Born during the COVID-19 school shutdowns, West Virginia-based Multitude Foods packages USDA-compliant boxed meals for students and seniors across the state. Founded by Russell Bailey and his daughter Kayla Bailey, the company draws on more than 30 years of food-service experience and uses almost exclusively West Virginia-made and distributed products. Its shelf-stable meal boxes reach school districts and 40 senior centers, while its discreet backpack program helps students facing food insecurity.
USDA Nutritional Guidelines
Compliance program
Healthy Kids IncHealthy Kids Inc. began in 2010 with a goal of helping families eat healthier meals and has grown into a West Virginia social enterprise rooted in local agriculture. From central kitchens in Morgantown and Huntington, its chefs prepare from-scratch meals for community partners while working with West Virginia farmers to build a stronger regional food system.BRIDGEPORT, WV
JD MealsSince 2019, JD Meals has built its identity as a social-impact food service company, using culturally relevant meals to support communities facing food insecurity. The certified M/WBE prepares fresh meals for organizations serving vulnerable populations, from shelters to schools, while a portion of every sale supports The Migrant Kitchen Initiative, which has provided nearly 4 million meals since 2020.LONG ISLAND CITY, NY
Whitsons Culinary GroupFamily-operated and minority-owned, Whitsons Culinary Group prepares and manages wholesome dining programs for schools, healthcare and residential communities, while also producing delivered meals for shelters and emergency response. Its prepared-meals operation combines handmade production with large-volume capacity, producing 690,000 meals daily across six culinary centers serving 13 states. Whitsons also brings more than 40 years of dining experience to emergency nutrition, including serving 4 million meals to rescue workers after the September 11 attacks.ISLANDIA, NY
Innovation Food ServicesFounded by chef Thomas Lane as Red’s Catering in 2002, Innovation Food Services now prepares scratch-cooked meals for schools, childcare centers, senior programs and other community settings across Northeast Ohio. The Twinsburg company produces more than 6,000 meals a day, with menus shaped by its executive chef and registered dietitian and ingredients sourced from local partners. Its On-Call Meal Solutions division extends that work to remote and summer learners by shipping fresh meals directly to students’ homes.TWINSBURG, OH