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.

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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.

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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.”

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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

Cumberland County Public Library receives $40,500 grant for culinary literacy and wellness programs

The Cumberland County Public Library (CCPL) is excited to announce a transformative $40,500 grant awarded for its innovative “Culinary Literacy and Wellness at the Library” initiative. This generous funding enables the acquisition of two state-of-the-art Charlie Cart mobile kitchens, revolutionizing the library’s culinary programming and outreach efforts.

Feeding Kids an Understanding of Why Food Matters

When supplemental food relief and a strong social safety net are able to work in tandem with food programming that’s responsive to community needs and cultural backgrounds, the whole food system is better off.

Emanuel County Family Connection provides supplemental educational opportunities

Emanuel County Family Connection provides supplemental education opportunities to students in K-5th grades focusing on improving literacy and nutrition.

Beyond Books: Food literacy programs teach more than cooking at your local library

Culinary literacy is gaining momentum in libraries across the country! Read more about how food programs at libraries in Brooklyn, NY; Cleveland, Ohio and Charleston, SC are serving their communities in this new report from the Charlie Cart Project. By Sarah Henry

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