Our mission
To empower youth to fight hunger in our community.
We provide weekend food bags through local schools and supply food for snack closets in schools and other community organizations. We are proud to support schools and organizations throughout the Connecticut communities of Seymour, Oxford, Ansonia and Derby.
Our story
Community Food 2 Kids began with the heart of a child.
In 2023, our founder, Shannon Bullard, volunteered with a Food 2 Kids program in another community alongside her daughter, Mackenzie. Shortly after starting kindergarten, Mackenzie noticed some classmates didn’t have snacks and asked if they could help children in Seymour too.
That simple act of compassion became the beginning of something much bigger. With guidance from Food 2 Kids Milford, support from local schools, and the generosity of countless community members, we launched in 2024 as Seymour Food 2 Kids. Around a kitchen table, seven students packed the very first weekend food bags for classmates in need.
Read Shannon’s full story
Just a few months later, in May 2023, I was introduced to All In Seymour , a group dedicated to improving life for our community. I was immediately drawn in, not only could I involve my children, but I also shared their mission of making Seymour a better place to live. It was through this group that I learned a staggering truth: nearly 40% of Seymour residents struggle to provide for their families.
That reality, combined with Mackenzie’s wish to help, made me realize how urgent it was to address food insecurity in our schools. Especially with the 2023-2024 school year bringing the end of universal free lunches, many families suddenly faced hundreds of dollars in new expenses. I began working with All In Seymour on community dinners and listening sessions, which confirmed that a Food 2 Kids program could truly make a difference here.
With the guidance of the amazing women at Food 2 Kids Milford, I connected with the principal and staff at Bungay School, where Mackenzie was starting kindergarten. Their excitement and support gave me the confidence to move forward. By January 2024, the Board of Education had approved the program, and it was happening much sooner than I had imagined.
On February 12, 2024, seven Bungay students joined me in my home to pack six weeks’ worth of weekend food bags for their classmates. Just two days later, I delivered the first bags to Bungay, where they were discreetly placed into children’s backpacks. Each week since, I’ve dropped off bags, often with the help of kids who pack and learn alongside me about giving back. In just a few months, our community donated enough to cover 18 weeks of food bags, proving how generous and compassionate Seymour truly is.
As the need became clear, I realized the program had to grow. I researched how to establish a nonprofit, wrote the bylaws and articles of incorporation myself, and gathered a board of dedicated community members to help formalize the effort.
On March 26, 2024, after seven weeks of waiting, we received our official 501(c)(3) recognition. Seymour Food 2 Kids was born, founded on a child’s simple wish to help her classmates and fueled by the power of community.
, Shannon Bullard
Growing our mission
Our name changed because our community grew.
Seymour will always be where our story began. It represents the heart, compassion, and youth leadership that started this movement.
Community Food 2 Kids represents our future: a future where more children, families, and communities can benefit from the support and generosity that have always defined who we are.
While we’ve grown, one thing hasn’t changed. We believe children can inspire incredible change, and when a community comes together, no child has to face hunger alone.
New name.
Same mission.
Bigger impact.
Founders
Meet the Bullards.
Shannon Bullard
Founder
Shannon has been a proud member of the Seymour community for more than two decades and has always been actively involved in volunteering, particularly with the Seymour Ambulance. Her passion for working with children led her to become the Executive Director of Julia Day Nursery in Ansonia. Starting Seymour Food 2 Kids brings together the two things she cares most about, helping others and giving back to her community.
More about Shannon
Shannon firmly believes that no child should go hungry, and no parent should have to choose between food and shelter. She is proud to pass these values on to her daughters, Mackenzie and Amaya, and to involve other children in the community by teaching them the importance of empathy, teamwork, and giving back. She is honored to have started an organization that helps instill these values in the next generation and is grateful for the board members who joined her on this journey to make a difference.
Mackenzie & Amaya Bullard
Co-Founders
“We helped pack food bags for kids in other towns, and then we wanted to help kids in Seymour too. Being kind is important because it makes people happy, and it makes us happy too. We like unpacking boxes and putting food on the shelves. We feel proud that our friends and family want to help us.”
When Mackenzie grows up, she wants to be a doctor to help people who are sick.
