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Fighting Food Insecurity in Donelson

One in four youth in Nashville lack reliable access to food, leaving many students and their families reliant on schools for meals.
But what happens during school breaks?

By summer 2017, HIP Eats was born at the HIP Donelson Farmers Market, providing free meals to families in need and enabling them to enjoy fresh food, live music, and community support. Over time, the program expanded to include food boxes, fresh produce, and meal vouchers to local restaurants like Nectar Urban Cantina.

Our mission is to ensure that no child goes hungry by providing nutritious meals to food-insecure students at school. We believe that every child deserves access to wholesome food, enabling them to focus, learn, and thrive academically without the burden of hunger. Through partnerships with schools, local organizations, and volunteers, we coordinate efforts to provide meals and snacks to children who might otherwise go without. By addressing food insecurity, we aim to break down barriers to education and create a brighter, healthier future for all students.