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| San Diego Food Bank Launches Food 4 Kids Backpack Program with the Help of Helen and Will Webster Foundation |
| Food 4 Kids backpack program provides necessities to keep school-age children from going hungry over the weekend |
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SAN DIEGO, Calif. (May 22, 2007) – While many children of lower-income families
receive free breakfasts and lunches during the week at school, the weekends often go
overlooked. As a result, these school-age children often go hungry awaiting their next
meal on Monday. Fortunately, the San Diego Food Bank has created the new Food 4
Kids backpack program to alleviate any hunger pangs on their days away from school.
Piloted in November 2006, Lexington Elementary School in El Cajon became the first
school to implement Food 4 Kids. Each Friday, eligible students are given backpacks
filled with nutritious snacks to be consumed over the course of the weekend.
Oftentimes, parents/legal guardians are away at work and unable to cook meals or
supervise food preparation. As such, the backpacks are filled with child-friendly, shelf-
stable foods. Sample items include peanut butter, cereal, fruit cups, pop-top cans of
beans and franks, raisins, pudding cups, juice boxes, Mac n’ Cheese, granola bars, shelf-
stable milk, etc.
“The thought of a child going hungry outside of school hours is alarming,” said Eugene
(Mitch) Mitchell, chairman of the San Diego Food Bank. “Each week, the staff and
volunteers pack the backpacks full of food for 250 students as part of this pilot program
-- with community support we hope to be able to expand the Food 4 Kids backpack
program to needy students across the county.”
Made possible through the generosity of the Helen and Will Webster Foundation, there
are no out-of-pocket expenses to the child. It currently serves 250 students at Lexington
Elementary School, with plans to extend the program to the various elementary schools
which feed into Cajon Valley Middle School.
A primary goal of the Helen and Will Webster Foundation is “to inspire others to make a
bigger change in our society than the Webster Foundation would be able to enact on its
own.” As such, teaming up with the San Diego Food Bank enables the Webster
Foundation to help more children at risk of hunger than it would have been able to
independently.
“I sincerely hope San Diegans consider sponsoring a child to be part of the Food 4 Kids
program. The cost to sponsor one child to receive a full backpack of food each week
during the entire school year is $324,” noted Mitchell. “Donors can feel good about
knowing their contribution is making a direct impact a child’s life, right here in San
Diego.”
To sponsor a child, or partner with the San Diego Food Bank to expand the program,
please contact Maureen Polimadei, 858-527-1419 ext 30. Sponsorship of one child for a
full school year (36 weeks) is $324 or sponsorship for half a year is (18 weeks) is $162.
Other sponsorship opportunities for individuals, corporations and groups are available.
About San Diego Food Bank
Established in 1977, the San Diego Food Bank is a critical component to the welfare of
San Diego County, providing food to people in need, advocating for the hungry and
educating the public about hunger-related issues. Through a combination of
government programs and partnerships with more than 200 San Diego County non-
profit charities, SDFB acts as a central repository and distribution point for government
and donated food. Funded by foundations, grants, USDA, corporations, sponsors,
United Way and individual donors, SDFB distributes more than 10 million pounds of
food annually to individuals, families and a network of other non-profit organizations
that work to alleviate hunger throughout the county. More information can be found
by visiting www.sandiegofoodbank.org. |
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