MATTERbox
April was National Volunteer Month, and we want to personally thank every company that sponsored a MATTERbox packing event. These teams gave their time, energy, and hearts to serve others. Because of each of them, meals and hope kits were packed. Communities were supported. Kids and families were reminded they are not forgotten.
Now, as summer approaches, we are turning our attention to another important need.
When school is out, many kids lose access to the meals they depend on during the school year. For families already working hard to make ends meet, summer can bring an added burden.
Together, we can help fill that gap.
Through MATTERbox packing events, companies can bring their employees together to pack beneficial snack packs for children and families in their local community. It is a simple act. But simple acts can carry powerful meaning.
A meal says, “You are seen.”
A packed box says, “You matter.”
A team serving together says, “We can make a difference.”
We invite your company to partner with MATTER this summer. Let us help you plan a packing event that brings your employees together, supports local kids, and turns compassion into action.
Education
What began in 2024 with two graduates has now grown to 35 students—25 in full-time jobs and 10 in paid internships through MATTER’s employer partners. The goal is bold: 100 jobs by the end of 2027. But this is more than training. It is a bridge from learning to livelihood. The curriculum is built around real career opportunities, with employer partners like Jamf, Mains’l, and Tradition helping shape what students learn based on the skills employers actually need. And they do more than advise. They show up. They train. They invest.
Because at MATTER Education, the goal is simple and powerful: what students learn should lead somewhere. It should lead to confidence. It should lead to purpose. It should lead to jobs.
And that matters.
The Chaya Project
During a recent visit to schools in Zambia, the MATTER team joined Sunny from School Club Zambia to check on the progress of the Chaya plantation project. The plants are growing well, the plantations are taking shape, and the team was able to harvest leaves for the next day’s training with students and community members.
The training for the community focused on how to plant, harvest, cook, and understand the benefits of Chaya as a sustainable source of nutrition for families. It also became a shared learning moment, as local families introduced their own ways of preparing relish and explored how Chaya could become part of meals they already know and love. A few plants showed signs of aphids, but with a natural spray and continued monitoring, the project continues to move forward—one school, one harvest, one meal at a time.
