SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) — Nearly half of the students in the Sioux Falls School District are on free or reduced meals.

But what about families who have applied and don’t qualify, but still struggle?

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A non-profit is stepping in to help and you can help increase the impact.

Mark Fonder is in the restaurant business. He owns the Barrel House and Krav’n.

But he doesn’t just have a passion for feeding customers.

He also helps raise money for school meals through the non-profit he co-founded, Hungry Hearts.

“Basic needs. Make sure they’ve got a hot meal and can learn,” Fonder said.

On Monday, Hungry Hearts announced a big pledge to the Sioux Falls School District’s Angel Fund.

“This money is helping kids whose families have applied for free and reduced benefits, and they’ve been denied. And we’ve got some different brackets and ways they’re helping them out. They’re covering the complete meal cost for some kids, and we’ve got some matching funds for others,” SFSD Child Nutrition Coordinator Gay Anderson said.

The non-profit will match up to $100,000 dollars in donations to the fund, bringing the total to $200,000.

“We’re only the vessel. The community is the one who is supporting all of this, and we’re able to do it because of the community,” Hungry Hearts Vice President Jesse Severson said.

The money will cover the needs of about 480 kids this school year.

“We’re not trying to give them something they don’t need. We’re trying to give them something they need to grow and develop,” Severson said.

“They’re going to be the future, leaders, workers, everything. We want to make sure they have the basic necessities to learn,” Fonder said.

Hungry Hearts announced the pledge to the school board Monday.

To help out, you can donate directly to the Angel Fund.