Feeding Futures: United Way of Miami County’s Weekend Meal Deal
In Miami County, nearly half of all students qualify for free or reduced lunch during the school week—but many of those same children face hunger over the weekend when school meals aren’t available. That’s where United Way of Miami County steps in with the Weekend Meal Deal program, a vital initiative aimed at ensuring no child goes hungry when school is out.
Each week during the school year, the Weekend Meal Deal provides bags of kid-friendly, shelf-stable food before they leave school on Friday. These meals help fill the gap for families struggling to afford groceries and ensure that children return to school on Monday ready to learn—not hungry.
Packing and distribution are made possible thanks to an incredible team of volunteers from local churches, community groups, and businesses. Companies like Comerford & Co. PC generously dedicate one day a month to help pack meals—a task that takes just thirty minutes but makes a huge difference.
Stacia Bonifant, the program’s volunteer director, shared, “We believe every child deserves to grow, learn, and thrive with healthy food every day. Our program ensures that elementary school students from low-income families have consistent access to nutritious meals—fueling their bodies, supporting their education, and giving every child a fair chance to succeed.”
Currently serving over 130 students in all three school districts, the Weekend Meal Deal operates in partnership with Food Finders Food Bank and is funded through community donations, grants, and local sponsorships.
United Way Executive Director Morgan Gold adds, “We know that hunger doesn’t take weekends off. This program not only nourishes kids but also relieves some of the financial pressure on families and helps improve attendance, behavior, and academic performance in school.”
The Weekend Meal Deal is more than just a food program—it’s a community-wide effort to uplift children and ensure every student has the opportunity to thrive.
Who Qualifies?
With current funding we start with all HeadStart students and then ask Pipe Creek Elementary, Elmwood Elementary, and North Miami Elementary how many Kindergarten students are in need. Each teacher then identifies those students, and we send parental permission home with the student in August.
How does my child qualify?
If your student is in HeadStart or Kindergarten, ask your child's teacher or administrator.
What kind of food do the children receive and how much do they get?
All the food has been reviewed by nutritionists at Food Finders Food Bank and it's all food that children can prepare with little or no help. The rotation of food includes things like shelf stable milk, peanut butter and jelly, box macaroni and cheese, preserved meat, and cereal.
How can I help?
If you or your company would like to help pack, we would love to have you! Packing takes about a half hour, and we usually pack every Thursday morning at 7:30. However, if you have a group of people who would like to help and 7:30 doesn't work for you please call the office and we will gladly set up another time to have your group help.
Can I donate? How much does it cost to feed a child?
Monetary donations are always appreciated, and food items may be acceptable. We are always looking for snack items, like crackers, granola bars, and fruit snacks to add to the bags-we just need at least 130 because we want to provide the same snack to every child.
As of 2025 it costs $4.50 a child, a week which comes to about $20,000 a year for the entire program.