Our Mission is Simple
Higher Hopes! is a 501(c)(3) charitable foundation which serves food insecure families in Metro Detroit with children enrolled in Early Head Start Child Care Partnership Programs (Early Head Start, Head Start, and Great Start Readiness). Established in 2014, the goal of Higher Hopes! is to inspire independence, relieve food anxiety, and encourage family meals together by providing a bounty of food in nutritious, multiple-meal food kits throughout the year.
Bringing Smiles to Metro Detroit
In addition to our two holiday meal distributions on Labor Day and Thanksgiving, Higher Hopes! strives to provide food year-round to those in our community. This includes sending 1,002 Detroit students home with weekend food prepacks every week of the school year, as well as supplementing summer feeding programs all around the state of Michigan. We are creative in our approach and help facilitate large quantities of food to make it to those that are most vulnerable. We’re dedicated to providing positive experiences to everyone struggling with food insecurity.
Make a Real Change in Someone’s Life
We refer to our donors, volunteers, and corporate sponsors as Higher Hopes! Heroes – a title reserved for those who generously contribute their time, resources, and support to our mission. It takes true strength and commitment to make a difference, and that’s exactly what our Heroes do every day.
In the State of Michigan
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1 in 9 people face hunger
(Source: Feeding America)
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1 in 8 children face hunger
(Source: Feeding America)
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In Detroit, 69% of households are food insecure
(Source: Detroit Food Policy Council)
Meal kits distributed
Gas Gift Cards Distributed
%
All profits towards hunger relief
Pounds of food distributed since 2014
Volunteers served since 2014.
Weekend Food Prepacks
Thank You to Our Partners & Sponsors
Higher Hopes! Events
Labor Day Barbeque
1,000 Labor Day BBQ meal kits will be distributed to Detroit families on August 29, 2025.
Food Bank Distribution
Higher Hopes! supplements summer feeding programs throughout the state with our partnership with the Food Bank Council of Michigan.
Thanksgiving Day
1,000 Detroit families will receive meal kits with everything needed for a Thanksgiving feast, as well as a $50 gas card, high efficiency lightbulbs, and dog and cat food on November 24, 2025.
Blessings in a Backpack
For the 2024-25 school year, 1,002 Detroit students are receiving weekend food kits.