Kids Aid is a community solution to "helping kids be kids."
In 2004, as he was dropping his daughter off at school, Mike Berry encountered a little girl that was crying on the playground. He discovered that she was cold, tired from sleeping in her car the night before, and hungry. This interaction planted the seed for Kids Aid and became something he couldn’t ignore. Mike wondered, “Why isn’t someone doing something about kids in our community going hungry?” Then he realized he was that someone, and so he got to work.
He started the program in his garage feeding ten children each week. Moving the operation to his office, employees and clients navigated around boxes of macaroni and cheese and sat on cases of peanut butter. Thanks in large part to Mike’s infectious enthusiasm, Kids Aid then ran a successful capital campaign in 2016 for its own (free and clear) warehouse to call home.
Kids Aid is now available in over 132 locations serving preschool through college-aged students, with approximately 175 volunteers proudly assembling and delivering an average of 3,000 bags a week.
Vision, Mission & Values
When a child is hungry “being a kid” can be hard work. Kids Aid was created to provide food to hungry children within our community. Through the collaborative support of local schools, businesses and individual volunteers, Kids Aid is a community solution to “Helping Kids Be Kids.”
Our Vision
No child experiences hunger in Mesa County
Our Mission
To alleviate childhood hunger so kids can be kids
Our Core Values
- We value kids, considering their needs first
- We value human dignity, infusing compassion in all that we do
- We value community partnership, prioritizing collaboration and joint solutions
- We value clear and simple systems, increasing accessibility, efficiency, and responsiveness
- We value community contribution, acknowledging all who support our mission and vision
- We value connection, operating with gratitude and kindness
Staff & Board
Our crew at Kids Aid may be small, but we are mighty. We have one full time staff member, one part time staff member, and nine members of our board of directors. It is through the incredible care and coordination of each of these people that Kids Aid not only keeps being able to serve our community, but to be able to grow our programming and develop new ways to help children and families.
Tessa KaiserExecutive Director
Emilee PowellPresident
Harry WillsonVice President
Lucas FergusonTreasurer
Mike BerrySecretary
Millie Funderburk
Board Member
Gina Collins
Board Member
Nicole Millican
Board Member
Gavin Walden
Board Member
Sarah Casey
Board Member
Community Partners
We highly value community partnership and community contribution, believing that together we are better. Together we serve more families, elevate our and our partners’ programs and practices, expand our reach to underserved populations, support our community’s health and wellbeing and ultimately, alleviate childhood hunger. Through our collaborative partnerships with individuals, organizations, businesses, and funders, we can do so much—and we are immensely grateful for our relationships.
Thank you all for your faithful support of Kids Aid!
| Alan and Linda Robinson |
| Aleita Zeeck |
| Alice Nikkel |
| Alpine Cable & Construction Inc. |
| American Lutheran Church |
| Amy Waller |
| Amy and Christopher Neilsen |
| Andrew and Jennifer McKenzie |
| Angelina Salazar |
| Ann Land |
| Anne Wenzel and David Miller |
| Arthur and Pamela Bennett |
| Arthur Smith and Ann Gibson |
| B.J. and P.R. Kendrick |
| Bank of the San Juans |
| Barbara Borst |
| Barbara Ellsworth |
| Barbara Hartshorn |
| Becky Utt |
| Beverley Postmus |
| Bill and Linda White |
| Bill and Loretta Branton |
| Blythe Group + Co |
| Bob and Marie Boulger |
| Bob and Nancy Wilson |
| Brad and Patty Taylor |
| Brian Haut |
| Brian Olson |
| Brian and Susan Wiseman |
| Brione Renzi |
| Bruce Benge |
| Burton Orthodontics |
| Caerus Operating, LLC |
| Carl and Laurie Sitterley |
| Carla Inskeep |
| Carol F Patten |
| Carol Lawrence |
| Carol Todd |
| Carol Wilson |
| Carol and Craig Tullio |
