Giving Back

Stories behind the food we love.
AFC cofounders (l-r) Princess Haley, Michelle Horovitz, Tasha Powell

A Taste for Change in Minneapolis

By Stacy Brooks

What do you get when three people form an organization that offers healthy food opportunities in an underserved Minneapolis community? Change for the good of everyone!

zestbox family

A Personal Chef Battled Cancer: Now She’s Teaching Others About Clean Eating

By Laura Henty

After two separate bouts of cancer in her family, this mother of two launched a business to help other families thrive, with an assist from some very healthy food.

Sean Smith and Brayden LeBlanc-Jackson with cotton candy

The Puffs are Taking Cotton Candy to New Heights, Literally

By Kate Eplboim

LA residents Sean Smith and Brayden LeBlanc-Jackson left their corporate jobs with the mission of doing something where they could be “as queer and colorful and ridiculous” as they wanted to be. The result is The Puffs, their cotton candy company that specializes in “huge ridiculous shapes.”

DNP Team 2 L to R Kurt, Muhammad, Mike

Filling a Void in North Philly with Pizza and Opportunity

By AnnMarie Mattila

Two entrepreneurs start a pizzeria that exclusively employs formerly incarcerated people as a way to give them a chance while also feeding an underserved community.

Dana Perella making cookies

This 11-Year-Old Is on a Mission to Save Lives, One Cookie at a Time

By Elizabeth Hazard

At seven, Dana Perella decided she wanted to do something for her friend, who was diagnosed with a genetic disorder called Batten. So she started baking cookies.

Frontline Workers Go Bananas for Bread

By AnnMarie Mattila

Using his mom’s recipe, with an able assist provided by the kindness of others, this telecommunications professional turned some home-baked goodness into food on the table for people in need.

chef hui bag recipient

A Collective in Hawai’i Comes Together to Feed Those In Need

By Breanna Rose

Hui is a Hawaiian word that refers to a partnership, alliance, or team. And that’s what the collective called Chef Hui is all about: A collaboration of stakeholders from all walks of life uniting through a shared mission to “keeping farmers farming, chefs cooking and communities fed.”

lady justice brewing founders

Sandra Day IPA? Yes, Please!

By AnnMarie Mattila

It’s a simple mission: Brew great beer. Use the money to support charities. Welcome to Lady Justice Brewing which supports and empowers women and girls in Colorado.

The Teens Behind Urban BEET are Creating Regenerative Farms to Fight Hunger

By Elizabeth Goldish

Inspired by a high school project, a team of young people are reimagining food security by planting seeds of hope in the fight against hunger.