WHO WE ARE

The Patachou Foundation prepares and serves healthy meals to children impacted by poverty and hunger and increases their awareness, connection, and excitement about food. Our meal service is complemented by hands-on educational programming to combat food insecurity at its core to break the cycle of hunger in our community.

HOW IT WORKS

Our chef prepares a special menu of kid-friendly dishes each week in our production kitchen. In addition to serving 2,000 after-school meals at eight Indianapolis schools each week, our volunteers take time to pull up a chair and create positive relationships around the dinner table. Patachou Foundation staff and volunteers also teach students weekly experiential food literacy and cooking lessons with simple ingredients and kitchen tools.

AN UNPARALLELED SITUATION

Nearly 80% of kids attending the schools The Patachou Foundation serves live at or below poverty and are faced with daily food insecurity and hunger. Indianapolis is ranked worst in the nation for access to fresh foods, so even if resources are available, access to fresh food is not. Indianapolis area schools are not equipped with working ovens or functioning kitchens. Federally funded food programs typically fall short, leaving kids with only processed, unhealthy food choices. Many children go home to empty cupboards and empty refrigerators. For most of the children The Patachou Foundation serves, the pre-packaged school breakfasts and lunches are the only guaranteed meals of the day. The lack of quality food access creates a negative impact on school attendance, behavior in and out of school, and overall health.