FORT MITCHELL, Ky. (October 2, 2026) —The Midwest Chapter of the Dunkin’ Joy in Childhood Foundation has awarded a $20,000 grant to DCCH Center for Children and Families to help provide nutritious meals and snacks for children receiving residential treatment.
Behind every meal served at DCCH Center is a dedicated kitchen team working to provide approximately 672 individual meals each week. For children who have experienced significant trauma, including physical, emotional and sexual abuse, the consistency of a nutritious meal is an important part of creating a safe, stable and healing environment.
DCCH Center’s mission is to provide high-quality, compassionate care that gives children the security and support they need to begin their healing journey. Meeting their basic needs — including access to fresh, nutritious food — is an essential part of that care.
The Dunkin’ Joy in Childhood Foundation is dedicated to bringing the simple joys of childhood to kids battling hunger or illness. Through its programs and grants, the Foundation has impacted millions of children nationwide. Its commitment to supporting children during some of life’s most difficult circumstances closely aligns with DCCH Center’s mission of providing hope, healing and stability to children and families.
“DCCH Center does incredible work every day to give children a safe place to heal, grow and simply be kids,” said Chris Zimmerman, Chief Operating Officer of The Gilligan Company, a Franchisee Owner of local Dunkin’ locations. Chris Zimmerman nominated DCCH Center for the grant. “We’re proud to support an organization that means so much to our Northern Kentucky community. This $20,000 grant will help ensure the children at DCCH have access to nutritious meals and, just as importantly, the comfort and security that comes from knowing they are cared for.”
The need for food assistance continues to grow across Kentucky. According to the 2025 Kentucky KIDS COUNT report from Kentucky Youth Advocates, child food insecurity in Kentucky increased from 15.2% in 2021 to 21.1% in 2023, with 40 counties reporting rates of 25% or higher. Approximately 21% of Kentucky children live in food-insecure households, 20% live below the poverty level and 44% live in low-income households.
As food costs continue to rise, DCCH Center sought support from the Midwest Chapter of the Dunkin’ Joy in Childhood Foundation to help offset the cost of fresh produce, whole grains, lean proteins, dairy products and nutritious snacks for the children in its care.
The $20,000 grant will help DCCH Center continue providing the high-quality meals that are an important part of its overall standard of care.
DCCH Center is especially grateful to the Dunkin’ Joy in Childhood Foundation and to Zimmerman for nominating the organization for the grant.
“Providing nutritious meals is about so much more than putting food on the table,” said Mindy Ragan, Kitchen Manager at DCCH Center for Children and Families. “For many of the children we serve, food security has not always been a part of their lives. This support helps us provide consistent, nutritious meals while creating the sense of safety and stability every child deserves.”
The Foundation’s support extends far beyond the kitchen. By helping meet one of a child’s most fundamental needs, the grant allows DCCH Center to continue creating an environment where children can feel safe, focus on healing and begin to see hope for a brighter future.
About DCCH Center for Children and Families
Founded in 1848, Diocesan Catholic Children’s Home, doing business as DCCH Center for Children and Families, is a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the lives of children and families through compassionate care, evidence-based treatment and supportive services. Its continuum of care includes residential treatment, therapeutic foster care, adoption services, independent living, targeted case management, outpatient therapy and equine-assisted therapy.
DCCH Center for Children and Families is located at 75 Orphanage Road in Fort Mitchell, Kentucky. For more information, visit www.dcchcenter.org or call (859) 331-2040.
MEDIA CONTACT
DCCH Center for Children and Families
Sheila Stanton
Director of Advancement
Sstanton@dcchcenter.org
(859)331-2040
www.dcchcenter.org
