Our Story

The Shared Plate Foundation exists to support children and families in our local communities who face barriers to consistent, nourishing meals.

Our Mission

We focus on clearing school lunch debt, helping families access support programs, and providing food assistance when it’s needed most—always with care, respect, and no questions asked. We strive to be a safe and welcoming space where families are treated with dignity—free from stigma, judgment, or fear—and where asking for help is met with compassion and trust.

We’re not here to solve hunger everywhere—but we believe we can make a real difference right here, one shared plate at a time.

Volunteers in blue shirts serving food, including apples, bananas, bread, and bottled water, at a community food distribution event.

Young boy with curly hair smiling and coloring at a desk in a classroom.

Our Purpose

Across our local communities, children are going without lunch—not because they forgot it, but because their families can’t afford it. Quietly, they rack up school lunch debt. Some skip meals. Others are denied the same food their peers receive. And families, especially those facing language barriers or undocumented status, may not know how to access support—or may feel ashamed to ask. We created The Shared Plate Foundation to help change that story. We believe every child deserves to eat with dignity. That families should never have to choose between pride and nourishment. And that support should come with kindness, not conditions. We're here to fill a gap. Not everywhere, but here—in the schools, neighborhoods, and communities we call home. Because hunger doesn’t just affect the stomach—it affects how a child learns, grows, and feels about themselves.

"The Shared Plate Foundation gave us hope when we needed it most. They didn't just provide food, they restored our dignity."

Maria Rodriguez

Local Parent

Our Journey

Founded by community-minded people with deep roots in food and hospitality, The Shared Plate Foundation was created to meet a need beyond the table. We’re a local organization built on the belief that food should be shared and no family should face hunger alone. Working quietly and with heart, we partner with schools and communities to nourish with dignity and serve without judgment.