The Story of Seymour Food 2 Kids
In February 2023, I participated in a Food 2 Kids program in another community with my 4-year-old daughter, Mackenzie. Afterward, she told me she wanted to help feed children in need when she started kindergarten. Her compassion struck me deeply, and I tucked away the idea of finding something similar in Seymour.
Just a few months later, in May 2023, I was introduced to All In Seymour, a group dedicated to improving life for our community. I was immediately drawn in—not only could I involve my children, but I also shared their mission of making Seymour a better place to live. It was through this group that I learned a staggering truth: nearly 40% of Seymour residents struggle to provide for their families.
That reality, combined with Mackenzie’s wish to help, made me realize how urgent it was to address food insecurity in our schools. Especially with the 2023–2024 school year bringing the end of universal free lunches, many families suddenly faced hundreds of dollars in new expenses. I began working with All In Seymour on community dinners and listening sessions, which confirmed that a Food 2 Kids program could truly make a difference here.
With the guidance of the amazing women at Food 2 Kids Milford, I connected with the principal and staff at Bungay School, where Mackenzie was starting kindergarten. Their excitement and support gave me the confidence to move forward. By January 2024, the Board of Education had approved the program—and it was happening much sooner than I had imagined.
On February 12, 2024, seven Bungay students joined me in my home to pack six weeks’ worth of weekend food bags for their classmates. Just two days later, I delivered the first bags to Bungay, where they were discreetly placed into children’s backpacks. Each week since, I’ve dropped off bags, often with the help of kids who pack and learn alongside me about giving back. In just a few months, our community donated enough to cover 18 weeks of food bags, proving how generous and compassionate Seymour truly is.
As the need became clear, I realized the program had to grow. I researched how to establish a nonprofit, wrote the bylaws and articles of incorporation myself, and gathered a board of dedicated community members to help formalize the effort.
On March 26, 2024, after seven weeks of waiting, we received our official 501(c)(3) recognition. Seymour Food 2 Kids was born—founded on a child’s simple wish to help her classmates and fueled by the power of community.
— Shannon Bullard
