Nourishing Kids.

Strengthening Families.

In Cleveland County, 1 in 3 children are food insecure, meaning far too many kids don’t know where their next meal will come from. At Feeding Kids Cleveland County, we believe no child should carry that burden. That’s why we’re committed to delivering nutritious food and age-appropriate books directly to families, helping children grow healthy, strong, and ready to learn. But we can’t do it alone. With the support of caring neighbors, volunteers, and donors, we can change this statistic and ensure every child has the nourishment and opportunities they deserve. We invite you to join us in this mission—because together, we can feed kids and fuel brighter futures.

Our Story & Mission

Our mission is to provide food and books to students and families who are identified as food insecure in Cleveland County.

Feeding Kids Cleveland County is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit with a simple but powerful dream: no child in our community should go hungry.

What began in 2015 around the kitchen tables of a few families who wanted to make a difference has grown into a movement of compassion and care. From serving just 20 children in our first year, we now reach more than 600 children—and over 1,000 people altogether—through our programs each year.

In Cleveland County, 1 in 3 children face food insecurity. When school is out, many students lose access to the breakfasts and lunches they depend on. That’s where we step in. With the help of Cleveland County Schools social workers and a dedicated team of volunteers, we pack and deliver weekend food bags filled with kid-friendly items, along with larger boxes of shelf-stable food, fresh groceries, and even age-appropriate books during extended school breaks. From Spring and Summer Break to Thanksgiving and Winter, we work to bridge the gap and ensure children are nourished in both body and spirit.

Our work doesn’t stop there. Each year before Thanksgiving, we join hands with community partners to host six Community Table Meals, open to all, where neighbors gather not just for food, but for fellowship.

Altogether, Feeding Kids of Cleveland County makes more than 1,500 deliveries of food and books each year and shares Thanksgiving with over 1,400 people across the county.

Behind every delivery is a reminder: our children matter, our families matter, and together we can make sure no one is left hungry or alone.

Our Initiatives

School Break Food & Book Deliveries

For many children, school breaks mean missing out on reliable meals. To fill that gap, we partner with Cleveland County Schools social workers to identify students in need. Our volunteers then collect, package, and deliver food directly to their homes—making sure no child is left hungry when school is out. Subscribe to our newsletter here or in the form above to receive volunteer updates related to school break food and book deliveries.

Weekend Food Bags

Hunger doesn’t take the weekend off. Each Friday, students in need take home ready-to-eat food that carries them through until Monday. This is made possible by generous donors who purchase monthly food items to fill backpacks. Once a month, you simply drop off the items you’ve signed up for at one of our community collection sites. Together, we ensure kids are nourished all weekend long.

Community Table Thanksgiving Meals

The Community Table Thanksgiving Meal is about more than food—it’s about family, fellowship, and unity. On Wednesday, November 27, 2024, six locations across Cleveland County opened their doors, welcoming over 1,500 people to share a meal together.

Our goal is simple: to bring churches, businesses, organizations, and neighbors together—not just to serve, but to sit side by side, share stories, and celebrate community.

We will host our 2025 Community Table Thanksgiving Meals on Saturday, November 22, 2025. The sites for each meal will be announced soon.

Reading Kids Cleveland County

Books open doors, but too many families don’t have them at home. In fact, 61% of low-income families own no books at all. We want to change that. Through Reading Kids Cleveland County, every child we serve receives an age-appropriate book plus a family book six times a year—helping them build home libraries and sparking a lifelong love of reading.

To extend access, we’ve also placed Little Free Libraries around the county, open to everyone. We are always collecting new and gently used books, especially board books for babies, and middle and high school titles.

Please click below to learn more about this initiative.

Our Executive Director

Heather Stevens

Welcome to Feeding Kids Cleveland County! My heart is filled with gratitude as I think about the incredible impact we’ve made together. What started as a simple desire to make sure children didn’t go hungry has grown into a community movement fueled by your generosity, trust, and compassion.

Because of you, children in our community have food on weekends and during school breaks when meals aren’t guaranteed. Families receive not only nourishment, but also encouragement, knowing they are cared for. And with every book we share, we’re helping to open doors to imagination, learning, and brighter futures.

Each gift of time, resources, and support makes a real difference. Behind every box of food and every storybook is a child whose life is touched, a family that feels less alone, and a community made stronger.

Thank you for standing with us. Together, we are feeding bodies, fueling minds, and nurturing hope in Cleveland County.

With deep gratitude,
Heather Stevens
Executive Director

Our Board of Directors

The purpose of the Board of Directors of Feeding Kids Cleveland County is to provide vision, leadership, and stewardship to ensure that every child in our community has consistent access to nourishing food. The Board is committed to guiding the organization’s mission with integrity, accountability, and compassion—overseeing strategic direction, safeguarding resources, and supporting our team and volunteers in their work.

Together, they serve as advocates for children and families, strengthen community partnerships, and inspire others to join us in the belief that no child in Cleveland County should ever go hungry.

Our Leadership Team

The purpose of the Leadership Team of Feeding Kids Cleveland County is to turn vision into action by managing the day-to-day operations that ensure children and families receive food and books with consistency and care. The team coordinates logistics, organizes volunteers, and oversees the collection, packing, and delivery of resources.

With a spirit of service and teamwork, the Leadership Team works to make sure every detail is handled so that no child in our community goes hungry or without hope.

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