| Carolyn Gillett |
| Casey Armendariz |
| Center for Spiritual Living |
| Chamberlin Architects |
| Charities Aid Foundation America |
| Charlene Knoll |
| Charles and Lee Ann McAda |
| Chris Muhr |
| Christopher Welsh |
| Chuck and Robbie Breaux |
| Cindy Denison |
| Clark and Mary Atkinson |
| Claudia Jantzer |
| Colorado Foundation |
| Colorado Elks Association Charities, Inc. |
| Colorado Lions Foundation |
| Colorado Mesa University |
| Conrad and Kim Cole |
| Craig and Kathy Spoering |
| Credit Union of Colorado |
| Cynthia and Stephen Norman |
| D Ferris |
| Daniel Elsner |
| David Jensen |
| David Leonard |
| David Mathiason |
| David Ray |
| David Thurow |
| David and Dona Tiffany |
| David and Kathleen Dirks |
| David and Kristy Armour |
| David and Llorna McIlnay |
| David and Michelle Berry |
| David and Stephanie Mercer |
| Dean Bressler |
| Debby Creasey |
| Debe Colby |
| Deborah Schultz |
| Dee Stone |
| Denise Hoctor |
| Dennis Kirtland |
| Dennis and Katherine Wagner |
| Dennis and Patti Hill |
| Dennis Garland and Sara Urso |
| Dick and Sharon Scariano |
| Donald and Julie Kendall |
| Donna Cooper |
| Donna Jackson |
| Doug McCaw |
| Doug Aden and Lorraine Jensen |
| Doug and Kathy Bordlemay |
| E. L. Christlieb |
| Edgar and Wanda Treu |
| Edith Lesher |
| Eleanor Muhr |
| Elevate Kids |
| Elizabeth Bartoszek |
| Elizabeth Hall |
| Elizabeth Wheeler |
| Ellen Braun |
| Eric Freeman |
| Eric Noblitt |
| Erin Doebele |
| Faith Heights Church |
| First Congregational Church |
| First Light Home Care |
| First Presbyterian Church |
| First United Methodist Church |
| Francis and Kathryn Wilkinson |
| Fruita Lions Club |
| Fruita Thrift Shop |
| Gary and Carol Rush |
| Gary and Dora Alstatt |
| Gary Dorosz and Catherine Theobald Dorosz |
| Gavin and Lynn Walden |
| Gear & Associates Realty |
| Gears and Grinds LLC – Mountain Air Roasters |
| George and Eileen Gers |
| Gilbert Madison |
| Give Lively Foundation Inc. |
| Glenn and Judith Kimbrough |
| Glenn and Nanette McNees |
| Glenna and Lyle Ottosen |
| Gordon Weaver |
| Gordon and LayChin Nicholson |
| Gregg Kampf |
| Gregory and Sally Schaefer |
| Gwen Bulla |
| Harriet Stephens |
| Harry Willson |
| Hayden Howard |
| Heartsong Montessori |
| Heather Bennett |
| Henry and Judith Drake |
| High Country Beverage |
| Hollis Wilson |
| Howard Hart |
| Idexx Laboratories |
| Irwin and Penny Stewart |
| Ivan Alkes |
| Jack Richardson |
| Jack and Jolene Neckels |
| Jacqueline Bigum |
| James and Barbara TerLouw |
| James and Ida Leiding |
| James and Josephine Peterson |
| Jane Ashworth |
| Jane Fitzgerald |
| Janet Boughton |
| Janet Johnson |
| Janet Jones |
| Janina Grooms |
| Jay and Bonnie Armentrout |
| Jean Yale |
| Jeffrey Louden |
| Jennifer McReynolds |
| Jennifer Stauffer |
| Jeremy and Barbara Brown |
| Jewish Community Center Of Grand Junction, Inc. |
| Jo Cornforth |
| Joan Ryan |
| Jodi Quinn and Allan Worley Quinn |
| JoEllen Foutz |
| John Ballagh |
| John Buchner |
| John Garlisch |
| John Thomas |
| John and Deb Ratto |
| John and Michele Potter |
| John and Nancy Harris |
| Josh and Kate Holmes |
| Joyce Vance |
| Judith Shoffner |
| Julie Christianson |
| Junior Service League Of Grand Junction |
| Karen and Thomas Harkin |
| Karen Davis and Mark Ledebur |
| Kari Sewell |
| Karla and David Klemm |
| Kathleen Santy |
| Kathryn Wilkinson |
| Kathy Pritzl |
| KayDawn Simpson |
| Keita and Cliff Davis |
| Kelli Reiter |
| Ken and Margy Heitt |
| Kenneth King |
| Kenneth and Carolyn Dorman |
| Kimberly Redman |
| Kirk Rider |
| Knute and Sandi Knudson |
| Kroger |
| Lanny McCormick |
| Larry Collins |
| Larry Jones |
| Larry and Ellen Wade |
| Larry and Kathleen Scheid |
| Larry and Linda Reed |
| Laura Jones |
| Lauren Goodknight |
| Laurie Poyer |
| Lee Morrell |
| Leo Sisneros |
| Leonard and Frances White |
| Leonard and Janet Asnicar |
| Leslie and Helen Doehling |
| Lexi-Anne Taddeo |
| Linda Jameson |
| Linda Lee |
| Linda Mendenhall |
| Linda and Ron Linda Eden-Wallace and Ron Wallace |
| Linda Dittman and Erica Lovett-Fournier |
| Lois McHugh |
| Lora Page |
| Lori Henderson |
