When the in-school food market reopened at Yeatman-Liddell Middle School in February, 25 people came through on the very first day, according to Senior Manager of Health and Nutrition Sydney Wiegand. “We’ve continued to get the word out that we’re back,” she says.

A trusted resource for Yeatman families and the surrounding O’Fallon neighborhood since 2019, the market was paused after the school closed for repairs following last year’s tornado that devastated parts of North St. Louis. Historically, it’s been among the busiest of the 11 free markets operated by Little Bit in partnership with the St. Louis Area Foodbank.

Anna Hunn, who joined Little Bit’s Health and Nutrition team after interning with the Foodbank, says the markets provide more than groceries—they create space for connection. “We can get to know families, identify other ways Little Bit may be able to help, and build a level of comfort for them in asking for support,” she says.

Wiegand notes that stigma around seeking help often fades as families come to see Little Bit staff as trusted partners. “They also have choice in selecting what’s right for their families, which goes a long way in safeguarding their dignity,” she says. Students can shop, too, and take pride in selecting items with their families in mind. “They’re always thinking about mom or dad or their younger brother and sister. It’s great to see them learning to make those decisions.”

Located inside Little Bit partner schools, the markets are stocked with essentials—eggs, milk, fresh produce, frozen meats and vegetables, and shelf-stable items—all provided by the Foodbank. Wiegand and Hunn fill the shelves and man the markets during open hours each week. Their purpose, says Wiegand, is to remove the barrier of food insecurity so that students can focus on learning and families can move from surviving to thriving.

“Worrying about how to put food on the table is a harsh reality for many families,” she says. “It’s not just financial—transportation can also be a challenge. Our markets are in areas without easy access to grocery stores or nutritious food options.”

Beyond in-school markets, Little Bit hosts a monthly mobile food market at Patrick Henry Elementary School in partnership with the Foodbank, and delivers Sunny’s Closet food bags, assembled by Operation Food Search, to partner schools. In the first three quarters of the school year, more than 14,000 bags, each with items for breakfast, lunch, and a nutritious snack, have been distributed, while the mobile market has served an estimated 3,000 people.

“There’s a real sense of community at the mobile market,” Wiegand says. “People pick up neighbors, share what they have, and even bring extras to the nearby homeless encampment.”

Ahead of the holiday break—when food insecurity often intensifies—Little Bit, the Foodbank, and Operation Food Search expanded support through additional drive-up food distributions, ensuring families had the resources they needed during a critical time.

In addition to providing nutritious food, Little Bit supports student wellness through its Healthy Kids, Better Learners program, in partnership with IFM Community Medicine and the SLU School of Nursing. Hunn coordinates with IFM and SLU to deliver health screenings, immunizations, and educational sessions to partner schools, on topics ranging from personal hygiene and healthy sleep habits to puberty, mental health, and even bullying.

“The student nurses make these sessions interactive, and the kids seem to feel comfortable asking questions,” says Hunn. “I think they also appreciate having some sense of control over their own well-being.”

“We’re providing basic necessities that no child should go without,” says Wiegand, adding that the overwhelming response from schools, families, and students is one of gratitude. “People will tell me, ‘You’re doing the Lord’s work.’ I’m not especially religious, but I take that as a huge compliment.”