The need for food support during the summer between school years is one of the more insidious problems facing families in many small communities. KN2E came into being to plug the gap, nutritionally and educationally, by providing meals and activities that bring kids and their families a respite from despair and malnourishment.
KN2E supports community efforts to address childhood hunger. Its signature program is Kidz LunchBox: Free Summer Food & Fun. Since 2013 the LunchBox passes out free meals to kids in Butler County, KS, for six weeks in the summer - to replace meals many kids eat for free at school.
The LunchBox has grown from feeding a daily average of 72 kids at one meal site in 2013, to a daily average of 174 kids at two meal sites in 2016. Recently it acquired a school bus to convert into a LunchBox on Wheels to add five meal sites in 2017 – a 60% increase in its capacity to feed kids.
In addition to meals, the LunchBox offers enrichment activities at meal sites.
KN2E and its programs are staffed by volunteers – there are no paid employees, and only nominal overhead expenses. Administrative costs have been less than 1%.