Building confidence through food literacy education

Our Impact

Over the last decade, The Charlie Cart Project has reached over 500,000 children and families through our 500 community partners across the country.

By The Numbers

500,000

Children and Families Reached Annually

1,400+

Educators Trained

500+

Community Partners Across 47 States

Beyond the Numbers

The Charlie Cart Project opens minds, builds confidence, and changes attitudes toward healthy food.
Food Advocacy
People are blown away that I’ll get these kids to eat beets. [At first] the kids really freak out because beets are so ugly on the outside, but then I show them when you cut it, it’s just beautiful on the inside. Then, they try something with beets, like a rainbow smoothie, and they’re like, “oh, that’s bussin and bussin!”
If it’s one “bussin,” it’s good, if it’s two, it’s really good.
Building confidence through food literacy education
One of my favorite stories is a young teen who hated guacamole, so I worked with her. We talked about what was in it. I had her make it “hands on.” By the end she was a huge fan, and she ran out with what she made to her mom shouting.
“You’ve got to taste this, we gotta make this at home.”
Building confidence through food literacy education
I notice that the more consistently I get to a school, cooking becomes familiar, and the kids feel more confident to try new things. This extends way beyond the kitchen.
Gaining confidence in the kitchen teaches them they can do new and hard things out in the rest of the world.

Stories From the Field

Grant-Funded Charlie Cart Brings Cooking Classes to Northwest Kansas Libraries

June 2026 – Thanks to a grant from the Dane G. Hansen Foundation, the Stockton Public Library acquired a Charlie Cart and is now offering cooking classes for kids and adults across Northwest Kansas – including classes led by a professional chef.

Cooking, food safety being taught in Stockton, Plainville, KS

April 15, 2026 – More than 60 young people in Stockton and Plainville are learning cooking and food safety skills during classes at local libraries made possible by a mobile kitchen called a Charlie Cart.

Charla Matthews Named Oklahoma Principal of the Year

June 4, 2026 – In 2024, Charla Matthews was chosen as the Grove Educational Foundation for Excellence nominee as a Shining Star recipient for her grant, “The Charlie Cart,” which provides a fully stocked mobile kitchen that travels from classroom to classroom. The goal is to enhance student learning by connecting the life skill of […]

Cory Elementary wellness program teaches kids to grow their own food

May 4, 2026 – Students in grades 1 through 5 at Cory Elementary in Denver are learning gardening, cooking, and nutrition — skills their teacher says can help families facing food insecurity.