2025 Annual Impact Report for Feeding Kids Cleveland County

MISSION STATEMENT

Our mission is to provide food and books to students and their families who are identified as food insecure in Cleveland County. We do this through our weekend food bags, school break food and book deliveries, and our annual Community Table Thanksgiving Meals.

In our county, 1 in 3 children are food insecure. Extended breaks from school such as Spring Break and Winter Break leave hundreds of students without a reliable source of food they would normally receive through the school nutrition program at both breakfast and lunch.

With the work of Cleveland County Schools social workers and our team of volunteers, we provide a bag of shelf-stable, kid-friendly food on weekends as well as a large box of shelf-stable food, a bag of fresh food, and age-appropriate books during the 4 major breaks from school throughout the year to bridge this nutritional gap: Spring Break, Summer Break, Thanksgiving Break, and Winter Break. During Summer Break, we deliver 3 times since this is the longest break for students. We also incorporate four small scale “mini deliveries” to three schools on the Restart Schedule: Township 3 Elementary, Washington Elementary, and James Love Elementary. Approximately 35 families are assisted during these deliveries. Secondly, we were able to add all four high schools to our school break delivery lists starting in the beginning of 2026 because of the amazing support of our donors and volunteers.

Keep reading to learn more about our impact in 2025!

A Message from Heather Stevens, Executive Director and Founder

This year marks an especially meaningful milestone for Feeding Kids Cleveland County, and my heart is full of gratitude as I reflect on all that this community has made possible.

The needs of our neighbors and the world around us can sometimes feel overwhelming. It can be hard to know where to begin or to wonder if what we do really makes a difference. I am here to tell you that your support of Feeding Kids Cleveland County has made a very real and lasting difference in the lives of the children and families we serve.

Because of your generosity, your volunteer hours and your encouragement, we are celebrating an incredible achievement in our tenth year. Ten years ago, we set a goal to one day serve every school in the Cleveland County School system through our school break home deliveries. Together, you have helped turn that goal into reality. Feeding Kids Cleveland County now serves every school in the Cleveland County School system, a milestone that truly represents a Decade of Difference and a powerful reminder of what can happen when a community comes together with compassion and purpose.

Some of the moments that encourage me the most are the stories we hear along the way. We have watched “Feeding Kids kids” grow up and come back to volunteer with us because the care and kindness they experienced meant so much to them. We have heard from families who now read together each night because they have books in their homes. We do not always see every detail of the impact being made, but hearing these testimonies reminds me that small acts of care can change lives. What a joy it is to see the light that you are bringing to children and families all across our community.

Heather Stevens
Executive Director & Founder
Feeding Kids Cleveland County

Our 2025 Board of Directors and Leadership Team

Board of Directors

• Masonya Ruff- President

• Elizabeth Schweppe- Vice President

• Marie Jackson- Treasurer

• Nikki Littlejohn- Secretary

• Margot Plonk

• Bre Stokes

Leadership Team

• Mallory Brown- Social Media, Website, Communications

• Molly Brownlee- Reading Kids Cleveland County Coordinator

• Tabatha Coker- School Break Delivery Coordinator

• Jada Hardin- Volunteer Coordinator

• Debbie Hart- Fresh Food Coordinator

• Jennifer Niblack- Shelf-Stable Food Coordinator

• Lynsie Stevens- Administrative Support and Special Item Coordinator

WE LOVE OUR VOLUNTEERS!

Feeding Kids Cleveland County is made possible by our incredible volunteers. Because of their dedication and hard work, children and families in our community have access to the food and essentials they need all school year long.

In 2025, we had over 800 total people volunteer to deliver for our School Break deliveries. In 2025, we delivered to all elementary, middle, and county-wide schools (Turning Point Academy and North Shelby) 6 times during major breaks from school including: Spring Break, Summer Break, Thanksgiving Break, and Christmas Break. See the chart below for a detailed breakdown of how many volunteers came and assisted with these deliveries in 2025.

At the Feeding Kids space, we had over 576 total people volunteer throughout the year, completing tasks such as packing boxes of food, assembling weekend bags, taping boxes, sorting books, and packing fresh food. Our space is in constant use by our team and volunteers throughout the year. Our Volunteer Coordinator, Jada Hardin, coordinates every single individual and group that enters our space and she is who many people in our county associate with Feeding Kids because of her hard work and dedication.

