal preparation and packaging.
- University of ToledominorUniversity volunteers assist with meal packaging and distribution at the downtown facility.
- Toledo WalleyeminorMinor league hockey team whose players and staff volunteer to pack food and condiments for meal kits.
- United Way of Greater ToledocorePartnered during COVID-19 school closures to create 15 meal pickup sites and distribute 12,000 weekend snack bags to school-aged children.
- Toledo-Lucas County Public Librarycore13 library branches serve as meal distribution sites during summer months, meeting children where they are in the community.
- Toledo Public SchoolscoreMajor partner school district with 90% of students qualifying for free or reduced meals. Multiple TPS sites serve as meal distribution locations.
- Washington Local SchoolscorePartner school district with 60% of students qualifying for free or reduced meals.
- 13ABC (WTVG)minorLocal television station providing ongoing media coverage and support for the organization.
- WTOLminorLocal television station providing ongoing media coverage and support for the organization.
- NBC24 (WNWO)minorLocal television station providing ongoing media coverage and support for the organization.
- Toledo BlademinorLocal newspaper providing ongoing media coverage and support for the organization.
Scale indicators10 records
Recent moves8 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Connecting Kids to Meals competitors and assessment
Company assessmentRegional players
- Gleaners Community Food Bank: Regional food bank serving Southeast Michigan. Comparable anti-hunger nonprofit operating model with corporate partner, volunteer, and USDA program funding mix; not a direct child-meal program peer but operates in the same policy and donor ecosystem.
- Greater Cleveland Food Bank: Ohio-based food bank serving Northeast Ohio. Comparable mission of addressing food insecurity, but operates as a regional food bank rather than a federal child nutrition program sponsor; useful benchmark for fundraising and operational scale.
- Boys & Girls Club of Toledo: Local youth-serving organization that is also a partner site and shares overlapping funders and volunteer pools with Connecting Kids to Meals. Comparable community-based service delivery to low-income youth in the same region.
Broad incumbents
- No Kid Hungry / Share Our Strength: National campaign and grantmaking organization focused on ending childhood hunger; recognized Connecting Kids to Meals' CEO in 2023. Operates in the same policy and funding space, including Dine Out, grants, and federal program advocacy.
- Feeding America: National network of 200+ food banks and the largest U.S. hunger-relief organization. Provides ecosystem context for federal child nutrition policy, donor overlap, and large-scale operating benchmarks.
Direct peers
- Children's Hunger Alliance: Ohio-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit that sponsors federal child nutrition programs and delivers meals to children across the state. Closely comparable mission, federal program sponsorship structure, and child-focused meal distribution model.
- Hunger Free Vermont: Statewide nonprofit operating federal child nutrition programs and providing meals to children. Closely analogous operating model as a SFSP/CACFP sponsor at a statewide level.
- Food Bank of Northwest Ohio: Regional food bank serving the same Northwest Ohio footprint as Connecting Kids to Meals. Comparable geography and anti-hunger mission, though focused on food distribution rather than direct-to-child meal service.
Others
- Toledo Lucas County Public Library: Channel partner hosting 13 summer meal distribution sites; not a peer in the operating sense, but a critical distribution partner whose facilities and reach enable CKM's summer scale.
- Food Research & Action Center (FRAC): National anti-hunger advocacy and research organization that shapes federal child nutrition policy and supports program sponsors. Not a direct meal provider, but a key ecosystem participant shaping the rules and funding CKM depends on.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Connecting Kids to Meals social profiles
Digital presenceConnecting Kids to Meals compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance3 records
Connecting Kids to Meals financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Connecting Kids to Meals leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles23 records
Connecting Kids to Meals funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Connecting Kids to Meals M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Connecting Kids to Meals
What does Connecting Kids to Meals do?
Connecting Kids to Meals is a nonprofit organization that provides hot, nutritious meals at no cost to children ages 18 and under in low-income and underserved areas of Northwest Ohio throughout the entire year. Its core services are the Summer Meals Program and After School Meals Program, which deliver USDA-compliant meals through a network of schools, libraries, community centers, and other locations where children gather during out-of-school time. Meals are prepared at a centralized state-of-the-art kitchen in downtown Toledo and distributed across Lucas, Wood, Hancock, Seneca, and Williams Counties; no income verification or ID is required.
Is Connecting Kids to Meals a public or private company?
Connecting Kids to Meals is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Connecting Kids to Meals founded?
Connecting Kids to Meals was founded in 2002. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is Connecting Kids to Meals based?
Connecting Kids to Meals is headquartered in Toledo, United States, in the North America region.
How does Connecting Kids to Meals make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Donations and Charitable Contributions are the primary driver. The others are federal Child Nutrition Program Reimbursements, corporate and Foundation Grants and cause Marketing Programs.
Who are Connecting Kids to Meals's main competitors?
Regional players on record are Gleaners Community Food Bank, Greater Cleveland Food Bank and Boys & Girls Club of Toledo. Broad incumbents are No Kid Hungry / Share Our Strength and Feeding America. Direct peers are Children's Hunger Alliance, Hunger Free Vermont and Food Bank of Northwest Ohio. Others are Toledo Lucas County Public Library and Food Research & Action Center (FRAC).
Does Connecting Kids to Meals have an API?
No public API is recorded for Connecting Kids to Meals.
What industry is Connecting Kids to Meals in?
Connecting Kids to Meals's product category is Child Hunger Relief / Community Meal Service. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPADAJAD, School Feeding & Child Nutrition Programs, with a secondary code of EDACAMAA, Child Nutrition & Meal Programs (CACFP/Snack Programs). Its NAICS code is 62421 and its SIC code is 8300.