Max Kaniger, Kanbe’s Markets named ‘changemaker’ by Triscuit, earning $50K grant

A Kansas City nonprofit leader is among the inaugural “changemakers” selected for a $50,000 grant as part of Triscuit’s $1 million commitment to its Missing Ingredients Project.

Maxfield Kaniger, CEO and founder of Kanbe’s Markets, was announced for the honor Tuesday with funds expected to support Kanbe’s unique and innovative community-based micro market program, which has a meaningful impact on food insecurity in food deserts, according to Triscuit, the more-than-100-year-old cracker maker.

Click here to learn more about Kanbe’s mission.

With the $50,000 grant, Kaniger and his team are expected to develop a playbook that other cities across the country can implement to bring the nonprofit’s approach to their neighborhoods. 

“While Kanbe’s puts its playbook together, the mission’s work is being done here in Kansas City,” said Kaniger. “As awareness of this work grows, it will only add to the impact and investment we have built here, so our community can lead by example and become the first city (of many) to eliminate food deserts with this model.”

Kanbe’s Market announced a $200,000 grant from Bank of America in November.

Click here to read about the nonprofit’s recent expansion news.

Maxfield Kaniger Kanbe’s Markets; photo courtesy of Kanbe’s Markets

Tuesday’s announcement from Triscuit is an example of how support and consistent help from Kansas City’s community has been able to gain attention on a national stage, he added. 

Changemakers are selected based on their passion for lessening food insecurity and developing inventive, impactful ways to improve food access in their own communities and the difference they are making to reduce the problem, according to Triscuit.

Implementing new ideas and programs that match the changemakers description? Click here to apply for the $50,000 grants. Applications are open through July 10.

“Triscuit has been providing whole-grain nourishment as part of a balanced diet to families for generations and we believe that everyone deserves access to affordable, fresh food,” said Becky Duke, associate director at Mondelēz International, the maker of Triscuit. “Through The Missing Ingredients Project, we are extremely proud to support changemakers in food deserts across the U.S. who are working every day to help ensure people can access fresh fruits and vegetables for themselves and their families.”

Click here to learn more about The Missing Ingredients Project. 

Maxfield Kaniger Kanbe’s Markets; photo courtesy of Kanbe’s Markets

Advocacy and recognition are also extremely important locally as Kanbe’s Markets continues to introduce itself to the Kansas City community, Kaniger said.

“While this grant is extremely helpful in our efforts to share Kanbe’s model on a larger scale, we are still working each and every day to eliminate food deserts in Kansas City,” he said. “Just $12 can provide one resident with fresh and affordable fruits and vegetables every day this year.”

Click here to make a donation to Kanbe’s Markets.

The other changemaker announced Tuesday was Asha Walker, CEO & Founder of Health in the Hood in South Florida — home to 326 food desert neighborhoods, where thousands of residents have trouble accessing fresh, affordable food.

With the $50,000 grant from Triscuit, Asha will launch a new “garden to grocer” model that will employ local residents to harvest fresh fruits and vegetables from Health in the Hood’s nine community gardens to sell at five local grocers in food desert neighborhoods.

Click here to explore more about Health in the Hood.