What's For Dinner?

Your support directly fuels students well-being

In North Lawndale, a neighborhood designated as a food desert, too many children grow up without steady access to fresh, nutritious meals. The science is clear: diets rich in fruits and vegetables improve focus, emotional regulation, immune health, and long-term academic outcomes. Simply put — food is medicine, especially for growing minds.

This year, we welcomed aboard Salud Comfort Food, a local Westside Black and Latino owned catering business rooted in our church community, to provide fresh, intentional meals to every child who walks into our Academic Enrichment programs. Students are fed not with processed snacks, but with real food that fuels the body and supports learning.

Salud prepares nut-free meals to ensure safety for students with allergies and includes fresh fruits and vegetables every night. They also print menus for the kids, which matters because one of the first things students ask when they arrive is “What’s for dinner?” From homemade sun butter Uncrustables and fig bars to steak quesadillas and spaghetti, the meals are diverse, culturally familiar, and made with care — and the kids notice.

This is not just about filling stomachs. It is about preparing students to learn, grow, and thrive, starting with what is on their plate.