Grants Archive
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Feeding Our Communities Partners (FOCP)
January 31, 2023
Amount Requested$10,000.00
Address2120 Howard Dr. West, Suite F
North Mankato, Minnesota 56003
Sheri Sander-Silva
Executive Director
Email hidden; Javascript is required.
- Food and Housing Security
Proposal Information
Funds are Being Requested for:Program Support
Mission StatementFeeding Our Communities Partners (FOCP) has a mission to engage our community in solving youth hunger. We envision a community in which hunger is not a barrier to success and believe that feeding hungry students allows for active minds during the school day.
Amount Requested$10,000.00
Program Budget$781,685.00
Organizational BudgetRelationship to the Olseth Family FoundationYes
Summarize Your RequestFOCP programs serve students in grades K-12 who live in food-insecure households by providing child-friendly and nutritious food items to be consumed each day of the weekend, school break and/or summer months.
Collectively these programs serve 1,000 students in 30 school buildings each week. With program enrollment on the rise at the same rate as food and transportation costs, we are requesting support to assist the organization in its quest to meet the growing needs of youth and their families.
Overview of the Grant Request
Population ServedYouth in grades K-12
Geographic Area ServedFive school districts in Southcentral MN
List Three Measurable Goals That This Funding Will Help You Achieve.The overarching goal is to provide youth with nutritious food to serve as the basic fuel for their growing minds and bodies.
Goal #1: Feed hungry youth and expand services to meet the local need. Goal #2: Improve the quality of life for students enrolled in FOCP programs. Goal #3: Increase success in school, activities, and life for students enrolled in FOCP programs.
Teachers and parents report a difference in the quality of life for students enrolled in FOCP programs. The top three improvements are: improved concentration, increased energy and and improved social skills. Additionally, 85% of participants report feeling ready to learn on Monday morning after consuming their food pack on the weekend.
Since our inception in 2010, FOCP has provided over 2.25 million meals to youth in our greater southcentral MN communities.
How Will You Accomplish These Goals?As a grassroots and community supported organization, FOCP has developed and maintained excellent working relationships with individuals, businesses, school districts, social service organizations and community service organizations.
Food preparation and distribution is made possible due to the help of hundreds of volunteers each month. Many offer their assistance each and every month.
Program partners that propel our work include School personnel (principals, teachers, staff, counselors, social workers, custodians), registered dietitians & nutrition educators, Interns & service-learning students, Area businesses (over 400 local businesses provide funding and encourage employee volunteerism), and Volunteers. Community members offered over 6,000 hours of assistance and support last fiscal year.
Looking Forward, How Will You Measure These Goals?FOCP evaluates its impact annually through surveys distributed to students, teachers and parents of those enrolled. Additionally, the organization seeks and receives feedback throughout the year from families, school personnel, volunteers and other program stakeholders. As a locally developed program, this feedback is essential to the consistent evolution of program services. FOCP is a small, nimble organization which seeks to create the largest social return possible with the limited resources available.
Implementation Plan
Start Date01/01/2023
End Date06/30/2023
Describe Most Significant Collaborations With Other Organizations And Efforts.FOCP continuously seeks to develop and foster relationships with other community organizations and volunteers that share in our goal of eliminating youth hunger locally.
The organization partners with local food shelves, healthcare facilities and other social service organizations to ensure families are aware of and able to easily connect with the resources they need.
FOCP maintains its commitment to food justice in our community by increasing accessibility to fresh, nutritious, and locally-grown produce. Specifically, during the summer of 2020, Living Earth Center and FOCP developed an important symbiotic partnership. Because FOCP provides free, child-friendly, well balanced, single-serving and shelf-stable items to food-insecure youth, Living Earth Center enhanced FOCP’s services by providing fresh produce to students enrolled in FOCP programs who may not have otherwise had access to such items. Living Earth Center’s work provides a vital complement to our programming and mission to engage our community in solving youth hunger.
