The Children's Hunger Project Inc

What The Children's Hunger Project Inc does

The Children's Hunger Project, Inc. (TCHP) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization headquartered at the Shah Center to End Childhood Hunger in Cocoa, Florida, that addresses weekend and school-break food insecurity among elementary school children in Brevard County. Founded in 2010 by Bob Barnes, David Cohen, Sam Jordan, and Jean Yves-Clerc, the organization identifies food-insecure children through teachers and administrators at 60+ partner elementary schools and provides each child with a "Blue Smiley Bag" — a non-perishable weekend food package containing items such as Chef Boyardee single-serve meals, breakfast bars, Goldfish crackers, pretzels, sunflower seeds, applesauce, milk, and juice boxes that require no cooking or refrigeration. Packages are packed by community volunteers at the Cocoa facility and delivered weekly via backpacks.

The organization is funded through a diversified seven-stream nonprofit revenue model: individual donations and public contributions (39%), corporate sponsorships including Diamond and Title tiers (21%), grants and foundations (15%), fundraising events such as the annual Health First Fight Child Hunger 5K and Love A Kid Luncheon (11%), faith-community contributions (8%), in-kind food donations (2%), and interest/gains (4%). Pricing to donors is unit-based — $150 feeds one child for an entire school year, $20 covers a single weekend package, $190 covers a full year of weekend meals — while adoption of schools and signature events function as the primary channels for institutional giving. The board and volunteer base include representation from Bank of America, Orlando Health, L3Harris, Launch Credit Union, and GrayRobinson, embedding the organization in the local Brevard professional community. Operations are lean: a staff of approximately six led by Executive Director Cheryl Cominsky supports the program, with 86 cents of every dollar directed to feeding children.

TCHP has scaled from 27 children at one school in 2010 to nearly 5,000 children across 60+ schools in 2025 — roughly 20% of the more than 25,000 Brevard elementary students who qualify for free or reduced-price meals — while maintaining an unbroken 15-year streak of weekend deliveries. Distribution is conducted exclusively through school-channel partnerships within Brevard County, with no disclosed geographic expansion beyond that single Florida county.

Name

The Children's Hunger Project Inc

Legal name

The Children's Hunger Project, Inc.

Website

https://thechildrenshungerproject.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2010

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Child Hunger Relief Services

NAICS

Community Food Services (62421), Community Food Services (624210)

akta.pro primary industry

School Feeding & Child Nutrition Programs (BPADAJAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Food & Nutrition Assistance Programs (BPAIAKAF), School Feeding & Social Protection Partnerships (Conditional Cash Transfers, etc.) (EDADALAL), Child Nutrition & Meal Programs (CACFP/Snack Programs) (EDACAMAA), Menu Planning, Nutrition & Dietary Accommodation Services (Allergens, Special Diets) (EDAEAEAD)

Keywords

• Child hunger relief
• Weekend food assistance
• Nonprofit food distribution
• School-based nutrition
• Food insecurity services

Headquarters

HQ city

Cocoa

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations and Public Contributions: The largest revenue source at 39% of income, coming from individual donors and general public contributions
2. Corporate Sponsorships: Corporate partners providing financial support at various sponsorship levels (Diamond, Title, etc.) - 21% of income
3. Grants and Foundations: Grant funding from foundations - 15% of income
4. Fundraising Activities: Revenue from events like 5K runs, luncheons, and packing relay events - 11% of income
5. Faith Community Contributions: Support from faith-based organizations - 8% of income
6. In-Kind Donations: Food and supply donations from community - 2% of income
7. Interest and Gains: Investment returns and interest - 4% of income

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

The Children's Hunger Project is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that assembles and distributes non-perishable weekend food packages (the "Blue Smiley Bag") to elementary school children in Brevard County, Florida who qualify for free or reduced school meals. Each package contains kid-friendly items such as Chef Boyardee single-serve meals, breakfast bars, Goldfish crackers, applesauce, milk, and juice boxes that require no cooking or refrigeration, delivered weekly on Fridays through partner schools for children to take home over the weekend.

Product overview

The Children's Hunger Project is a nonprofit charitable organization (501(c)(3)) that operates as a single, unified social service program focused on combating childhood hunger in Brevard County, Florida. The core offering is the Weekend Food Package Program (Blue Smiley Bag), which provides non-perishable food packages to elementary school children on weekends and during school breaks when school meals are unavailable. Supporting programs include the Adopt A School sponsorship program, food packing events for volunteers, food donations acceptance, and school-based clubs. The organization also runs signature fundraising events including the annual Health First Fight Child Hunger 5K, Love A Kid Luncheon, and Spooktacular Packing Relay. The portfolio is unified under one mission with multiple engagement channels for donors, volunteers, and community partners to support the food distribution program.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Weekend Food Package Program (Blue Smiley Bag) Non-perishable food packages assembled by volunteers and distributed weekly on Fridays through partner elementary schools to children identified by teachers as food-insecure on weekends. Each package contains kid-friendly, ready-to-eat items that require no cooking or refrigeration.
• Adopt A School Program Sponsorship program where individuals, families, or organizations can adopt an elementary school to provide ongoing financial support for weekend food packages distributed to its students.
• Health First Fight Child Hunger 5K Annual community 5K run/walk fundraising event that raises awareness and funds for the weekend food package program.
• Love A Kid Luncheon Annual fundraising luncheon featuring community recognition and impact presentations that supports the weekend food package program, with major corporate sponsorships.
• Spooktacular Packing Relay Team-based competitive packing event where teams race to assemble weekend food packages, combined with a costume contest and community engagement activities.

