Serving families across Kansas City

Pete's Garden meals are distributed through social service agencies that serve children and their families.   In 2022, our third full year of operations, we distributed approximately 75,000 healthy meals.   This year, we expect to distribute over 100,000 meals.   Agencies currently receiving Pete's Garden meals include Operation Breakthrough, Community Linc, Amethyst Place, St. Mark's Center-UICS, and YMCA Headstart.   Most of the families who receive Pete's Garden meals are headed by single women in low paying jobs, living below federal poverty guidelines.

 It's a blessing to have a healthy prepared meal available at the end of the day.  It really reduces the stress and expense of having to prepare and serve a meal after a day of work and then childcare in the evening.  This makes the family time at the end of the day much more enjoyable.

I really like the variety of healthy food options that I've been given.  I've tried many new things that I don't know if I would have tried,  and they are all very healthy and both adult and kid friendly. 

Families have commented “the meals help get us through the week”, “this helps me when I don’t have time to prepare a meal”. Like Pete’s Garden, we are transforming communities, one family at a time.  UICS is pleased to continue to partner with Pete’s Garden in efforts to make meaningful contributions to underserved families and provide enriching meals to keep families healthy.

Rhonda Mays, Director of Family and Community Engagement United Inner City Services (UICS)

 Amethyst Place families are so grateful for the healthy and delicious meals that Pete's Garden has provided throughout the pandemic. With significant job loss and financial strain, these meals helped relieve some of the daily stressors that our single moms face. Not to mention, their healthy and well-balanced approach to food recovery and meal distribution aligns with our own efforts to improve wellness among our families. We are so thankful for this wonderful partnership!   

Starla Wulf Brennan, Executive Director Amethyst Place

When parents pick up their children, they can also pick up a healthy family dinner.   Our working parents really appreciate the convenience of a take-home meal and the quality and variety of food has been great.

Mary Esselman, CEO Operation Breakthrough 

Reducing food waste and getting good food where it's needed most is a priority for Harvesters. The more people and organizations who become engaged in the issue of hunger, the better, and the greater impact we can have collectively on our community. We're encouraged to see Pete's Garden join the fight against hunger and look forward to witnessing the difference they make for hungry families. 

Sarah Biles, Director of Communications, Harvesters 

Positive feedback has poured in from Residents participating in the Families First program. Residents express gratitude for the “delicious and healthy” meals they receive through the program, highlighting the relief it brings to household budgets. The convenience of having ready-to-eat dinners for their children eliminates the need to spend on groceries or fast food, particularly for Residents who work late hours ...This partnership emerges as a valuable asset in not only supporting families but also positively influencing the economic well-being of families within Friendship Village. 

Lara Pucci, Service Coordinator, Phoenix Family

Aramark and the Chiefs appreciate that we can redirect surplus food from our player training meals to local families facing food insecurity.  Chiefs players and staff know the importance of healthy eating.  The families served by Pete's Garden deserve healthy food too.  We are pleased to support their efforts to get nutritious meals on more family dinner tables.  

Erin Wishon, Senior Executive Chef Aramark/Kansas City Chiefs 

The chefs and staff at KC Hopps Catering never want to see the delicious food we prepare go to waste.  So we are grateful that Pete's Garden gets our extra food distributed to local families.  We are happy to know that our fresh-prepared, great-tasting entrees and side dishes provide healthy dinners for kids in our community.  

Todd Hulse, Director, Catering Operations KC Hopps