What Is The Projected Timeline For The Proposed Activities?FOCP hunger-relief resources are now offered year-round. The organization maintains an open-enrollment model, without financial qualifications. Youth in grades K-12 within the five school districts served can access services, as needed, at any point throughout the year.
Supplemental Information
Board Members
Current Year Organizational Budget
Program Budget For Proposed Funding Period
Audited Financials (if applicable)
Other EntriesApproval StatusUnapproved
Feeding Our Communities Partners (FOCP)
January 31, 2023
Amount Requested$10,000.00
2120 Howard Dr. West, Suite F
North Mankato, Minnesota 56003
Sheri Sander-Silva
Executive Director
Email hidden; Javascript is required.
- Food and Housing Security
Program Support
Feeding Our Communities Partners (FOCP) has a mission to engage our community in solving youth hunger. We envision a community in which hunger is not a barrier to success and believe that feeding hungry students allows for active minds during the school day.
$10,000.00
$781,685.00
Yes
FOCP programs serve students in grades K-12 who live in food-insecure households by providing child-friendly and nutritious food items to be consumed each day of the weekend, school break and/or summer months.
Collectively these programs serve 1,000 students in 30 school buildings each week. With program enrollment on the rise at the same rate as food and transportation costs, we are requesting support to assist the organization in its quest to meet the growing needs of youth and their families.
Youth in grades K-12
Five school districts in Southcentral MN
The overarching goal is to provide youth with nutritious food to serve as the basic fuel for their growing minds and bodies.
Goal #1: Feed hungry youth and expand services to meet the local need. Goal #2: Improve the quality of life for students enrolled in FOCP programs. Goal #3: Increase success in school, activities, and life for students enrolled in FOCP programs.
Teachers and parents report a difference in the quality of life for students enrolled in FOCP programs. The top three improvements are: improved concentration, increased energy and and improved social skills. Additionally, 85% of participants report feeling ready to learn on Monday morning after consuming their food pack on the weekend.
Since our inception in 2010, FOCP has provided over 2.25 million meals to youth in our greater southcentral MN communities.
As a grassroots and community supported organization, FOCP has developed and maintained excellent working relationships with individuals, businesses, school districts, social service organizations and community service organizations.
Food preparation and distribution is made possible due to the help of hundreds of volunteers each month. Many offer their assistance each and every month.
Program partners that propel our work include School personnel (principals, teachers, staff, counselors, social workers, custodians), registered dietitians & nutrition educators, Interns & service-learning students, Area businesses (over 400 local businesses provide funding and encourage employee volunteerism), and Volunteers. Community members offered over 6,000 hours of assistance and support last fiscal year.
FOCP evaluates its impact annually through surveys distributed to students, teachers and parents of those enrolled. Additionally, the organization seeks and receives feedback throughout the year from families, school personnel, volunteers and other program stakeholders. As a locally developed program, this feedback is essential to the consistent evolution of program services. FOCP is a small, nimble organization which seeks to create the largest social return possible with the limited resources available.
01/01/2023
06/30/2023
FOCP continuously seeks to develop and foster relationships with other community organizations and volunteers that share in our goal of eliminating youth hunger locally.
The organization partners with local food shelves, healthcare facilities and other social service organizations to ensure families are aware of and able to easily connect with the resources they need.
FOCP maintains its commitment to food justice in our community by increasing accessibility to fresh, nutritious, and locally-grown produce. Specifically, during the summer of 2020, Living Earth Center and FOCP developed an important symbiotic partnership. Because FOCP provides free, child-friendly, well balanced, single-serving and shelf-stable items to food-insecure youth, Living Earth Center enhanced FOCP’s services by providing fresh produce to students enrolled in FOCP programs who may not have otherwise had access to such items. Living Earth Center’s work provides a vital complement to our programming and mission to engage our community in solving youth hunger.
FOCP hunger-relief resources are now offered year-round. The organization maintains an open-enrollment model, without financial qualifications. Youth in grades K-12 within the five school districts served can access services, as needed, at any point throughout the year.
Unapproved