40% of our our clients are under the age of 18. We are giving them something to smile about.
Our Children's Nutrition Initiative is providing healthy, fresh food and produce for more than 6,000 children each month through programs targeting kids of all ages.
Backpack Program
The BackPack Program, sometimes locally referred to as the Weekend Wellness Program, meets the nutritional needs of hungry children over weekends and school holidays when other food resources are not available. Food insecure children are provided child friendly, nutritious and easy-to-prepare food every Friday to help them meet their nutritional needs through the weekend and over holiday breaks. Children receive a bag filled with nutritious items (including 2-4 pounds of produce) when leaving school and place the bag into their backpack as they venture home for the weekend or holiday break. Currently, FASD serves 2,600 children at 20 schools around San Diego County. Without the BackPack Program, too often these children would have absolutely nothing to eat.
See the BackPack program featured on NBC
WE ARE CURRENTLY ACCEPTING WAITING LIST APPLICANTS IN AN EFFORT TO EXPAND OUR BACKPACK PROGRAM. Contact our Program Coordinator,Allen Rosenbaum, or CLICK HERE to fill out an application.
Farm2Kids
Through our Farm2Kids Program we deliver fresh produce directly to various schools throughout San Diego County for after school distributions. Children as they leave school are provided a selection of fresh produce that they can take home to their families. In this way we assist families in securing the nutrition they require to lead healthy active life styles. This program promotes the benefits of healthy eating for children by providing the educational content and tools necessary to support the positive development of the whole child. Through nutritional education we seek to raise awareness among children and parents of the role fresh fruits and vegetables play in a healthy active lifestyle. The program currently serves 4,000 children each month.
For more information, contact our Farm2Kids Program Coordinator, Allen Rosenbaum.
Farm2Kids is featured in the April 2010 issue of San Diego Family Magazine! Check it out.
School Pantry Program
FASD's School Pantry Program, still in its pilot phase, equips schools to operate as a partner agency would. Thirteen schools around the county, ranging from elementary to high schools, have received grant funds between $5,000-10,000 to support their pantry for the entire school year. Schools will be able to shop online from FASD's inventory, including access to our fresh produce. All of our partnering schools have FRPM rates of 90% or higher, and one principal has reported that 67% of their school families are homeless or in transition. The School Pantry program allows these schools to provide ongoing support to the students and families at their school, and a safe and easy place for busy parents to access food resources.
Summer Food Service
During the summer, when students don't have access to the free and reduced meals they depend on during the school year, Feeding America San Diego partners with San Diego Unified to help support their summer feeding sites. On select BBQ days, FASD hosts a kid-friendly farmer's market. Every child and their family will leave with a 3-5 pound bag of fresh fruits and veggies! All children ages 0-18 eat free. Learn more about SDUSD's Summer Food Program