When Amaya grows up, she wants to be a dentist so everyone can have clean teeth.
Board of Directors
The people behind the bags.
Our dedicated Board of Directors brings experience, heart, and a shared commitment to supporting local children and helping our program grow.
Kelly Dandorph
President
Kelly is proud to be a lifelong Seymour resident. She currently works as a Residential Program Manager for a nonprofit agency, overseeing care for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, so giving back has always been one of her greatest passions. When she learned about Community Food 2 Kids, she knew she wanted to get involved to give back to her own community. This program gives her the chance to directly impact our youth and inspire others to do the same.
More about Kelly
Kelly believes that no child should ever worry about where their next meal will come from. Hunger keeps children from growing, learning, and thriving into the adults of tomorrow. Being part of Food 2 Kids allows her to contribute to something greater than herself, and knowing she can make a difference in the community is truly special. She has never forgotten learning the Golden Rule as a child, “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.”
Amber Moore
Vice President
Amber has been a proud Seymour resident for over a decade, raising her three children here with her husband. She loves the close-knit community, where neighbors truly support one another. When she learned about Community Food 2 Kids, she knew she wanted to be involved. The mission of “kids feeding kids” resonated deeply, and the bagging events have given her children a hands-on way to learn about empathy, sharing, and community.
More about Amber
Amber’s commitment to service began after college, when she volunteered with Passionist Volunteers International in Jamaica, and continued through her early career as a nurse. Today, she serves as Director of Technology and Philanthropy at Compass Furnished Apartments, where she combines technical expertise with community service. She is honored to bring these experiences to Community Food 2 Kids and to help grow its impact in the community.
Jolene Tiano
Treasurer
Jolene has worked in the childcare field for over 35 years and has a passion for supporting families who work hard to make ends meet. Having raised three children of her own, she understands the challenges young families often face. While raising her children in Seymour, she was actively involved in many community organizations and saw firsthand how important it is to reach out and help others.
More about Jolene
Jolene now volunteers with several local food pantries that address food insecurity and is excited to be part of Community Food 2 Kids, supporting its mission of kids helping kids. Jolene has had the joy of watching Mackenzie’s idea grow into a thriving nonprofit and is proud to support everything Community Food 2 Kids stands for.
Jessica Nunez
Communications Chair
Jessica was first drawn to Seymour by the convenience of working at Griffin Health in Derby, but over time she has built deep roots here and is proud to call it home while raising her family. A personal development podcast encouraged her to connect with people making a difference locally, and when Shannon sent her a serendipitous text inviting her to join this new program, it felt like divine intervention, a perfect alignment of purpose and opportunity.
More about Jessica
As a parent of three daughters, being part of this project from the ground up is exciting not just for her, but for her whole family.
Meagan Arcoma
Program & Community Engagement Chair
Meagan and her husband moved to Seymour nearly a decade ago and are now raising their three young children here. She first became involved with Community Food 2 Kids alongside her children as a volunteer bagger. With each event, as she learned more about the organization and its mission, she knew it was something she truly wanted to be part of and support in a bigger way.
More about Meagan
As a pediatric nurse for nearly 16 years, Meagan has seen firsthand how food insecurity affects children, not only physically, but mentally and emotionally as well. Community Food 2 Kids not only helps feed children in need within our community, but also creates opportunities for young volunteers to get involved and truly understand the impact they are making, something Meagan and her husband work to instill in their own children.
Over the past two years, Meagan has watched the organization grow tremendously. She is excited to work alongside this incredible group and bring her many years of experience caring for children to further support the mission.
Jennifer Magri
Secretary
jenniferm@seymourfood2kids.org
Jen is a lifelong Valley resident who hopes to share her experience and commitment to community service and youth advocacy in her role as a board member of Community Food 2 Kids. She understands that children need to have access to the basic resources they need to thrive. Through her personal and professional experiences, Jen has developed a strong understanding of food insecurity (20% of Valley residents) and its impact on families and students. As the parent of three public school educators and a former Board of Education member herself, she has first hand insight into the challenges many children face inside and outside of the classroom and the critical role that nutrition plays in academic success, well-being and stability.