Additionally, we had two interns who volunteered their time as a part of their studies at Gardner-Webb University with us in 2025: Emma Kate Harrison and Jada Walker (pictured). Emma Kate worked over 100 hours from January to May and Jada worked over 153 hours from August to December. They were invaluable to our mission and were such a delight to work with week after week! The future is looking bright with young people like this in the world!

From college students packing weekend bags to families putting together snack packs, and from food drives organized by churches, schools, and businesses to generous donations and deliveries—every act of support makes a difference.

Even local Food Lion employees give their time after work to help deliver and stock our shelf-stable food supply. We are so thankful for each of you. Thank you for helping make this work possible!

School Break Deliveries and Weekend Bags in 2025

In 2025, Feeding Kids Cleveland County significantly expanded the reach and impact of both our school-break deliveries and weekend food programs. Our school-break deliveries served more families than ever before, increasing from 4,207 to 5,113 children—reaching an estimated 8,500 individuals when including other children and adults in each household.

New Initiative: Meal Kits and Recipe Cards

This year, Feeding Kids Cleveland County introduced an exciting new addition to our school break delivery boxes: meal kits with recipe cards. Each kit includes affordable, healthy ingredients that are kid and family friendly, paired with a simple recipe card that even a child can follow. Our goal was not only to put food on the table but to give families practical, accessible ideas for turning those ingredients into a real meal together.

We know that having food is one thing and knowing what to do with it is another. By including recipe cards with our kits, we are helping families make the most of what they receive, reducing the chance that food goes unused or wasted and building confidence in the kitchen along the way.

The response from our families has been overwhelmingly positive. In a recent survey, we received 70 positive responses and zero negative ones. Families shared that the kits are helpful and appreciated, with one parent saying the recipe card helps explain what to cook and another sharing that their kids genuinely enjoy them.

We are grateful for the feedback and are committed to continuing to grow and improve this initiative so that every family we serve feels not just fed but equipped and supported.

We also grew our weekend food bag program by adding new students and schools, including Burns High School, bringing our total to 10 schools. As a result, the number of weekend bags distributed rose from 5,110 to 6,886 over the course of the year.

In the fall of 2025, we saw a sharp increase in need, driven in part by concerns over potential federal cuts to SNAP and other food assistance programs that support many of the families we serve. During that semester alone, weekend bag distribution increased from 2,774 to 4,112.

This growth was made possible by the incredible support of our donors and the generosity of our community—through food drives, donations, and volunteers—who stepped up to ensure our neighbors had the nourishment they needed.

Map of the Schools We Serve in Cleveland County

As we began 2026, your support has allowed us to take an extraordinary step forward: we are now serving every school in the Cleveland County School system, ensuring that no child in our community is left out. Below you will find a map of all schools in Cleveland County Schools, as well charts and graphics that illustrate our 2025 impact. Click the pins on the map below to learn about each school we serve.

Reading Kids Cleveland County’s Impact in 2025

In 2025, we distributed 6,019 books to 1,638 families all across Cleveland County. We do this during our School Break deliveries. Each child in the household receives one book and each family receives a family book to share. This means that by the end of 2025, thousands of children in our county had at least 12 books in their home.

Did you know that 61% of low-income households have no books in their homes? We are here to help change that statistic in Cleveland County by meeting families where they are and bringing high quality reading materials right to their doorstep…that they can keep!

Our Little Free Library Map

We have 8 Little Free Libraries around Cleveland County that are managed in partnership by our team and different groups and organizations.

Please click the pins on the map below to learn about each location and where you can find a Reading Kids Cleveland County Little Free Library. Take a book and donate a book!

Partnership Spotlight: Food Lion

When we think about the partnerships that have helped shape Feeding Kids Cleveland County into the organization it is today, Food Lion is at the top of the list.

The Food Lion Feeds Charitable Foundation demonstrated a profound commitment to the children of Cleveland County with a $30,000 investment in our mission, a gift that has rippled out into thousands of meals and moments of nourishment for the kids we serve.

