Evolution of The Little Bit Foundation
2001
Idea for The Little Bit Foundation is conceived when the founders learned of students lacking basic needs in city schools and its impact on their education.
2002
First school – Mann Elementary - is adopted, where Little Bit provides coats, clothes, shoes, hygiene items, school supplies and books to students in need.
2005
Little Bit moves into space at CBC High School and a year later receives its 501(c)(3) designation.
2010
Little Bit is offered 3,000 square feet of warehouse space at Color Art to accommodate operations serving 3,000 students in 13 city schools.
2013
First partnership is established with Operation Food Search, as Little Bit recognizes direct correlation between nutrition/health and educational outcomes. New partnerships would follow that further address nutrition, medical and behavioral needs, as well as provide free eyeglasses.
2013
Warehouse and office space is donated by Marcone.
2014
Little Bit expands into North St. Louis County and is serving a total of 5,000 students in 17 schools.
2015
Partnerships are formed to introduce STEM programming in schools and help encourage interest in this high-demand field.
2017
Project Graduation is launched in partnership with Riverview Gardens School District, which will bring Little Bit services to all 13 Riverview Gardens schools.
2017
Little Bit purchases its own 33,000 sq. ft. building to accommodate rapidly expanding operations.
2019
Little Bit expands into its first high school in the fall semester of 2019, which also completes its adoption of the Riverview Gardens School District. High school programming offers mentoring and career discovery.
2020
In response to the COVID-19 crisis, the Little Bit Feeding Hope program is launched, bringing food directly to the highest risk families.
2021
Little Bit opens 7th in-school family food market in partnership with St. Louis Area Foodbank, serving students and families with free fresh, shelf-stable and frozen food items.
2021
Miranda Walker Jones becomes new Chief Executive Officer, upon the retirement of co-founder Rosemary Hanley.
2022
Little Bit headquarters suffers extensive damage due to historical flooding. Operations are moved to temporary space in Olivette.
2022
Despite rebuilding and restarting operations, Little Bit enters 6 new school communities in the 2022-23 school year, for a total of 48 schools and 14,000 students. This includes the historic Sumner High School and its first schools in South St. Louis County.
2023
Little Bit expands into Family Support services, providing case management and resource connections for high-needs families in Saint Louis Public Schools.
2024
Little Bit enters first schools across the river, partnering with East St. Louis District 189. In December, the team moves into its new permanent headquarters in Maryland Heights.
2024
Little Bit completes the adoption of the entire Hancock Place School District, serving all 1,200+ students in the Lemay-based district.
2025
Little Bit mobilizes to support students, families, and schools impacted by the historic May 16 St. Louis City tornado, opening three resource centers to serve more than 2,300 individuals with essential supplies, transportation, housing assistance, legal aid, and mental health services.
2025
The 5th Annual What's Next Fair takes place at Harris-Stowe State University and St. Louis Community College-Florissant Valley. Through the community-wide event, Little Bit helps connect students with representatives from local businesses, organizations, and educational institutions to explore future college and career opportunities in the St. Louis region.
Learn about the many ways you can help support the Little Bit mission.