Shelia Gilbert Is Back Home!
Thanks for an Amazing 2022!!!
"I have loved every minute of my miracle journey!"
Food for Kids is a nonprofit organization founded in St. Joseph Missouri by Kenzie and Shelia Gilbert to address food insufficiency in children in that area. They were heartbroken to see children hungry and their passion began to address food insufficiency by providing lunches during summer months. Within a year and with the support of community partners, churches, and volunteers.
In 2007, Kenzie and Shelia established a 501(c)3 status for Food for Kids. Even before the filing, they were already serving the community and feeding children, families and the homeless. The Pandemic created an additional hardship and many lives were lost, including Kenzie Gilbert, Shelia’s beloved husband. Even in the midst of her own grief and a global pandemic, she continued to serve and grow the organization in Missouri, until another unfortunate event happened; her mother had a debilitating stroke which left her unable to care for herself.
Shelia made the decision to move back home to take care of her ailing mother but her passion to serve the hungry remained. Once at home, in the area that she grew up in, she began to see struggling families and children in the same situation that she left in Missouri. Since she obtained her 501(c)3 status in Houston, she has been serving lunches to in the Hiram Clarke and surrounding areas twice a week. She is presently seeking to expand to at least 5 days a week to ensure that no child or family suffers from hunger.
Although well established in Missouri, she began building in Houston and seeking sponsors, donors and supporters to assist in her efforts. Food insufficiency is a real challenge for many families in the area and affects health, education and overall well-being. By addressing this basic need, Shelia can ensure that children focus on enjoying childhood and remove the stigma of hunger and poverty, one child at a time.
ST. JOE FOOD FOR KIDS provides more than just food but outdoor activities to involve children in expressing themselves through arts & crafts, painting the street etc. Our organization welcomes sponsors to provide mattresses to needy families and women just out of prison.
About Food For Kids
FOOD FOR KIDS is a nonprofit organization founded in St. Joseph Missouri by Kenzie and Shelia Gilbert to address food insufficiency in children in that area. They were heartbroken to see children hungry and their passion began to address food insufficiency by providing lunches during summer months. Within a year and with the support of community partners, churches, and volunteers.
In 2007, Kenzie and Shelia established a 501(c)3 status for FOOD FOR KIDS. Even before the filing, they were already serving the community and feeding children, families and the homeless. The Pandemic created an additional hardship and many lives were lost, including Kenzie Gilbert, Shelia’s beloved husband. Even in the midst of her own grief and a global pandemic, she continued to serve and grow the organization in Missouri, until another unfortunate event happened; her mother had a debilitating stroke which left her unable to care for herself.
Shelia made the decision to move back home to take care of her ailing mother but her passion to serve the hungry remained. Once at home, in the area that she grew up in, she began to see struggling families and children in the same situation that she left in Missouri. Since she obtained her 501(c)3 status in Houston, she has been serving lunches to in the Hiram Clarke and surrounding areas twice a week. She is presently seeking to expand to at least 5 days a week to ensure that no child or family suffers from hunger.
Although well established in Missouri, she began building in Houston and seeking sponsors, donors and supporters to assist in her efforts. Food insufficiency is a real challenge for many families in the area and affects health, education and overall well-being. By addressing this basic need, Shelia can ensure that children focus on enjoying childhood and remove the stigma of hunger and poverty, one child at a time.
ST. JOE FOOD FOR KIDS provides more than just food but outdoor activities to involve children in expressing themselves through arts & crafts, painting the street etc. Our organization welcomes sponsors to provide mattresses to needy families and women just out of prison.
Other Highlights
Kenzie & Shelia Gilbert
St. Joseph, Missouri
Kenzie died in December 2020
Our Story
It all started when a group of kids came up to Kenzie and Shelia Gilbert's pickup while they were inside eating lunch one day and asked for food. The couple took a banana, broke it into five pieces and shared the rest of their lunch.
"When you see kids begging us for something, we didn't like it. It just kind of touched us", Mrs. Gilbert said. "We thought maybe we should do something about it."
What the transplanted Houston couple did was start a program called FOOD FOR KIDS. It's a program to feed Mid-town children during the months when school is out who might not otherwise receive a meal at home.
In a year, the program expanded from feeding children to feeding families. With contributions from area churches and businesses, FOOD FOR KIDS is able to give canned goods, bread and other food items to families in the community. At certain times, they host a free turkey giveaway and offer free haircuts to Mid-town youth.
Mrs. Gilbert said she and her husband both were honored and excited to be chosen for "20 Who Count" this year. I am overwhelmed", she said. "It's an honor for somebody to recognize us.
Co-founder Shelia Gilbert, who started the organization with her late husband, Kenzie, who died in December 2020 is determined to keep the vision and passion she shared with her husband, now in their hometown in Houston, TX.
