Foodlink
Community
Kitchen

Foodlink operates a state-of-the-art commercial kitchen to nourish our community, and raise the bar on the quality of institutional meal service in the Rochester area. Students who are properly nourished have a greater opportunity for success inside the classroom — and in life. By offering innovative menu items and a commitment to go well beyond federal nutritional guidelines, the Foodlink Community Kitchen provides healthy, scratch-made meals to thousands of students daily.

Are you an after-school, daycare or child-centered program — or local school — looking for meal service? Our dedicated staff would be happy to serve you!

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About

The Foodlink Community Kitchen serves thousands of meals and snacks daily to students in school, after-school and summer settings in the City of Rochester, which has one of the highest child poverty rates in the nation. Through many collaborative partnerships, we help families access healthy meals for their children, so that is one less thing for them to worry about at home. By allowing families to stretch their grocery budgets further, we can provide additional economic stability to thousands of Rochester families, and help children reach their true potential. 

Foodlink also partners with a network of daycare providers, ensuring the children they care for receive a nutritious meal. We are always looking to expand our footprint, and have the capacity to serve numerous populations, from toddlers, to teenagers, to seniors. 

 

VENDED MEALS

Our wholesome, scratch-made meals are available for organizations to purchase for their program participants on a daily, weekly, or monthly basis. The Foodlink Community Kitchen vends CACFP, SFSP and NSLP reimburseable meals. If you are a childcare center, nonprofit or school looking for meal service, we have a 6-week scratch-made cycle menu for you!

AFTER-SCHOOL MEALS

Foodlink’s after-school meals, also known as the Kids Cafe program across the Feeding America network, are delivered to children through the federal Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP). The federal program gives children the nutrition they need in a safe and fun after-school environment.

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Currently, Foodlink provides healthy meals and snacks at dozens of sites every weekday during the school year. Because we are a mission-driven organization, we are committed to serving the healthiest meals possible. Our menu exceeds CACFP requirements, and follows the USDA’s MyPlate guidelines of providing whole grains, proteins, dairy, fruits and vegetables for thousands of local children.

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SUMMER MEALS

The kitchen’s Summer Food Service Program (SFSP, also known as Summer Meals) provides meals to children after school adjourns for the summer. Unfortunately, many Rochester children are at a greater risk of hunger in July and August, when access to school meals disappears.

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Studies have shown that less than half of the children who qualify for free meals during the school year receive them during the summer.

Locally, the Summer Meals Partnership of Rochester is a collaboration between Foodlink, the City of Rochester, the Rochester City School District and several other nonprofit organizations aiming to ensure children have access to healthy meals during the summer. Learn more about the partnership and access the complete list of meal sites at www.summermealsroc.org.

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Impact

  • Last school year (2023-24), the Foodlink Community Kitchen surpassed 2 million meals for the first time in its history!
  • As of 2024, the kitchen produces just under 11,000 meals per day, 5,000 of which are lunch/dinner meals. 
  • The kitchen produces meals for 81 sites in Monroe County including charter schools, daycares, R-Centers, and other afterschool enrichment programs. 
  • Through Foodlink’s innovative “ice cream truck model,” Foodlink serves summer meals. Summer meals are now funded through the county ARPA grant (previously SFSP eligible through COVID waivers).
  • Nearly 80% of our meals go to schools or after-school programs, with the rest served at day cares, pre-K programs, or ARPA-funded adult programs. 

Partner with Us

Are you interested in partnering with Foodlink to provide healthy meals for your students, organization or program? 

Contact us today to learn more about the Foodlink Community Kitchen.