A Break from Nutrition

Ava is seven years old. She likes to draw and read with her two older brothers. Her parents work hard to provide for their family but their paychecks are barely making ends meet. During winter break, expenses really pile up – heat for their apartment, a babysitter during work hours, a few small holiday gifts. … Read Now

The Hungriest Time of the Year

“You might think feeding a child during a school break is not a big deal…but it’s just enough of an extra expense to impact other areas of life and once again start the spiral downward. It is the cracks which create the gaps which become the tipping point that can be one’s downfall.” – Tammy, … Read Now

The Power of Choice

“This shift [to vouchers] gives our families choices…and choice is empowering.” – Dr. Ivan Duran, Superintendent of the Bellevue School District Last month, a record number of students requested support through Bellevue LifeSpring’s Breaktime-Mealtime™ program. Your investment in this program provided 1,836 students with vital nutrition during spring break. Without your generosity, these students would … Read Now

Creating Transformational Change: Stories from Bellevue LifeSpring’s Luncheons

Over 3,600 kids in Bellevue live in poverty. In the Bellevue School District, 18% of students are at risk of hunger. Approximately 200 children are homeless. The stories behind these shocking numbers are what bring them to life. Stories of families facing unimaginable loss, building new lives and overcoming the cycle of poverty. Bellevue LifeSpring’s … Read Now

20 Years of Breaktime-Mealtime™: What’s Next?

“You might think feeding a child during a school break is not a big deal…but for someone on food stamps it’s just enough of an extra expense to impact other areas of life, and once again start the spiral downward. It is the cracks which create the gaps…which become the tipping point that can be … Read Now

Hungry For Knowledge – The Crucial Link Between Hunger and Education

Addressing hunger and education helps children achieve their full potential.

In Bellevue, 18% of children are living in poverty and food insecure. These children live in an environment that lacks reliable access to a sufficient quantity or quality of affordable, nutritious food. These kids struggle in the classroom hungry and lacking the resources they need to thrive. Limited Bandwidth “We all have limited cognitive bandwidth,” … Read Now

Back to Class with Healthy School Snacks

Breakfast snack packs help kids start their day off right.

Currently, 19% of students are living in poverty right here in Bellevue. Many of these students miss breakfast, go home to an empty house after school or simply don’t have enough to eat at home. Healthy snacks help fill these gaps so kids get enough to eat and are able to stay focused in the … Read Now

A Breaktime-Mealtime Box Keeps Kids Going Strong

Yahir

Yahir and his siblings live with their mom and are a strong family unit. They all pitch in to keep the house running smoothly – Yahir’s chore is vacuuming. Living on a single income means money is tight. They rely on the free meals the kids receive at school to make ends meet. Yahir signed … Read Now

School Snacks for Success

Healthy school snacks support student success in the classroom and beyond.

Healthy school snacks are one of the most frequent requests we receive from the Bellevue School District. Some days, Stevenson Elementary School’s Family Connections Center is overwhelmed with requests for snacks and the cupboards are bare. In one month, they received 26 requests for snacks from 19 teachers. Kids who don’t eat breakfast have a … Read Now

What’s in the Box?

Breaktime-Mealtime box

Jessica is nine years old. She takes the bus to and from school because her mother works long hours. As the days get shorter and colder, Jessica is excited for the holidays but worries about what she will eat during break. She relies on the school meals she receives through the free and reduced-price lunch … Read Now