| Louis and Carole Sue Brackett |
| Louise and Kenneth Masterson |
| Lyn Fraser |
| Lyn Weber |
| Lynette Richardson |
| Lynn Brownson |
| M Jane and Michael Andrews |
| Marcia Hayter |
| Marie Pierce |
| Mark Gardner |
| Mark and Beverly Goodrich |
| Mark and Dena Neujahr |
| Mark and Leslie Anema |
| Mark and Robin Buchanan |
| Marla Ferguson-Leak |
| Marshall and Suzanne Steel |
| Martin and Marianne Basinger |
| Mary Cornforth Cawood |
| Mary Greiner |
| Mary Myers |
| Mary Roos |
| Mary Tackett |
| Mary and Hugh Wise |
| Mary and Steve Donivan |
| Maurice Moore |
| Mays Concrete, Inc |
| Melinda Willmon |
| Mesa County USBC |
| Michael Baker |
| Michael Leak |
| Michael and Dyann Blackburn |
| Michael and Terrie Knoll |
| Mike Taigman |
| Mike and Debbie Berry |
| Millie Funderburk |
| Miriam Rapp |
| Mollie Park |
| Monument Baptist Church |
| Nancy Tanner |
| Oldcastle SW Group |
| Orrin and Margaret Beckner |
| Palea Goemmel and Gloria Duggan |
| Pam Chiaro |
| Parker Gaty |
| Pat Brinegar |
| Patricia Amadeo |
| Patricia Severson |
| Patty and K Scott Thompson |
| Paul Padyk |
| Phill and Trish Raimer |
| Phillip Chambers |
| Phyllis Berry |
| Primary Care Partners, Inc. |
| Rachel Sauer |
| Rachel and Aaron LaCount |
| Randy Pifer |
| Raymond and Sheryl Holley |
| Rebecca Haas |
| Redlands Lions Club |
| Renaissance Charitable Foundation |
| Rheda Maslyk |
| Richard Gosselin |
| Richard and Connie Humphrey |
| Richard and Joyce Larsen |
| Richard and Martha Arnold |
| Rita and Roger Shenkel |
| Robert Bowman |
| Robert Murphy |
| Robert Roemer |
| Robert Wagner |
| Robert and Dorothy Hirons |
| Robert and Pamela Scala |
| Rodney and Susan Martinez |
| Roger Williams |
| Roger and Beverly Zuerlein |
| Roger and Helen McWilliams |
| Roger and Javine Martin |
| Ronald and Victoria Carrick |
| Roseann Lyle |
| Rosemary Ryan |
| Roy Ness |
| Roy Weaver |
| Roy and Charleah Firestone |
| RSI Entech |
| Ruth Coatney |
| Saint Matthew’s Episcopal Church |
| Sarah Morris |
| Sarah Walsh |
| Saundra Zuroff |
| SC and Dorothy Miller |
| Seth Rockey |
| Shari Zen |
| Sharon Brennan |
| Sharon Gillespie |
| Sharon Jordan |
| Sharyl Peterson |
| Sherrie Blake |
| Sherron Helms |
| Sherry Schreiner |
| Sherry Thompson |
| Sherry Wright |
| St. Paul Ladies Fellowship |
| Stanley Hutchinson |
| Stanley and Cindy Carlson |
| Stanley and Larrayne Zygmunt |
| Stephanie Tuin |
| Stephen White |
| Stephen and Lysa Erkenbrack |
| Sterling Jordan |
| Steve and Robin Heil |
| Steven and Emilee Powell |
| Sue Taigman |
| Susan Carbone |
| Susan Gilb |
| Susan Maclean |
| Susan Rochon |
| Suzanne Tucker |
| Tanya Davis |
| Ted Carpenter |
| Teresa Perkins |
| Terry Massis |
| Texas Foundation |
| Texas Presbyterian Foundation |
| The Cranston Family Foundation |
| The Kroger Co. Foundation |
| The Wilson Family Foundation |
| Third Sector Innovations Inc. |
| Thom and Shari Seagren |
| Thomas and Jo Shiflet |
| Thomas and Mary Kalenian |
| Thompson and Sue Ann Buick |
| Timberwolf Welding, Inc |
| U.S. Charitable Gift Trust |
| United Methodist Women – Crossroads United Methodist Church |
| United Way Of Mesa County |
| Virginia Keller |
| W. Kent Keith and Meredith Aldrich |
| Walid Bou-Matar |
| Walter Environmental Group INC |
| Wanda Putnam |
| Warren Clark |
| Waste Management |
| Wayne and Judith Hopper |
| Western Colorado Community Foundation |
| Western Healthcare Alliance |
| Wheels of Faith Chapter 959 |
| Whitewater Building Materials |
| Whitworth Motoring Club |
| William Petty |
| William and Carol Scott |
| Wilson Family Foundation |
| Winona Beckner |
| Wylie and Carrie Miller |
News & Publications
To keep our community informed, we do our best to distribute an information-packed newsletter as well as postcards and email updates. For more frequent updates and current information, we use social media platforms such as Facebook to share updates about upcoming events, opportunities, and program changes. We’d love to keep in touch, so please follow us.
For more in depth information about our organization, including current 990s, please visit our GuideStar Profile.