Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes
Montana: Pablo, Arlee, St. Ignatius, Ronan, Polson
Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes (CSKT) is leading the way in blending nutrition with culture and community. Children experience traditional foods like dry meat and bitterroot through hands-on activities, while menus are thoughtfully crafted with guidance from a Tribal nutritionist. Their program chefs proudly prepare meals from scratch each day, nourishing children with wholesome food and cultural pride. Teachers turn mealtimes into rich learning moments, connecting food to memory, tradition, and healthy habits. Families are welcomed into the experience through interactive food demonstrations or by sharing recipes served at school during parent engagement meetings. CSKT collaborates with the Tribe’s food sovereignty program, which delivers seasonal food boxes and preparation tips to families experiencing food insecurity. Even with rising food costs, CSKT’s team remains creative, resourceful, and deeply committed to ensuring every child and family has access to nutritious, meaningful meals.
Fairbanks Native Association
Alaska: Fairbanks
Fairbanks Native Association (FNA) understands that food impacts all we do! That is why FNA takes a multi-pronged approach to supporting nutrition exploration and access. FNA established the K’edenyahh Denh [place where things grow] Garden and an outdoor nature trail through partnership with the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP), U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). It gives children a safe place to touch and explore seasonal fruits, vegetables, and plants and exercise their boundless energy. Teachers use the trail and garden for science, technology, engineering, and math activities, such as cataloguing the produce, plants, rocks, and trees they find in their Native language. FNA also understands that food insecurity is a reality many members of their community face. Leadership carefully reviews annual community assessments to understand the need and take action. This has resulted in the program installing a smokehouse and canning station so that families can safely preserve their wild game and berries for the long arctic winter months. For more immediate needs, FNA installed a Nurture your Neighbor food pantry, where program families or staff can take donated, unexpired dry goods as needed. Food boxes with activity suggestions, food prep tools, and cultural recipes are also available year-round for approximately 100 families and 40 staff.
Southern Kennebec Child Development Corporation
Maine: Augusta, Farmingdale
Southern Kennebec Child Development Corporation (SKCDC) is going above and beyond to meet families where they are by responding directly to food insecurity with creativity and care. Through monthly Policy Council meetings, they gather and act on data about family needs, especially around nutrition and food access. SKCDC partners with local food banks, grocery stores, and organizations like Good Shepard Food Bank of Maine to ensure families have access to healthy foods. Events are designed to normalize food scarcity and provide immediate support, with food always included. Families are also empowered through hands-on nutrition education. Program staff and community partners from Healthy Communities of the Capital Area show parents how to shop for healthy items, prepare produce, and cook meals together — providing cooking tools when needed. The program proudly encourages families to use Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) at farmers’ markets and builds community connection through responsive, culturally relevant food support.
Rural Utah Child Development
Utah: Carbon County, Huntington, Moab, Blanding, Monroe, Price, Richfield, Sevier, Vernal
Rural Utah Child Development (RUCD) is transforming food deserts into places of nourishment and connection. Faced with some of the state's lowest health rankings, the program made a bold commitment to serve healthy, freshly cooked meals from scratch at every center — using only CACFP funding and a universal, whole-foods menu. Staff buy-in was built through powerful training on the links between nutrition and child development, creating a shared culture of health across eight distant sites. Families join the movement through a special cooking series where children and caregivers cook their favorite meals with school chefs, culminating in a treasured community recipe book. By turning kitchens into places of learning and celebration, RUCD is proving that fresh, healthy meals are possible everywhere.
Community Action Council for Lexington-Fayette, Bourbon, Harrison, and Nicholas Counties Kentucky
Kentucky: 15 counties across the state
Community Action Council for Lexington-Fayette, Bourbon, Harrison, and Nicholas Counties Kentucky (CAC-KY) is turning bold ideas into real results by meeting families’ nutrition needs with creativity and heart. Their "Healthy Meals on a Budget" initiative teaches families how to shop smart, cook safely, and even equips them with the tools they need — all based on direct feedback from family surveys. Responding to high rates of infant tooth decay, CAC-KY is participating in a project led by the University of Virginia to educate families on healthy beverage choices. To tackle food deserts, they transformed an old bus into a mobile food market in partnership with Black Soil and Sam’s Club. It brings fresh food directly to high-need neighborhoods. CAC-KY’s thriving farm-to-school program, led by dietetic college students, keeps fresh produce front and center in school meals and family engagement activities. This data-driven, community-led approach is creating lasting change across rural Kentucky.
