While River Street Sweets® delights in providing treats to satisfy sweet tooths worldwide, children who can’t afford candy – or meals for that matter – are not forgotten.

That’s why this November, for the eighth year in a row, River Street Sweets® is donating $20,582.86 from their annual Pralines Day campaign to Kids Cafe®, an initiative by Feeding America, the largest charity working to end hunger in the United States. The Kids Cafe® program, which locally falls under Second Harvest of Coastal Georgia, provides afterschool meals, tutoring and a safe place for at-risk children. 

“While we love making and selling candy, we are well aware that not everyone can afford it,” said Jennifer Strickland, co-owner of River Street Sweets®. “We don’t want any child going to bed at night or waking up in the morning with a hungry belly so we are happy to help the Kids Cafe® program in any way we can.” 

Over the last seven years, River Street Sweets® has donated funds that provided more than 238,000 meals. 

“Last year’s efforts contributed to one-third of that,” Strickland said. “This year, we set a high goal to reach enough to provide 100,000 meals. We are so proud to celebrate that we exceeded that goal and are donating funds to provide almost 103,000 meals.”

This year’s fund-raising efforts can also be credited to artist James Dean, author of the famous Pete the Cat children’s books, who created a commemorative tee-shirt to help raise funds. All profits from the shirts were donated to Kids Cafe®. 

“As leaders in the hospitality business, giving back is a priority for us,” Strickland continued. “Our River Street Sweets® family and our franchise brand are proud to keep helping children and families in need.”

Now a nationwide success story, Kids Cafe® started in Savannah in 1989 after two small, hungry boys were caught breaking into a community center in search of food. Some local residents read about what happened in The Savannah Morning News newspaper, got together and started donating food. The initiative exploded in popularity over the years, and in 1993, it was adopted by Feeding America.

This year’s check presentation ceremony will take place at 2 p.m., Tuesday, November 19, 2024 at America’s Second Harvest of Coastal Georgia, 1380 Chatham Parkway, Savannah, Ga.