Fighting Weekend Hunger: An Update on Hospitality House’s Weekend Food Program

At Hospitality House, we believe no child should face hunger—especially on weekends, when school meals are unavailable. Thanks to the generous support of Impact100 Oakland County, our Weekend Food Program (WFP) continues to grow, adapt, and reach more families across our community.

As of January 2026, this vital program has made meaningful progress in expanding access to nutritious food, strengthening school partnerships, and deepening its impact on students and families.

How Grant Funds Are Being Used

To date, $11,475.16 of Impact100 Oakland County grant funding has been allocated toward food purchases for the Weekend Food Program. Because Hospitality House had received another grant with an earlier spending deadline, those funds were used first to ensure responsible stewardship of all resources.

Beginning in 2026, Impact100 grant funds will also support personnel and program-related expenses, further strengthening the program’s long-term sustainability and effectiveness.

Expanding Our Reach

Over the past year, the Weekend Food Program has grown significantly:

• In the Walled Lake Consolidated School District, the program expanded from 9 schools to 14 schools

• The program launched in the Novi Community School District, now serving all eight elementary, middle, and high schools

• A dedicated Program Coordinator was hired in May 2025 to oversee operations, partnerships, and evaluation

This growth reflects strong collaboration with schools and a shared commitment to addressing food insecurity among students.

Improving Nutrition and Program Quality

One of the most exciting developments has been the addition of fresh fruit every week. Students now consistently receive items such as apples and mandarins—an enhancement that has been met with overwhelming enthusiasm from families.

The Program Coordinator has also:

• Met individually with participating schools to gather feedback and refine delivery processes

• Begun outreach to non-participating schools to raise awareness and address concerns about staff workload

• Distributed surveys to parents, guardians, administrators, counselors, and social workers to better understand the program’s impact

The feedback has been overwhelmingly positive, reinforcing the program’s role in reducing weekend hunger and supporting student well-being.

Learning Through Feedback

As part of Phase 4: Monitoring and Evaluation, Hospitality House expanded its evaluation plan to conduct surveys twice per year rather than annually. This allows for more timely adjustments and continuous improvement.

For example, families shared that students particularly enjoy receiving juice in their bags. In response, we are exploring cost-effective ways to include juice more frequently while maintaining program sustainability.

Unexpected Successes—and Ongoing Challenges

We have been encouraged by several unexpected successes:

• Strong enthusiasm for fresh fruit options

• Successful recruitment of nine new volunteers to assist with packing and delivery

• Increased community awareness, with individuals and groups reaching out to offer support

At the same time, challenges remain:

• Allergen-friendly foods (gluten-free and dairy-free) are more expensive and harder to source

• Reusable drawstring bags are not being returned at expected rates, increasing replacement costs

• Some schools have expressed concerns about workload or lack awareness of the program, particularly amid staff transitions

• Survey participation from parents and guardians has been lower than hoped

To address these challenges, the Program Coordinator continues direct school outreach, and future surveys will include participation incentives to encourage broader feedback.

Funding and Sustainability

In addition to the Impact100 Oakland County grant, Hospitality House has secured several important funding sources:

• $50,000 from the Community Foundation for Southeastern Michigan

• $5,000 from MGM Resorts

• $20,000 from The Children’s Foundation (awarded since our last report)

We continue to pursue additional grants, individual donations, and in-kind contributions such as food and drawstring bags. Annual fundraising events and generous community support remain essential to sustaining the program long-term.

Real Impact on Families

The Impact100 Oakland County grant has been instrumental in sustaining and expanding the Weekend Food Program. Hiring a dedicated Program Coordinator has allowed Hospitality House to operate more efficiently while increasing food variety and consistently providing fresh produce.

Parents and caregivers shared how much the program means to their families:

“It helps with food for us due to hard times. I have no job at this time so it’s very helpful for my family.”

“It helps filling the gaps. Things are tight and it helps the kids get through the weekend without struggling more.”

“The snacks have made it so my son always has a snack during snack time the next week during tight pay periods.”

“This program allows my child to prepare a simple meal or snack without assistance.”

A school administrator summarized the broader impact powerfully:

“When a basic need is met consistently, students are better able to return to school feeling nourished, focused, and ready to learn… Weekend food support reinforces a sense of stability and dignity for students, reminding them that their school community cares about their health and success.”

Sharing the Story

Hospitality House continues to share the impact of the Weekend Food Program through:

• Printed brochures and our Annual Report

• A program video featured on our website

• Media coverage, including published photos in the Detroit Free Press (link here)

• Ongoing development of our FY25 Annual Report, which will prominently feature the Weekend Food Program

Looking Ahead

We remain on schedule with our grant agreement and are excited about the continued growth and refinement of the Weekend Food Program. With the support of Impact100 Oakland County and our broader community, Hospitality House will continue working to ensure students have the nourishment they need—every weekend, every school year.