Lewis and Clark Early Childhood Program
Washington and Idaho
Lewis and Clark Early Childhood Program is growing healthy habits — literally! Recognized in a recent monitoring review for strong practices in nutrition, the program maintains a vibrant garden that’s fully woven into classroom learning. Children help tend the garden and see their efforts come full circle when the harvest is included in their meals. In addition, using the Dr. Yum Project curriculum (a Partnership for a Healthier America partner), children are able to use adult-like child friendly knives to cut the fruit and vegetables from their very own garden. This hands-on experience helps young learners connect the dots between growing food and making healthy choices. With a focus on experiential learning and sustainability, Lewis and Clark is cultivating more than vegetables: they’re cultivating lifelong wellness.
East Hartford Public Schools
Connecticut: East Hartford
East Hartford Public Schools are turning gardens into vibrant classrooms where children plant, harvest, and explore fresh foods through sensory lessons led by University of Connecticut dietitians. They actively gather family and child feedback on nutrition needs, adjusting programs based on real-time data like food preferences and health indicators. Families are supported through lively nutrition workshops on topics like picky eating and budget-friendly shopping, alongside regular tips sent via ParentSquare. A thoughtful backpack program ensures children facing food insecurity go home each weekend with healthy food to bridge the gap. With strong partnerships — from local farmers to youth services and supermarkets — East Hartford is building a dynamic, responsive nutrition support system for their entire community.
Ulster County Community Action Committee, Inc.
New York: Ulster County
Ulster County Community Action Committee (UCCAC) brings families together through the joy of healthy cooking and shared learning. Their talented school chefs create freshly cooked meals using seasonal, local products. Monthly "Family Fridays" events combine hands-on nutrition education with fun cooking activities for both parents and children. By building excitement among children beforehand, they boost family turnout and engagement, teaching age-appropriate kitchen skills along the way. Even sites without full kitchens creatively adapt using slow cookers and ovens to make sure every family participates. An annual needs assessment ensures that UCCAC programming remains responsive to family food insecurity challenges. By including staff in nutrition education efforts, the program fosters a whole-community commitment to health and wellness.
University of Kansas Medical Center Research Institute [Project Eagle]
Kansas: Wyandotte County
Project Eagle is growing more than gardens — they're growing community connections and healthy habits! What began with two garden beds has blossomed into 10 thriving spaces thanks to partnerships with Kansas City Community Garden and the passion of a dedicated teacher. Vegetables are used in the kitchen and sent home with families alongside recipes and garden kits, making healthy eating accessible no matter a family's space. Nutrition classes and vibrant health, nutrition, and safety fairs keep families engaged year-round. By working closely with a wide range of community partners and securing strong teacher and family buy-in, Project Eagle is cultivating a culture of wellness from the ground up.
Utah Community Action
Utah: Salt Lake County and Tooele County
Utah Community Action (UCA) is raising the bar with its state-of-the-art Central Kitchen. It was built on the belief that access to healthy food lays the foundation for lifelong success. This innovative kitchen prepares nutritious, fresh meals for every Head Start child across the service area, while also having served seniors in the broader community! By prioritizing high nutrition standards and local produce, UCA creates healthy habits from the start. The Central Kitchen also serves as a hub for workforce development, combining education, community service, and food security into one powerful initiative. It’s a shining example of how food can fuel both futures and community connection.
