Everyone is fixated on food this week. That’s what Thanksgiving is all about.
So it seems particularly appropriate to also spend some time
thinking about the people who don’t have enough to eat. The San Diego Food Bank launched a
program in 2007 to provide food for chronically hungry elementary school
students. Specifically, the Food 4 Kids Backpack Program provides food to
feed them on weekends when they’re at home and often left with nothing to eat. (Photo from the San Diego Food Bank Website.)
Every Friday, eligible kids in some dozen San Diego, Vista and Chula Vista schools, receive backpacks with child-friendly items such as peanut butter, pop-top canned goods, cereal, juice boxes, fruit cups, raisins, pudding cups, granola bars, shelf-stable milk and macaroni and cheese tucked inside. The food is placed in a backpack for the student to carry home, avoiding the stigma (and hassle) that might accompany a bag of groceries.
According to a Food Bank press release, “charitable donations are down this year and hunger in San Diego County is up.” To help address the problem, San Diego food bloggers, led by Alice Robertson and Caron Golden , are spearheading a fund-raising drive. The program costs a mere $6.00 per week per child to fund (that’s about two Starbucks grande lattes); a donation of $250.00 will fund a child for the entire 36-week school year.
Donors can contribute on line at FirstGiving.com. In addition, there will be a backpack and food drive on Saturday, December 12th, from 9 am – 12 noon, at the Little Italy Mercato at Date and India Streets. Non-perishable, kid-friendly food items and backpacks in good condition are requested.
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