Toddler Tummies Program

The Toddler Tummies program is a strategic part of NourishNC’s vision to be “anywhere and everywhere” children need us in New Hanover County. NourishNC partners with other nonprofits and community agencies that are already serving children ages 1-4 who have been exposed to, or are experiencing: poverty, violence, depression, Adverse Childhood Events (ACEs), developmental delays, homelessness, anger issues, incarcerated parent(s), etc. Our community partners deliver high quality food, provided by NourishNC, right into the homes of our community’s most vulnerable children. Every food box contains a prescription for 15-20 pounds of fresh produce, lean meats, eggs, and wheat bread which can be picked up at NourishNC.

Access to high quality food is intimately intertwined with a child’s future outcomes. If our community’s children are to reach higher levels of health and wellness, then we must meet their most basic needs first. Our goal is to address these children’s unmet physiological needs so our partners can more effectively educate, heal, and nurture them.

“Each family has had their own individual reaction, but the themes of family responses have been from deep relief from their worries about meals to big-time excitement.  When I brought a meal box to one of the families I personally work with, I watched the little girl open the box and take each item out. She carefully showed each item to her mom, and kept repeating: ‘for me! for me!’ What was amazing about this experience is this child has an expressive language delay, and very rarely uses the two and three word phrases that would be typical of her development. It was a delight to see her and her mom share in opening the box and hear her use express her happiness with words!”

– Jessica Canavan, MSW, LCSW, Child First Clinical Supervisor at Coastal Horizons Center, Inc.

Your donations are what makes this type of “deep relief” and “big-time excitement” possible.

Thank you for helping NourishNC build happy and healthy kids!