Expanding Food Resources to
San Diego County Youth
Education is key to ending the cycle of poverty among the families
served by the San Diego Food Bank. Graduates with a college degree
or vocational certificate, according to extensive research, are less likely
to slip back into poverty.
That is why the Food Bank is now piloting
and expanding programs to provide food
assistance and resources to low-income
youth attending elementary schools,
middle schools, high schools, and colleges
across San Diego County.
Since 2006, the Food Bank’s Food
4 Kids Backpack Program has provided
weekend food-filled backpacks to
elementary school children living in
poverty who receive free school meals
during the week but face hunger at home
on the weekends.
This year, the Food Bank is piloting its
new On-the-Go Pantry Program that is
expanding hunger-relief services to
San Diego County students attending
middle schools and high schools. And
its College Hunger-relief Program has
expanded services to all public colleges
in the county.
Recent studies have shown that students
who face food insecurity daily and are
chronically hungry are not able to focus
on schoolwork or have positive social
interactions with their peers which has
dire implications for their futures. By
providing food and resources to students
struggling with food insecurity, they are
able to concentrate on their studies rather
than worrying about how they will get
their next meal.
The Food Bank’s new On-the-Go Pantry
pilot program is establishing campus-
based food pantries at middle and high
schools were students can quickly pick
up healthy snacks including fruit, yogurt,
granola bars, cereal bars and other items
as they move between classes.
The Food Bank believes that providing
students from low-income homes with
easy access to nutritious food will enable
them to focus on their studies, graduate,
and ultimately secure good jobs – thus
breaking the cycle of poverty. Through its
multiple programs for young families and
youth, the Food Bank is helping to ensure
that our community’s young people have
the nutrition they need to grow, thrive,
and succeed in school, creating a brighter
future for themselves and their families.
You can support the Food Bank’s
hunger-relief programs for local youth
by attending its upcoming Chefs, Cork &
Craft Gala: A Seaside Soirée, on Saturday,
April 27.
For more information about the work of the Food Bank and its hunger-relief programs visit:
SanDiegoFoodBank.org/Programs
98 GBSAN.COM | MARCH 2019
THE ANNUAL EUGENE “MITCH”
MITCHELL AWARD
The annual Eugene “Mitch” Mitchell
Community Hero Award recognizes
an individual or organization for
demonstrating outstanding support
for the Food Bank. The award was
established in honor of former board
chairman Eugene “Mitch” Mitchell
(2006– 2010) for his tireless and
dedicated support for the Food
Bank’s mission.
This year’s Eugene “Mitch” Mitchell
Community Hero Award will be
announced during the dinner
program at our gala!
- GALA COMMITTEE -
Jeannie Johnson Bolinger
Gala Co-chair
Cheryl Floros
Gala Co-chair
Sara Polczynski
Chef Committee Chair
Evan Bierman
Angela Abbott
Paul Amberg
Becky Chester
Marsha Dressel
Caroline Freiberg
Ellen Gruer
Cindy Hickman
Darcie Iki
Jim Lennox
Gina Mancuso
Lisa McCollough
Amy Mier Y Teran
Sara Polczynski
Mishelle Shinn
Tim Shinn