A Note From Our Executive Director

Let’s be clear—when funding for food assistance, education, and community support is cut or delayed, the consequences are immediate and far-reaching. These funding interruptions don’t happen in isolation—they affect children, families, workers, and entire communities. We see it every day. Yet, despite these challenges, we continue to step up, stretch every dollar, and meet the growing needs of our community. But we cannot do this alone. We need policies that acknowledge the reality of hunger and economic insecurity. We need leaders who prioritize children over fiscal austerity and recognize that investing in food security means investing in our collective future—our health, education, and stability. When vital programs are at risk, we must push back. We must demand better.

In her poem Perhaps the World Ends Here, Poet Laureate Joy Harjo writes, “The world begins at a kitchen table. No matter what, we must eat to live. The gifts of the earth are brought and prepared, set on the table. So it has been since creation, and it will go on.” That table is more than just a place for meals—it is the foundation of our communities. It is where families gather, where traditions are passed down, and where resilience and trust are built.

Thank you for standing with us, for believing in this work, and for using your voice to advocate for our children and our seniors. Together, we can hold our leaders accountable, fight for stronger safety nets, and ensure that every kitchen table remains a place of nourishment, connection, and hope.

- Mary Zwoliniski, Executive Director

“Perhaps the World Ends Here” from The Woman Who Fell From the Sky by Joy Harjo, 1994.