The difference between 'cater for' and 'cater to'

The phrasal verb 'cater for' means 'provide what is needed by someone' whereas 'cater to' carries the meaning of 'try to satisfy a need, especially an unpopular or generally unaccepted need.'

The following examples will make meanings of the two phrasal verbs clear to readers:
1 The kindergarten caters for young children living in the vicinity.
2 The cough mixture containing codeine caters to the need of drug addicts who can't afford to buy heroin.