Kids’ Meals, Inc. Breaks Ground on New Headquarters to Combat Childhood Hunger in Greater Houston
On June 4, 2024, Kids’ Meals, Inc., a leading nonprofit fighting childhood food insecurity and hunger, initiated construction of its new headquarters. The groundbreaking ceremony marked the commencement of a development geared to tackle the growing issue of hunger among young children in the Greater Houston Area.
Established in 2006, Kids’ Meals prides itself on being the only organization in the country delivering free, nourishing meals straight to the doorsteps of Houston's most food-deprived children aged five and under. Since its inception, the nonprofit has delivered over 14 million meals across 56 Houston-area zip codes, reaching a record of 2.4 million meals in 2023 alone. The organization projects to deliver 2.7 million meals by the end of 2024.
The proposed headquarters is the result of generous aid from Houston's philanthropic community, various investors, and devoted volunteers. "Today was a humbling moment, and we are especially grateful for the support we've received as we couldn't do it without them," expressed CEO Beth Harp. “We look forward to feeding and serving thousands more Houston-area children in our new facility upon completion in mid-2025.”
Pictured left to right are Earl Hesterberg, Building Hope Campaign Chair; Beth Harp, Kids’ Meals CEO; Amy Peck, Vice Mayor Pro-Tem; The new facility, strategically placed at 8790 Hammerly Boulevard in Spring Branch, is designed to further the organization's long-term targets and provide the urgently needed expansion of its existing 18,500 square-foot facility. The future 50,000 square-foot establishment houses facilities for food preparation and storage, volunteer efforts, meetings, and office spaces for its 43 employees, alongside an improved van loading area. The facility plans to feed 26,000 preschool-aged children each weekday by 2031.
Investments by BlueHub Capital, through a $32.5 million New Markets Tax Credit (NMTC) contribution, and other private philanthropic donors have been paramount in realizing this ambitious project. The investment resulted in a direct funding of $6.2 million to Kids’ Meals and with additional support from Regions Bank, Classic Lake, and other donors, the organization will be able to increase the number of meals served annually to over 7 million.
With generous donations exceeding $1 million each from renowned organizations, including The Huffington Foundation, Group 1 Automotive, The Brown Foundation, and more, the 'Building Hope Campaign' has witnessed substantial success since its launch in 2021. Presiding over the campaign's fundraising efforts are Earl Hesterberg, former Group 1 Automotive president, and his wife, Susan Hesterberg.
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The groundbreaking ceremony saw participation from local officials, stakeholders and partners. In addition to CEO Beth Harp and Earl Hesterberg, Houston Vice Mayor Pro-Tem Amy Peck addressed the attendees before initiating the ceremonial dig.
To learn more about Kids' Meals and how you can get involved, visit kidsmealsinc.org.
Tiffany Krenek has been on the My Neighborhood News team since August 2021. She is passionate about curating and sharing content that enriches the lives of our readers in a personal, meaningful way. A loving mother and wife, Tiffany and her family live in the West Houston/Cypress region.
