FAQ

Twigs began in May 2011 in Granite City, Illinois.

Our Vision: A child, a neighborhood, a community, a world, without hunger.
 
Our Mission: To help the communities we serve grow strong, healthy children by eliminating physical hunger and to raise awareness about the widespread problem of childhood hunger.

Twigs is not an acronym and therefore does not “stand” for anything. The name came about as a result of The Family Treehouse’s senior program called F.I.G.S. (Fellowship Involving Granite Seniors) which began on Thanksgiving Day 2009. It was founded on the symbolism of the Fig tree; so when the children’s program came to fruition it was clear that if the senior community was based on the tree symbolism, then the children of that same tree would be the Twigs, of that tree.

Twigs is not an acronym and therefore does not “stand” for anything. The name came about as a result of The Family Treehouse’s senior program called F.I.G.S. (Fellowship Involving Granite Seniors) which began on Thanksgiving Day 2009. It was founded on the symbolism of the Fig tree; so when the children’s program came to fruition it was clear that if the senior community was based on the tree symbolism, then the children of that same tree would be the Twigs, of that tree.

Currently, there are 17 communities involved in one or more of the Twigs programs. Please check the "Locations" tab for more details.

Yes, Twigs is part of The Family Treehouse, a 501(c)3 charitable non-profit licensed in 2012.

There are currently (3) programs under the Twigs name. They include:

A. Twigs Free Summer Lunch Program - begins the day after school lets out in the spring till it begins again in the fall. The program seeks to target the children who participate in the national free and reduced lunch program during the school year. However, any child who comes to one of the lunch locations receives a lunch, no questions asked.
Lunches are distributed Monday - Friday, 11:30 - 12:30 at multiple locations
 
Lunches Distributed:
2011 – 1 community - 2350 lunches
2012 – 3 communities- 24,398 lunches
2013 – 7 communities – 56,348 lunches
2014 – 11 communities – 56,383 lunches
2015 - 15 communities - 60,643 lunches

2016 - 23 communities - 79,911 lunches

2017 - 32 communities - 103,871 lunches

2018 - 38 communities - 108,047 lunches

B. Twigs Pack-a-Sack – provides weekend sacks of food for children who are at risk of having nothing to eat over the weekend. The children participating in this program are selected by each individual school building’s principal and social worker. No child is marked or identified thereby keeping the child’s identity confidential.
This program is currently in (14) school districts.
 
C. Mobile Market – a once a month program whereby 10,000-12,000 pounds of food are distributed to those in need.
First Tuesday of each month - Noon - 2 or until the food is gone.
(2) locations:
1. 2450 Stratford Lane, Granite City, IL (Line numbers are given out beginning at 8:30am)
2. Triangle Park on the Rock Rd. (in West Granite)
Provided in cooperation with the St. Louis Area Foodbank and is open to all.

Multiple opportunities exist to volunteer. They include:

A. Children’s Summer Lunch Program – it takes hundreds of volunteers to support all of the lunch locations. Each community is responsible for covering its locations, but several, including the anchor community of Granite City, use an online signup process so volunteers can sign themselves up.

B. Pack-a-Sack – As with the summer program, all communities are responsible for maintaining their own volunteer base. In Granite City, volunteers gather the first Thursday evening of each month at 6:30pm to pack the next month’s supply of bags. Other communities operate in a similar manner.

C. Mobile Market – Anyone interested is welcome to join the other Twigs volunteers on the first Tuesday of each month at 9am at 2542 E. 25th St., Granite City, IL  Those coming to volunteer will help unload and sort the pallets of food delivered by the Foodbank and will help distribute it beginning at noon. Some will also have the opportunity to help load up vans and trucks and go distribute food at the second location.

D. St. Louis Area Foodbank Pick-ups – on a regular basis a group of volunteers go to the Foodbank and pick-up food items needed. During the summer months it is typically every week and during the rest of the year it is at least every two weeks. If you would be interested in volunteering to help please contact us.

In general, we welcome any and all volunteers. However, the children’s summer lunch program is an exception to that rule.
During the children’s summer lunch program we have three qualifications that must be met.

A. ALL volunteers 17 years of age and older MUST have a background check. NO exceptions.

B. ALL volunteers must wear the yellow, Twigs t-shirt while they are handing out lunches.

C. ALL volunteers under the age of 17 must be accompanied by an adult who has had a background check.

All of the Twigs program are supported through grants, fund-raisers and personal and corporate donations.

Donations can be made in two different ways.

A. Checks can be made payable to Twigs and mailed to 2542 East 25th St., Granite City, IL 62040

B. Donations can also be made through this website. Just click on the donate button.
 
NOTE: All donations are tax deductible and you will receive a tax donation letter in January for the preceding year.

To date, Twigs is not actively seeking out other communities. All of our partnering communities have contacted us first.