Jefferson County Head Start
Colorado: Jefferson County
Jefferson County Head Start is serving up scratch-made meals with purpose and heart. Led by an executive chef and guided by a nutritionist, the program crafts nutritionally dense meals using locally sourced meats, fruits, and vegetables. Their mission goes beyond meeting dietary needs. It’s about cultivating lifelong healthy eating habits that help children thrive in the classroom and beyond. By focusing on balanced, wholesome meals, County of Jefferson is giving every child the fuel to grow, learn, and succeed. This culinary-forward approach is setting a gold standard for what Head Start nutrition can look like.
Reliable Enterprises
Washington: Centralia
Reliable Enterprises is feeding children’s bodies and minds with love, intention, and scratch-made meals. Their kitchen prepares low-fat, low-sodium meals from fresh ingredients, giving children the foundation for lifelong healthy eating. By involving children in food preparation and gardening, they turn meals into learning moments — making kids excited to try new foods and view mealtimes as joyful, social experiences. The program’s philosophy is simple but powerful: full tummies fuel strong minds. With every bite, Reliable Enterprises is investing in children's health, development, and happiness.
The Enola Group Early Head Start
North Carolina: Taylorsville, Morganton, Lenoir
The Enola Group brings farm-to-table learning to life by engaging children and families in every step of the gardening process. For over five years, they’ve cultivated gardens at all three of their sites. Children get to plant, care for, and harvest fruits and vegetables. The garden’s bounty is then enjoyed at mealtimes in the classroom, turning healthy eating into a shared celebration. Families also join in during group socializations where they cook and eat meals together using the fresh produce. This hands-on, joyful approach strengthens connections, encourages healthy habits, and creates lasting memories rooted in wellness and community.
Le Jardin Community Center
Florida: Homestead and Florida City
Le Jardin is deeply committed to family well-being and nutrition, connecting families to fresh, healthy food through partnerships with organizations like Farm Share. During the COVID-19 pandemic, they coordinated food drives that distributed over 24,000 boxes of food to more than 1,000 families — an incredible example of their community-driven impact. Every Early Head Start center at Le Jardin features its own garden where children plant, water, and harvest vegetables, building responsibility and a connection to nature. These gardens fuel hands-on learning and foster curiosity, confidence, and healthy habits. In collaboration with the University of Florida, Baptist Hospital, and the University of Miami, children explore nutrition through taste tests, food-themed lessons, and classroom activities focused on fruits and vegetables. Le Jardin is growing healthy habits from the ground up and making a lasting difference for children and families alike.
You Thrive Florida [Mid Florida Community Services, Inc.]
Florida: Brooksville
At You Thrive Florida (YTF), nutrition is more than a service. It’s a foundation for thriving families. What sets YTF apart is its powerful blend of collaboration and individualized care. Health, nutrition, and family services teams work together from day one to make sure children receive culturally responsive, allergy-aware meals tailored to their specific health needs. Families are uplifted through monthly food drop events, access to diapers, wipes, and formula, and cooking demonstrations that make nutrition education practical and engaging. YTF supports families navigating poverty, homelessness, or food insecurity — ensuring no child is ever left behind. YTF also leads with data, tracking BMI and family feedback to refine menus and outreach. It’s a holistic, compassionate model that strengthens both children and the communities around them.
Family Services of Westchester, Inc.
New York: Westchester County
Family Services of Westchester is driving real change by putting family voices and data to shape at the center of its nutrition efforts. Through regular surveys to families and close collaboration with their Policy Council, the organization identified critical service gaps and responded with bold community-driven solutions. As a result, FSW launched innovative strategies such as flexible nutrition workshops and healthy food distributions aligned with child pickup times to make access easier, convenient and more practical for busy parents. The program formed innovative partners with ACME Supermarkets, SNAP, and WIC strives to increase access to healthy food and vital nutrition education. The team meets families where they are by offering hybrid workshop options, real-time support, provides personal reminders families to redeem food supermarket gift cards during times of stress of limited access. With strong leadership support, collaborations with community partners, and ambitious goals such as increasing SNAP and WIC participation. Family Services of Westchester is making healthy eating not just possible, but convenient, inclusive and family-centered. FSW aspires to create a model of empowered, informed and nourished community where parents drive change and every child has the healthy start they deserve.