But what makes this partnership truly special goes far beyond a single grant. Food Lion's dedication shows up in every corner of our work. Their employees show up on their own time to deliver food, stock and organize our shelves, pack recipe bags and prepare food boxes for our school break food and book deliveries. They haul away cardboard for recycling, ensuring that our work leaves as light a footprint as possible. Through their distribution center, Food Lion makes it possible for us to purchase both shelf-stable and fresh foods in bulk, including bread, apples, bananas and baby carrots, delivered directly to us by tractor trailer. This logistical support keeps our shelves stocked and our programs running smoothly. Food Lion also generously provides refreshments at our annual Light Ball Dash, adding warmth and community spirit to one of our favorite events of the year.

Perhaps most touching of all, individual Food Lion employees and their families choose on their own to volunteer alongside us during school break deliveries, bringing not just their hands but their hearts to the work.

To the entire Food Lion family: thank you. Your investment of time, resources and genuine care makes it possible for us to do what we do and for the children of Cleveland County to have what they need.

2025 Community Table Thanksgiving Meals

In 2025, we changed the date of our annual Community Table Thanksgiving Meal from the Wednesday before Thanksgiving Day to the Saturday before Thanksgiving to make it more accessible for attendees and volunteers. This decision was a great success!

On Saturday, November 22, 2025, we served 1,547 meals to members of our community and partnered with over 34 local organizations, churches, and community groups. Each meal took place in a different area of Cleveland County in order to serve all of our neighbors. This year, we worked together to provide 6 meals at the following sites:

• Jefferson Park

• Bobby Bell Pavilion (NEW!)

• Mt. Zion Baptist Church of Kings Mountain

• Holly Oak Park

• Burns High School (NEW!)

• Macedonia Missionary Baptist Church in Waco

From those who prepared the food and donated money to those who set up tables and gave out hats and gloves to those who shared a meal with their neighbors, we thank you all for your time and dedication to make this a success in 2025.

We love seeing everyone come together for this special community meal. Our 2026 Community Table Thanksgiving Meal will take place on Saturday, November 21. See you there!

our 2025 donors and Our Decade Of Difference Giving Campaign Sponsors

In 2025, generosity towards Feeding Kids Cleveland County was remarkable as we began our Decade of Difference: Feeding Kids Together Giving Campaign in the fall. We set out to raise $100,000 and our supporters showed up and donated to make this happen above and beyond a goal we thought was quite lofty!

Thanks to 32 sponsors and over 100 incredible donors we received a total of $145,536 in sponsorships and donations, with an average gift of $800. Below is a list of our incredible sponsors for our giving campaign:

Community Builder Sponsors - $15,000:

• Chick-fil-A at Highway 74 in Shelby

• CPS Construction Services

Empower Sponsor - $10,000:

• TGS Engineers

Sustain Sponsors - $5,000:

• Cornerstone Dental Associates

• Elks Lodge of Shelby

• Horn, Pack, Brown & Dow, Attorneys at Law

• First Baptist Church of Kings Mountain

• Four B Farm

• Paul and Margaret Porter Foundation

Support Sponsors - $2,500:

• Coca-Cola Consolidated

• North Point Custom Builders

Nourish Sponsors - $1,000:

• Becca Schweppe Residential - Keller Williams Realty

• Gabe DeVoe Foundation

• Schweppe Law Firm Attorneys at Law

• Shelby Presbyterian Church

• Smart Construction

• Toma Fire Protection Equipment

• Joyce Boyette

• Gail Daves

• Tommy & Liz Hamrick

• Roger & Robin Holland

• David & Kim Marshall

• Claire, Lilly, and Anna Grace McCullough

Neighbor Sponsors - $360:

• Holland & Hamrick Architects

• Foothills Commercial Real Estate

• Janet Berry

• Flossie & Frank Bonner

• Chrissy & Jaime Holiday-Fitzgerald

• Amanda & Jay Gragg

• Monroe Sales Company

• J. Morgan Company

• Zach & Courtney Dressel, In Memory of Robert B. Dressel

Thank you!

As we reflect on all that was accomplished in 2025, we are filled with gratitude for the community that makes this work possible. Every meal packed, every bag delivered, and every child served is a direct result of your generosity and commitment to caring for our neighbors.

To our donors, volunteers, partners, and advocates—thank you. You have shown up in countless ways, from giving financially to hosting food drives, from packing bags to delivering meals. Because of you, thousands of children and families in Cleveland County experienced comfort, stability, and the simple but powerful gift of knowing they would have food when they needed it.

We are honored to do this work alongside you. Thank you for believing in this mission and for continuing to make a difference, one child at a time.

With gratitude,
Feeding Kids Cleveland County