A Bold New Vision for Community Empowerment

The My Grocery Store, I-94 Eatz and Learn Initiative is more than a program—it’s a movement. Spanning from Waukegan, Illinois, to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, this initiative tackles critical challenges facing families in underserved communities by integrating nutrition, education, parental involvement, and economic opportunity into one powerful ecosystem. At its core, this initiative creates a sustainable, small business-powered model that uplifts families, boosts academic success, and revitalizes local economies.

 

Our Mission

To increase parental involvement as the cornerstone of academic achievement in K-12 reading and math, while addressing root causes like food insecurity, environmental trauma, and youth violence. We believe healthy families build strong communities—and we’re building both.

 

Our Vision: Long-Term, Generational Change

By combining daily access to nutritious meals, family-focused cooking activities, and financial empowerment tools, we aim to:

• Raise reading and math proficiency through stronger home-school connections

• Promote healthier eating and reduce nutrition-related health risks

• Lower youth violence by fostering stronger family bonds

• Build economic security with financial literacy and business growth

• Replicate a successful, community-driven model across the country

 

Key Program Components

 

🍱 Fresh Meal Distribution Program

Powered by My Grocery Store vendors, each Distribution Partner receives 4,000 healthy and fresh meals options over 200 delivery days—2,000 EBT approved items such as sub sandwiches, meal preps and 2,000 chef salads—to meet immediate food needs while promoting healthy eating.

✅ Partners can earn $38,760 in revenue from meal distribution
✅ Meals are delivered fresh, five days a week (Mon/Wed/Thurs/Fri/Sat)

 

🍳 "My Grocery Store is Cooking" Family Show

This weekly, interactive cooking show brings families together around the table.

• Families cook along with Weekly Cooking Kits (EBT eligible)

• Each kit includes fresh ingredients and nutrition tips

• Distribution Partners earn $15 profit per kit, up to $312,000 over 2 years

  🎥 Promotes family bonding, food literacy, and better eating habits—all while driving foot traffic and profit for small businesses.

 

🛒 115-Business Small Business Network

Across the corridor, 115 EBT-accepting small businesses serve as:

• Meal distribution points

• Cooking kit pickup locations

• Hosts for school and community engagement events

  📈 This network increases local food access, creates jobs, and keeps dollars circulating in the community.

 

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Parental Involvement & Incentives Program

Parents earn points for key actions like:

• Eating lunch with their kids

• Attending school meetings and PTA events

• Signing homework

• Communicating with teachers

   🔁 These points can be redeemed or recognized locally, reinforcing a culture of active parenting and accountability.

 

🚗🏡 Parent Rewards: Real Incentives, Real Change

To reward consistent participation, parents can win:

• 4 Car Giveaways (1 every 6 months)

• 1 Grand Prize Home Giveaway at the end of the pilot
  🎁 These life-changing incentives increase family stability and participation.

 

💰 Individual Development Account (IDA) Pilot

A 5:1 matched savings program helps families build financial assets and literacy.

Eligible families can save toward:

• Homeownership

• Education

• Business development

• Vehicle purchase (under 1,000 miles)

📚 Participants complete financial and asset-specific training before withdrawing savings.

 

🔧 How It All Comes Together

Our phased implementation focuses on:

• Building strong local partnerships

• Launching meal distribution and cooking shows

• Delivering ongoing family engagement events

• Tracking academic, health, and economic outcomes

• Adapting and expanding through regular community feedback

📅 Monthly milestones include training, community events, surveys, and incentive distributions.

 

Expected Impact

Education

• Better reading and math scores

• Fewer absences and behavioral incidents

• Stronger parent-teacher engagement
   

Health

• More families are eating nutritious meals

• Healthier cooking habits at home

• Lower rates of nutrition-related illness
   

Community

• Reduced youth violence

• Increased family-school trust

• Stronger local economies
   

Financial Stability

• Increased savings and homeownership

• Growth in local entrepreneurship

• Generational wealth-building tools
   

Conclusion: A Model for Real Change

My Grocery Store, I-94 Eatz and Learn, is reimagining how we fight poverty, improve education, and uplift communities—one meal, one family, one neighborhood at a time. Whether you're a parent, educator, business owner, or community partner, there's a role for you in this movement. Together, we can create a stronger, healthier, more prosperous future for the families along the I-94 corridor—and beyond.