A Partnership That Nourishes Our Community

A day of learning, play, and development can’t happen when children are hungry, yet too often that’s the challenge they face.

Last year, one in three Massachusetts families experienced child‑level food insecurity, according to Project Bread, an organization that provides food assistance in the Commonwealth.

Through the Ellis Meal Program, every child at Ellis is served breakfast, lunch, and snacks daily, providing up to 80% of their nutritional needs. For many students, these meals are an essential and reliable source of nourishment, supporting physical development, focus, and readiness to learn.

The Ellis Meal Program is fundamental to the Ellis Early Learning vision. As the national campaign No Kid Hungry reminds us, “Food is the most important school supply.” For many Ellis families, the food program offers peace of mind, ensuring their children will have the fuel they need each day to fully participate, play, learn, and thrive. With 100% meal participation, the program also creates an inclusive environment where access to good nutrition is universal, strengthening a sense of community across Ellis classrooms.

What makes the Ellis Meal Program especially powerful is the partnership behind it. Ellis meals are prepared by iCater, the social enterprise food services program of Pine Street Inn, an organization that has served people experiencing homelessness in Boston since 1969. Today, Pine Street Inn is the largest homeless shelter in New England. Its shelters, housing, and workforce development programs support approximately 2,400 people daily. Through iCater, Pine Street nourishes communities while creating pathways to employment for shelter residents who can one day become self-sufficient

Behind every meal served at Ellis is a full culinary classroom. Participants in the iCater workforce development program, typically referred by caseworkers, complete a six‑month training that blends culinary instruction with life and job readiness skills. Trainees build experience in professional cooking and kitchen operations, computer literacy, job interviewing, mindfulness, and workplace readiness. Hands‑on coaching helps participants understand both how to do the work and how to carry these skills into long-term employment. As iCater Director Julianna Halford explains, “We do a lot in the community with our trainees, but it’s a partnership, not a customer–employee relationship.”

The iCater program also fosters creativity and connection. Visiting chefs from across Greater Boston lead workshops, including a popular “Bake Off” experience modeled after The Great British Bake Off, where trainees work in teams to hone the collaboration and communication skills that are essential in professional kitchens.

Each cohort includes 20–25 trainees, with more than 130 people participating annually in culinary training. Many are reentering the workforce or rebuilding stability after significant life challenges. The impact is lasting. One trainee, after discovering a passion for baking through iCater, went on to secure a job at Flour Bakery and now returns to volunteer at iCater, mentoring others beginning their journeys. “We see these lasting relationships frequently, so you really get to see the impact this program can have on individuals,” Julianna says.

iCater also leaves a significant mark on the broader Boston community. It produces over one million meals annually and delivers 19,000 meals weekly across Greater Boston. Ellis takes pride in supplying the meals our children need to learn and grow, while knowing that every meal served supports job training and economic stability for adults working toward self-sufficiency.

United by shared values of dignity and equity, Pine Street Inn and Ellis have built a powerful partnership. The Ellis Meal Program exists because of a community that believes every child deserves the strongest possible start and that meeting basic physical needs is where a child’s intellectual, social, and emotional growth can begin to develop.

You can help sustain this vital program.

A gift today supports nutritious meals for Ellis children and meaningful job training and opportunity for members of our broader community.

Help us keep every child fed, focused, and ready to thrive. [Link to Give]