The Story of Seymour Food 2 Kids
In February 2023, Shannon Bullard participated in a Food 2 Kids program in another community with her 4-year-old daughter, Mackenzie. Soon thereafter, Mackenzie started kindergarten and noticed some of her friends didn’t bring snacks to school. Mackenzie told her Mom she wanted to help feed her friends in need. Her compassion struck Shannon deeply, and she tucked away the idea of finding something similar in Seymour.
A few months later, through All In Seymour, Shannon learned that nearly 40% of local families struggle to provide basic needs for their children. With universal free lunches ending, the need felt urgent. Inspired by Mackenzie’s compassion, she began exploring how a Food 2 Kids program could help Seymour.
With guidance from Food 2 Kids Milford and support from Bungay School, the program launched in February 2024. Around Shannon’s kitchen table, seven Bungay students packed six weeks of weekend food bags for their classmates. Just days later, the first bags were delivered discreetly into children’s backpacks. In only a few months, community donations covered 18 weeks of food, showing the generosity and heart of Seymour.
As the need grew, Shannon researched how to formalize the effort, wrote bylaws, and built a board. On March 26, 2024, Seymour Food 2 Kids officially became a 501(c)(3)—born from a child’s wish to help her classmates and powered by a community that came together to make it real. By 2025, our reach expanded beyond Seymour, with the addition of an elementary school in Oxford, furthering our mission to fight childhood hunger.
Meet our Team
Shannon Bullard- Founder (shannon@seymourfood2kids.org)
Shannon has been a proud member of the Seymour community for more than two decades and has always been actively involved in volunteering, particularly with the Seymour Ambulance. Her passion for working with children led her to become the Executive Director of Julia Day Nursery in Ansonia. Starting Seymour Food 2 Kids brings together the two things she cares most about – helping others and giving back to her community.
Shannon firmly believes that no child should go hungry, and no parent should have to choose between food and shelter. She is proud to pass these values on to her daughters, Mackenzie and Amaya, and to involve other children in the community by teaching them the importance of empathy, teamwork, and giving back. She is honored to have started an organization that helps instill these values in the next generation and is grateful for the board members who joined her on this journey to make a difference.
Mackenzie & Amaya Bullard- Co-Founders
“We helped pack food bags for kids in other towns, and then we wanted to help kids in Seymour too. Being kind is important because it makes people happy, and it makes us happy too. We like unpacking boxes and putting food on the shelves. We feel proud that our friends and family want to help us.”
When Mackenzie grows up, she wants to be a doctor to help people who are sick.
When Amaya grows up, she wants to be a dentist so everyone can have clean teeth.
Our Board of Directors
Seymour Food 2 Kids is guided by a dedicated Board of Directors made up of community members who share a passion for supporting local children and families. Together, they bring a mix of experience, heart, and commitment to ensuring the program grows and continues to meet the needs of local students.
Kelly Dandorph- President (kelly@seymourfood2kids.org)
Kelly is proud to be a lifelong Seymour resident. She currently works as a Residential Program Manager for a nonprofit agency, overseeing care for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities – so giving back has always been one of her greatest passions. When she learned about Seymour Food 2 Kids, she knew she wanted to get involved to give back to her own community. This program gives her the chance to directly impact our youth and inspire others to do the same.
Kelly believes that no child should ever worry about where their next meal will come from. Hunger keeps children from growing, learning, and thriving into the adults of tomorrow. Being part of Food 2 Kids allows her to contribute to something greater than herself, and knowing she can make a difference in the community is truly special. She has never forgotten learning the Golden Rule as a child—“Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.”
Amber Moore- Vice President (amber@seymourfood2kids.org)
Amber has been a proud Seymour resident for over a decade, raising her three children here with her husband. She loves the close-knit community, where neighbors truly support one another. When she learned about Seymour Food 2 Kids, she knew she wanted to be involved. The mission of “kids feeding kids” resonated deeply, and the bagging events have given her children a hands-on way to learn about empathy, sharing, and community.
Amber’s commitment to service began after college, when she volunteered with Passionist Volunteers International in Jamaica, and continued through her early career as a nurse. Today, she serves as Director of Technology and Philanthropy at Compass Furnished Apartments, where she combines technical expertise with community service. She is honored to bring these experiences to Seymour Food 2 Kids and to help grow its impact in the community.
Jolene Tiano- Treasurer (jolene@seymourfood2kids.org)
Jolene has worked in the childcare field for over 35 years and has a passion for supporting families who work hard to make ends meet. Having raised three children of her own, she understands the challenges young families often face. While raising her children in Seymour, she was actively involved in many community organizations and saw firsthand how important it is to reach out and help others.
Jolene now volunteers with several local food pantries that address food insecurity and is excited to be part of Seymour Food 2 Kids, supporting its mission of kids helping kids. Jolene has had the joy of watching Mackenzie’s idea grow into a thriving nonprofit and is proud to support everything Seymour Food 2 Kids stands for.
Jessica Nunez- Communications Chair (jessica@seymourfood2kids.org)
Jessica was first drawn to Seymour by the convenience of working at Griffin Health in Derby, but over time she has built deep roots here and is proud to call it home while raising her family. A personal development podcast encouraged her to connect with people making a difference locally, and when Shannon sent her a serendipitous text inviting her to join this new program, it felt like divine intervention – a perfect alignment of purpose and opportunity.