More about Jennifer
Jen is passionate about strengthening community partnerships, raising awareness, and assisting Community Food 2 Kids scale operationally in their next phase of growth. When not working or volunteering, Jen can be found crafting, cheering on the UConn Huskies or relaxing beside a campfire in the spring and summer months in Rhode Island with family and friends.
Melissa Doty
Board Member
Melissa has lived and raised her family in Seymour, a community she truly loves. Her daughter Genevieve, along with her stepdaughters Aliyah and Kyleigh, are growing up here, and she feels blessed to call this town home. Melissa has been active in the PTA since 2019 and now serves as Vice President and Secretary, which has given her the chance to connect with many wonderful families. After many years in childcare, Melissa now works as a Referrals Specialist at St. Mary’s Hospital and feels grateful to be part of such a caring community.
More about Melissa
When Shannon shared her vision for Community Food 2 Kids, Melissa knew she wanted to be part of it. Having faced challenges herself, she understands what struggling families go through and want them to know they are not alone. Melissa is proud to support this mission and grateful to all who have donated, your generosity has already helped so many children and families, and together we will continue to make a difference.
Diana Greco
Board Member
Both Diana and her husband grew up in Seymour and are now raising their children here, which gives them a deep sense of connection to this community and its future. When she first learned about Community Food 2 Kids, the mission immediately compelled her to get involved. She believes in teaching children the importance of compassion, service, and giving back from an early age.
More about Diana
In her professional life, Diana is an APRN and owns a private practice providing psychiatric medication management to adults. Through her work, she has seen firsthand the lasting impact that food insecurity can have on long-term mental health and overall well-being. Supporting Community Food 2 Kids allows her to align her professional passion for helping others with her personal commitment to ensuring that local children have consistent access to nutritious food. She is honored to serve on the board of this incredible organization.
Danielle Anderson
Board Member
As a Seymour educator, Danielle has had the privilege of working closely with the children and families who make this community so special. Through her work in our schools, she sees every day how essential access to nutritious food is to a child’s ability to learn, grow, and feel secure. Community Food 2 Kids is especially close to her heart because its mission directly supports the students and families she serves.
More about Danielle
Danielle feels strongly that this organization represents the best of Seymour, neighbors helping neighbors with compassion, dignity, and care. She is incredibly proud to support and be involved in a program that makes such a meaningful difference in the lives of our children.
Jennifer Pelatowski
Board Member
jenniferp@seymourfood2kids.org
Jen moved to Seymour in 2015 with her husband and two children, who attend Bungay Elementary School. After meeting Shannon and Mackenzie on the softball field, she began attending food baggings with her children to give back and teach them the importance of compassion and helping those in need.
More about Jennifer
With over 20 years as a middle school teacher, Jen has dedicated her career to supporting children both inside and outside the classroom. She recently joined the Board of Directors to deepen her community involvement and help ensure students have access to essential resources.
Jen believes education extends beyond academics and that nurturing caring communities is key to helping children succeed. She is honored to bring her experience as an educator to support initiatives that empower kids to give back to their community.
Sabrina Suarez
Board Member
Sabrina has been a Seymour resident for most of her life. She has a husband and two children who are all strongly embedded in Seymour community. She has worked with children on the autism spectrum for almost ten years. She first worked as a behavior therapist and then became a Board Certified Behavior Analyst.
More about Sabrina
Now, as a stay at home mom, she continues to find different ways to support children and her community by being involved and helping organizations in Seymour. The more she has gotten involved, the more she has realized how much is done behind the scenes and how much help is truly needed. She is passionate about making a positive and lasting impact on the community. She also hopes to inspire and encourage the next generations to serve their community like we are. That is why she is excited to be a part of Community Food 2 Kids where it highlights kids helping kids.
Our partners
We couldn’t do it alone.
Schools, food banks, local businesses, community groups and generous neighbors make every bag possible. Thank you.
Seymour Oxford Food Bank
Naugatuck Valley Food & Nutrition Resources
AnSeOx Rotary
Stop & Shop
Ansonia Boys & Girls Club
Food 2 Kids Milford
Seymour, Oxford, Ansonia and Derby schools