Meeting Families Where They Are: How ICA's School Partnerships Are Fighting Hunger

For many families, the school day is about much more than education. Schools are trusted places where children learn, grow, and connect with resources that help them thrive. That's why ICA has made schools a cornerstone of our mission to create a healthy and stable community for all. 

Through partnerships with Hopkins Public Schools and Minnetonka Public Schools, ICA is bringing healthy food directly to families, supporting students over weekends, and creating meaningful volunteer opportunities that strengthen our entire community. 

Bringing the Food Shelf Into Schools 

ICA currently operates school markets at three Hopkins schools - Gatewood Elementary, Alice Smith Elementary, and West Middle School - making nutritious food more accessible for families where they already are. 

The need for these markets continues to grow. During the 2025-2026 school year, ICA recorded 784 school market visits, a 41% increase over the previous year. Those visits supported 108 households and 363 individuals, representing a remarkable 96% increase in households served and a 90% increase in individuals served. 

Together, our school markets distributed 22,844 pounds of food - the equivalent of more than 19,000 meals according to the Feeding America 2025 Impact Report. 

These numbers represent parents who no longer have to make an extra trip across town after work, children who have fresh produce waiting for them at home, and families who can access support in a familiar, welcoming environment. 

For school market volunteer Cheryl, the biggest impact comes from making food easier to access. 

"Nearly every client has commented on the convenience of the school market and enjoy the small, friendly family-type atmosphere. I think the school locations create accessibility for families, many of which have kids attending the school. Work schedules and transportation can be challenging, making non-school food shelf visits difficult. Additionally, school staff is able to identify families in need and plug them into ICA services quickly and with compassion and dignity." 

Filling the Weekend Gap 

For many students, school breakfast and lunch provide a reliable source of nutrition during the week. Weekends, however, can present additional challenges. 

To help bridge that gap, ICA distributed 1,696 weekend food bags during the 2025-2026 school year- 1,289 in Hopkins and 407 in Minnetonka - ensuring students had food to take home before the weekend. 

ICA also provided 8,133 pounds of healthy school snacks, including 5,041 pounds in Hopkins and 2,972 pounds in Minnetonka, helping schools meet students' nutritional needs throughout the day. 

These programs help children stay focused in the classroom while reducing stress for parents who are working hard to make ends meet. 

Volunteers Make It Possible 

Behind every school market is a dedicated team of volunteers. 

This past school year, volunteers contributed more than 600 hours supporting ICA's school market program by preparing, transporting, stocking, and distributing food at all three locations. 

At West Middle School, volunteer Debra says one of the greatest rewards is building relationships with students. 

"Volunteering at the ICA Market at Hopkins West Middle School is a wonderful experience. Most of the shoppers are students. Getting to know them over the school year and helping them make healthy choices is a real pleasure." 

Students Giving Back 

Our partnerships with schools don't just provide food—they also create opportunities for students to serve. 

Throughout the school year, students from Transition Plus volunteered at ICA every week, contributing an incredible 508 volunteer hours. 

Transition Plus is a collaborative program serving young adults ages 18-21 with disabilities from Hopkins and St. Louis Park Public Schools. Through support from the Oakes Family Scholarship, students gained valuable real-world experience while helping ICA serve thousands of neighbors.  

Each week, students bagged coffee grounds, sorted pet food, assembled Grab-N-Go bags, managed compost, and completed countless other essential projects that kept ICA running smoothly. 

The program helps students build skills in employment, independent living, recreation, community participation, and post-secondary planning while making meaningful contributions to the community. 

Building Stronger Communities Together 

The success of ICA's school partnerships demonstrates what is possible when schools, volunteers, community partners, and donors come together around a shared goal.  

By meeting families where they are, reducing barriers to accessing healthy food, and investing in opportunities for students of all abilities to contribute, these partnerships are creating stronger schools and healthier communities. 

As the need for food assistance continues to grow, ICA remains committed to ensuring every student and every family has access to the nutritious food and support they need to thrive. 

Together, we're proving that schools can be more than places of learning - they can also be places where communities come together to care for one another.