About Marissa's Kitchen Who we are Marissa's Kitchen is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization with Tax Identification Number 38-3746025; based in North Carolina, USA with its program beneficiaries in the Philippines. It is aimed to promote well-being among children, committing itself to helping them develop the different aspects of their life. It is also dedicated to working with the communities where children are often neglected and suffering because of poverty. Our vision Every grade school child will have the proper nutritional foundation and the resources necessary to maximize their potential scholastic growth. Everything a child needs to succeed in their educational pursuits will be provided, so that no parent will decide not to send their child to school because of a lack of money. Our Mission The mission of Marissa's Kitchen is not only to feed these hungry children but also support them in any way that which could develop their potential to become healthy and successful individuals. Our History Marissa's Kitchen started in 2006. It started as just a series of feeding activities in two elementary schools in Daanbantayan, Cebu, Philippines. Our Partner Shop Sites Marissa's Kitchen gets funded though donations, and committed shared profits from businesses who share our purpose of helping children. We feel these businesses are our partners. Our partner sites include RoadTrucker.com, which started it all, by offering a Start-up Grant to Marissa's Kitchen and also commits a part of their profit each year. 12VoltGifts.com was the first website to offer a percentage of their profits to Marissa's Kitchen, and IvyRose77.com was the first to offer 100% of her profits to MK. Visit our partner shop sites page to know more about their products and how they help Marissa's Kitchen. Whenever you make a purchase from one of our Partner websites, you make a donation to help children. Our Financial Information MK makes sure that these funds are well-distributed, and used to address children needs. Visit financial information for year 2007 page for a graphed report and see how efficient we are in spending your donations. Programs There are may ways you can get involved in the different activities of Marissa's Kitchen. These activities are categorized into programs of related concerns. You may get involved in MK's programs for educational purposes, feeding children, helping establish, build, or rehabilitate structures (i.e. classrooms, reading centers, install electrical service). Below are the different programs of Marissa's Kitchen. Please feel free to find where you want to get involved. Free Lunch Free Lunch Program of Marissa's Kitchen is responsible for providing free food to the children of MK. At present, the main activity of Free Lunch Program is the provision of free lunch to the school children of Daanbantayan, of Cebu province in the Philippines. More about Free Lunch Program School Supplies School Supplies Program of Marissa's Kitchen provides support to school related needs of children; from pens and notebooks to school clothing. Sponsor a child's education now. More about School Supplies Program Helping Hand Helping Hand Program of Marissa's Kitchen provides a one time assistance or aide. For example, building classrooms, establishing reading centers, rehabilitating damaged physical structures which can be used by children, or providing electrical power. More about Helping Hand Program Community Support Community Support Program of Marissa's Kitchen takes care of all other community needs. Not only the children benefit from this program, but the entire community, which is an influential environment to children. Activities that fall under this program are but not limited to medical missions, seminars and workshops. Marissa's Kitchen is a nonprofit organization based in North Carolina, USA with its program beneficiaries in Cebu, Philippines. It is aimed to promote well-being among children, committing itself to helping them develop the different aspects of their life. It is also dedicated to working with the communities where children are often neglected and suffering because of poverty. At present, the Free Lunch Program is the heart of Marissa's Kitchen. It provides free lunch to hundreds of school children in Daanbantayan municipality of Cebu Province in the Philippines. It was launched two years ago and has just started its feeding activities for the school year 2008-2009. Now on its third year, the organization hopes to expand and extend the provision of free lunch to the children of other schools in the Philippines. MK also supports these schoolchildren with their desire to finish school by providing them necessary school supplies. Just before this school year opened in June, MK had already distributed writing materials to them. To accomplish its mission, Marissa's Kitchen needs to mobilize through your support, monetary or any form. Marissa's Kitchen needs to have more funds received from individuals and other organizations, either foreign or local, to finance its programs. This is the main purpose of Marissa's Kitchen, PinayFreeLunch website. If you wished already to help Marissa's Kitchen feed these children, please donate now.