As a parent of three daughters, being part of this project from the ground up is exciting not just for her, but for her whole family.
Meagan Arcoma- Program & Community Engagement Chair (meagan@seymourfood2kids.org)
Meagan and her husband moved to Seymour nearly a decade ago and are now raising their three young children here. She first became involved with Seymour Food 2 Kids alongside her children as a volunteer bagger. With each event, as she learned more about the organization and its mission, she knew it was something she truly wanted to be part of and support in a bigger way.
As a pediatric nurse for nearly 16 years, Meagan has seen firsthand how food insecurity affects children – not only physically, but mentally and emotionally as well. Seymour Food 2 Kids not only helps feed children in need within our community, but also creates opportunities for young volunteers to get involved and truly understand the impact they are making – something Meagan and her husband work to instill in their own children.
Over the past two years, Meagan has watched the organization grow tremendously. She is excited to work alongside this incredible group and bring her many years of experience caring for children to further support the mission.
Jennifer Magri- Secretary (jenniferm@seymourfood2kids.org)
Jen is a lifelong Valley resident who hopes to share her experience and commitment to community service and youth advocacy in her role as a board member of Seymour Food 2 Kids. She understands that children need to have access to the basic resources they need to thrive. Through her personal and professional experiences, Jen has developed a strong understanding of food insecurity (20% of Valley residents) and its impact on families and students. As the parent of three public school educators and a former Board of Education member herself, she has first hand insight into the challenges many children face inside and outside of the classroom and the critical role that nutrition plays in academic success, well-being and stability.
Jen is passionate about strengthening community partnerships, raising awareness, and assisting Seymour Food 2 Kids scale operationally in their next phase of growth. When not working or volunteering, Jen can be found crafting, cheering on the UConn Huskies or relaxing beside a campfire in the spring and summer months in Rhode Island with family and friends.
Melissa Doty- Board Member (melissa@seymourfood2kids.org)
Melissa has lived and raised her family in Seymour, a community she truly loves. Her daughter Genevieve, along with her stepdaughters Aliyah and Kyleigh, are growing up here, and she feels blessed to call this town home. Melissa has been active in the PTA since 2019 and now serves as Vice President and Secretary, which has given her the chance to connect with many wonderful families. After many years in childcare, Melissa now works as a Referrals Specialist at St. Mary’s Hospital and feels grateful to be part of such a caring community.
When Shannon shared her vision for Seymour Food 2 Kids, Melissa knew she wanted to be part of it. Having faced challenges herself, she understands what struggling families go through and want them to know they are not alone. Melissa is proud to support this mission and grateful to all who have donated – your generosity has already helped so many children and families, and together we will continue to make a difference.
Diana Greco- Board Member (diana@seymourfood2kids.org)
Both Diana and her husband grew up in Seymour and are now raising their children here, which gives them a deep sense of connection to this community and its future. When she first learned about Seymour Food 2 Kids, the mission immediately compelled her to get involved.
She believes in teaching children the importance of compassion, service, and giving back from an early age.
In her professional life, Diana is an APRN and owns a private practice providing psychiatric medication management to adults. Through her work, she has seen firsthand the lasting impact that food insecurity can have on long-term mental health and overall well-being. Supporting Seymour Food 2 Kids allows her to align her professional passion for helping others with her personal commitment to ensuring that local children have consistent access to nutritious food. She is honored to serve on the board of this incredible organization.
Danielle Anderson- Board Member (danielle@seymourfood2kids.org)
As a Seymour educator, Danielle has had the privilege of working closely with the children and families who make this community so special. Through her work in our schools, she sees every day how essential access to nutritious food is to a child’s ability to learn, grow, and feel secure. Seymour Food 2 Kids is especially close to her heart because its mission directly supports the students and families she serves.
Danielle feels strongly that this organization represents the best of Seymour – neighbors helping neighbors with compassion, dignity, and care. She is incredibly proud to support and be involved in a program that makes such a meaningful difference in the lives of our children.
Jennifer Pelatowski- Board Member (jenniferp@seymourfood2kids.org)
Jen moved to Seymour in 2015 with her husband and two children, who attend Bungay Elementary School. After meeting Shannon and Mackenzie on the softball field, she began attending food baggings with her children to give back and teach them the importance of compassion and helping those in need.
With over 20 years as a middle school teacher, Jen has dedicated her career to supporting children both inside and outside the classroom. She recently joined the Board of Directors to deepen her community involvement and help ensure students have access to essential resources.
Jen believes education extends beyond academics and that nurturing caring communities is key to helping children succeed. She is honored to bring her experience as an educator to support initiatives that empower kids to give back to their community.
Sabrina Suarez- Board Member (sabrina@seymourfood2kids.org)
Sabrina has been a Seymour resident for most of her life. She has a husband and two children who are all strongly embedded in Seymour community. She has worked with children on the autism spectrum for almost ten years. She first worked as a behavior therapist and then became a Board Certified Behavior Analyst.
Now, as a stay at home mom, she continues to find different ways to support children and her community by being involved and helping organizations in Seymour. The more she has gotten involved, the more she has realized how much is done behind the scenes and how much help is truly needed. She is passionate about making a positive and lasting impact on the community. She also hopes to inspire and encourage the next generations to serve their community like we are. That is why she is excited to be a part of Seymour Food 2 Kids where it highlights kids helping kids.
