My name is Kendra, and I am the President and Founder of the Feed the Kids Program, a nonprofit summer initiative dedicated to making sure children have access to meals when school is out.

Before starting this program, I worked as a school lunch lady, and every day I saw how many kids depended on school meals just to get by. When COVID hit in 2020, and schools shut down, I knew those kids were going to face even greater challenges — especially during the summer months when school meals weren’t available at all.

That’s what pushed me to start Feed the Kids. I couldn’t stand by and do nothing, knowing children in my community were going hungry. What began as an urgent response during a crisis has now grown into a mission I carry forward every summer.

Feed the Kids is about more than meals — it’s about showing care, creating stability, and giving every child a chance to thrive, even during tough times. I’m proud of what we’ve built, and I’m committed to making sure no child is left behind because of hunger.

Audra!

I’m currently the Vice President of the Feed the Kids program and have proudly served as an active member for 6 summers. But to me, this work goes far beyond volunteer hours—it’s personal. I know firsthand what it’s like to go hungry, and that experience lit a fire in me early on. It inspired my 30-year journey as a culinary leader and shaped my mission: to serve, uplift, and nourish others through food.

As a single mother, I stayed deeply involved in my daughter’s education and community. From PTA meetings to afterschool programs, I showed up—whether by hosting cooking classes, preparing meals, or simply lending a hand. Even after she graduated four years ago, I knew my work wasn’t finished. My purpose has only grown stronger.

Cooking and feeding hungry bellies is my love language. It’s how I show care, build community, and invest in our future—because every child deserves to be full, seen, and supported.

I’ve been part of Feed the Kids since the program began at the start of COVID. I started helping my mom when she founded the Feed The Kids program when I was just 13 years old, and quickly became a huge part of the team prepping and serving meals, and now contributing through media and communications.

I recently graduated from Nashua High School North, and I’m passionate about this work because I’ve seen firsthand how much of an impact this program has made on my classmates and their families. From classmates at school waving in the hallway to families across my community saying thank you when they recognize me out in public, I’ve witnessed how something as simple as a meal can create connection, relief, and hope. The smiles, kind words, and recognition from my community have shown me how powerful support can be, and that has inspired me to give back and help grow this program.