Quantifiable outcome

• 92% of parents report improvements in child's well-being and school performance after receiving weekend food support
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Orlando HealthcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerDiamond Level Corporate Sponsor for two consecutive years. Orlando Health provides significant financial support to help ensure thousands of children throughout Brevard County have access to nutritious weekend food.
• Health FirstcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerTitle Sponsor of the Health First Fight Child Hunger 5K, the organization's signature annual fundraising event. Sponsorship helps raise awareness and funds for childhood hunger programs.
• Bank of AmericacoreGTM or Marketing Partner$5,000 Everlasting Love Sponsor at Love A Kid Luncheon; also serves on the Board through Senior Vice President Ben Malik
• L3HarriscoreGTM or Marketing Partner$5,000 Everlasting Love Sponsor at Love A Kid Luncheon supporting the organization's mission
• Southeast PetrocoreGTM or Marketing Partner$5,000 Everlasting Love Sponsor at Love A Kid Luncheon; VP Ryan Firth serves on the Board; supports through multiple charities and volunteer events
• Florida Blue / Florida Health Care PlanscoreGTM or Marketing Partner$5,000 Everlasting Love Sponsor at Love A Kid Luncheon
• Rockledge Presbyterian ChurchcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerKey faith-based community partner; volunteer Bev Larsen helped develop partnership; church currently sponsors a local school; organizes packing events throughout the year
• Brevard County Public SchoolscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSchool district partners that allow TCHP to distribute food packages through elementary schools; teachers identify children in need
• Space Coast United WaycoreGTM or Marketing PartnerOfficial Proud Partner of Space Coast United Way; community organization supporting local nonprofits
• Thrifty Specialty ProduceminorGTM or Marketing PartnerHosted Round Up Fundraiser at Rockledge and Palm Bay locations; raised enough to help feed 44 local children
• Jersey Mike'sminorGTM or Marketing PartnerParticipates in annual Day of Giving events to support TCHP
• Launch Credit UnionminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCommunications and Outreach Specialist Darlene Montano serves on Board; provides marketing and communications support

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Regional players

• Feeding the Gulf Coast: Regional Feeding America affiliate with backpack and school-based child feeding programs. Comparable weekend/holiday child nutrition model serving an adjacent Florida region.
• United Way of Brevard County: Local umbrella nonprofit that has recognized TCHP as a Proud Partner. Coordinates community fundraising and grant flows that partly feed TCHP's revenue mix.
• Food Bank of Central Florida: Regional food bank serving Central Florida, including parts of Brevard-adjacent counties. Operates complementary child-feeding and backpack programs that overlap with TCHP's weekend bag model.
• Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida: Regional food bank operating child nutrition and backpack programs across Central Florida. Comparable school-based child feeding model and similar donor base to TCHP.

Direct peers

• Blessings in a Backpack: National nonprofit that feeds elementary school children on weekends through school-based food distribution. Most direct analog to TCHP's weekend food bag model and school-partnership distribution channel.
• Food for Thought (Florida): Florida-based nonprofit that provides weekend food packages to food-insecure students. Direct operational analog to TCHP's Blue Smiley Bag distribution model.

Broad incumbents

• No Kid Hungry (Share Our Strength): National campaign focused on ending childhood hunger through school meal programs and summer feeding. Competes directly with TCHP for child-hunger donor attention and corporate partnerships.
• Feeding America (Eastern Florida / local affiliate): Largest U.S. hunger-relief organization with food bank network that includes Eastern Florida affiliates. Competes for the same donor and corporate-sponsor dollars in the same geography, with broader scope beyond child hunger.

Emerging players

• Meals on Wheels (Central Florida / Space Coast): Operates local meal-delivery programs targeting vulnerable populations; shares volunteer-driven meal delivery mechanics and community fundraising model, though focused on seniors rather than children.
• Project FoodBox: Nonprofit providing weekend food boxes to schoolchildren in need. Smaller-scale direct peer operating a similar backpack-distribution model in other U.S. markets.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@thechildrenshungerproject
• Facebookfacebook.com/thechildrenshungerproject
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-childrens-hunger-project
• Instagraminstagram.com/thechildrenshungerproject

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles24 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about The Children's Hunger Project Inc