By Macy Meinhardt, Voice & Viewpoint Staff
More than 100,000 children in San Diego have limited access to fresh and healthy food in San Diego County. During the academic year K-12 schools across the county work to fill that gap by providing over 50% of students with free or reduced meals, according to the California Department of Education. Now that summer is here, how will child food insecurity be addressed?
Food insecurity is defined by the United States Department of Agriculture as the lack of access, at times, to enough food for an active, healthy life. Food insecurity is largely linked to racial inequities. Based on a study by Feeding San Diego, 24% of the Black community in San Diego are food insecure, followed behind 18% of the Latino Community.
“When school is out for summer break, a large number of kids lose access to the healthy meals they rely on during the school year,” said San Diego Unified’s Food and Nutrition Services Director Alicia Pitrone Hauser. “Summer meals ensure all children have consistent access to the nutrition they need to learn, play, and grow — and this makes children be better prepared to start another school year.”
As a result, Voice & Viewpoint has compiled a list of over 80 different sites within the county that are serving as nutrition hubs this summer to provide free breakfast, lunch, and snacks to children and teens. Sites offering these services include: thirty-two school locations within San Diego Unified, 5 military sites, twenty-one parks and recreation centers, 3 public libraries, and 6 YMCA and community centers. School locations offering free lunches within La Mesa and El Cajon school districts are also listed.
The Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) is sponsored by the United States Department of Agriculture and is designed to provide a nutritious bridge during the summer and help relieve all families from some of their financial burdens.
GET THE FULL LIST HERE: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1veTsNI8P7SSNxzU_-mKBAciuH3sDKNWawTqewJZ-S5s/edit#gid=1911446722 2024 Summer Meal Locations (3)
