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Kids Cafe is one of the nation’s largest charitable meal and nutrition education programs exclusively for children in need. Second Harvest operates 27 Kids Cafes sites. Each Kids Cafe is designed to meet the needs of the children living in the neighborhood. While no two programs are identical, each shares a common goal of providing a safe, respectful environment where youth can receive wholesome meals, nutrition education, academic and recreational activities.

Kids Cafe is an after-school supper program for children who at at-risk for hunger. Kids Cafe started in 1989 when two young boys were found in a community center kitchen looking for food. Today, the program ensures that children have a safe, nurturing place to go during the critical hours after school when parent are often working. Kids Cafe Quick Facts

Second Harvest has partnered with the Boys & Girls Club, the Salvation Army, the City of Savannah’s Recreation and Leisure Services, The Housing Authority of Savannah, local religious organizations, 21 st CCLC, and the Savannah-Chatham School Board to provide meals to children in after school programs.In addition, Second Harvest has opened a site at a school in Garden City, Georgia, where 65% of the children are eligible for free or reduced lunches, and Port Wentworth, Georgia, where 74% of the children are eligible for free or reduced lunches.

Second Harvest operates four Kids Cafes in counties outside of Chatham. Two are located in public housing in Hinesville, Georgia ( Liberty County ), with a poverty rate of 14.8%. Two are operated by the Boys & Girls Club of Toombs County: one in Vidalia City, with a poverty rate of 19.9%, and a second in Lyons City, with a poverty rate of 37.1%.Second Harvest operates its Kids Cafes with two distinct food preparation models.

For local sites, food for Second Harvest Kids Cafe is prepared in a central kitchen located in an adult education facility. Second Harvest partners with the Richard Arnold School for Adult Education. The school allows Second Harvest to utilize its facilities in exchange for the provision of an on-site work training program. While preparing meals for Kids Cafe, students receive culinary arts training, life skills instruction, and pursue their GED’s. Kids Cafes located in counties outside of Chatham prepare all food on-site.

Staff at partner agencies are ServSafe certified and receive technical assistance from Second Harvest staff with regards to food production and USDA guidelines for nutrition.A variety of activities are offered at Kids Cafe sites. Those located in centers operated by the City of Savannah, the Boys & Girls Club, and the Salvation Army offer team sports and some have access to swimming pools. Cultural enrichment activities at sites include art, dance, and music classes. Second Harvest provides nutrition education. In addition, various sites contain libraries and offer training in basic computer skills.

Since 2005, the local Kids Cafe program has experienced a service increase of over 100%. In 2007, Second Harvest anticipates opening another 2 rural sites feeding an additional 150-550 children per day and is partnering with a local homeless shelter to feed children with HIV/Aid’s.