Summer of Feeding Children
Nearly one in five children across the country experienced food insecurity in 2024.
Sadly, this challenge continues today. An estimated 14 million children live in food-insecure households nationwide, with many losing access to reliable school meals during the summer months.
In response, Mercy Chefs launched a summer-long initiative to help underserved kids continue receiving nutritious meals when school is out.
This summer, we're expanding to serve kids across the country through five regional programs.
Mercy Chefs is distributing backpacks across five U.S. regions:
- Feed757 – Hampton Roads, Virginia
- Feed804 – Richmond, Virginia
- Feed615 – Nashville, Tennessee
- Feed813 – Tampa, Florida
- Feed314 – St. Louis, Missouri
Each backpack provides practical support while reminding children that they’re seen, valued, and cared for.
September 3, 2026
Sharing Meals Across Nashville
Our founder always says, “Something amazing happens over a shared meal.” At our Nashville Community Kitchen, we see it every day. This summer, Mercy Chefs, alongside Metro Nashville Public Schools, reminded children in the 615 area and surrounding communities that they are seen and loved through back distributions and hot meals. For many kids, those meals became something to look forward to, especially Taco Tuesday!
The need in Nashville is greater than we can imagine, and we’re grateful for the opportunity to step in and help fill the gap.
August 20, 2026
Meeting Families Where They Are in Florida
Throughout the summer, our Tampa Community Kitchen distributed backpacks not only at school drive-thru events but also directly in neighborhoods across the 813 region, reaching families experiencing extreme poverty and without reliable transportation. Meeting parents and children right outside their homes was a powerful reminder of the importance of meeting people where they are. Our team connected with these families, listened to their stories, and shared moments of joy.
We’re incredibly grateful to every staff member, community partner, volunteer, and supporter who made these distributions possible. Together, we are supporting families and children across the U.S. as they prepare for a new school year.
August 13, 2026
A Summer Celebration in Portsmouth
On August 12, 2026, Mercy Chefs hosted our second annual Back-to-School Block Party! Olde Towne Portsmouth was filled with music, laughter, and more than 1,000 chef-prepared meals as families in the 757 region gathered for a day of fun and community. Children received backpacks filled with school supplies, haircuts, books, and other community resources.
The Block Party was a special way to wrap up our Summer of Feeding Children program. Thank you for helping Mercy Chefs reach thousands of families across the country with nutritious food, much-needed resources, and care.
June 18, 2026
Kicking Off Summer 2026
Our summer initiative is back! From June through August 2026, Mercy Chefs will serve families through our five Community Kitchens, providing cooking classes, hot meals at summer camps, and backpacks filled with eight shelf-stable, microwavable meals, a pencil pouch, and a handwritten note of encouragement.
Our season begins on June 24 with our biggest event: the Feed757 Backpack Build, where volunteers will pack 2,800 backpacks for kids across Hampton Roads. Join us in making a difference all summer long, and help provide meals, backpacks, and relief to kids who need it most.
August 20, 2025
164K+ Meals Served This Summer
Mercy Chefs provided over 164,000 meals to children nationwide.
- Through Summer Huddle, we teamed up with athletes to distribute backpacks filled with wholesome, easy-to-prepare meals.
- Our Community Kitchens served hot, nutritious meals to kids at summer camps and school programs.
- Families came together at packing parties to feed neighbors in need.
As a new school year begins and we continue to partner with local programs, we’re grateful for your support in helping ensure children have reliable access to nutritious food.
August 15, 2025
Love in Every Meal
At our Portsmouth Community Kitchen, more than nourishment, we serve love. This summer, we reached thousands of kids and families across Hampton Roads. From summer camps and senior centers to after-school programs and local churches, our chefs prepared each plate with the same care they’d offer their own families.
We also offered youth cooking classes, backpacks filled with kid-friendly food, and special events designed to bring neighbors together. We’re grateful for the chance to serve our neighbors here at home.
August 7, 2025
Closing Summer 2025
Families in Portsmouth gathered for a fun afternoon as Mercy Chefs hosted a Back-to-School Block Party to close out our summer feeding initiative. After serving thousands of children through summer schools, camps, and other outreaches across the country, we were honored to help families right here at home start the year strong.
The event provided more than 700 backpacks filled with school supplies, nearly 1,400 hot meals, free haircuts, and family-friendly activities. We’re grateful to everyone who served alongside us and made this event possible. Learn more about the celebration here.
July 28, 2025
Hope from Coast to Coast
From California and Tennessee to Kentucky and North Carolina, our staff and volunteers distributed backpacks filled with ready-to-eat meals and snacks on Saturday, July 26, 2025. These special deliveries reached children recovering from disasters and facing food insecurity, giving them something they can proudly call their own.
Thank you to every hand that made this possible. Hundreds of children are entering a new school year with full hearts, full stomachs, and a renewed sense of hope.
June 25, 2025
Launching Feed757 In Hampton Roads
Mercy Chefs kicked off Feed757, an initiative in Hampton Roads combating child food insecurity, at Hodges Manor Elementary School. This kick-off marks the beginning of a seven-week outreach, ensuring children in the Hampton Roads area have access to meals while school is out.
Together, we are empowering children and families facing hardship in Virginia and across the nation.
June 23, 2025
Emergency Meals for Nashville Students
When a Community Engagement Officer in Nashville, TN, shared that students in a summer school were only receiving chips and juice boxes for dinner—often their only evening meal—Mercy Chefs had to act.
Since then, our Nashville Community Kitchen has been serving hundreds of hot, nutritious meals daily to these students, many of whom are in foster care or experiencing homelessness. Our team will continue this vital work through the end of the summer session. This is a powerful reminder of the growing need across our nation, but your support enables us to bring hope to kids in need.
Send a Meal
We’ve seen firsthand how a meal made with love can impact a child. This summer, your gift will help provide hot, nutritious meals and backpacks filled with wholesome, easy-to-make snacks. Together, we can ensure children have the nourishment they need.
