Beyond selling home goods, clothing, and more, Target has strengthened its 15-year partnership with Feeding San Diego by donating $75,000 to expand the nonprofit’s School Pantry Program, providing food directly to students and families on local school campuses.
The announcement comes during Hunger Action Month, a nationwide campaign held each September to raise awareness about hunger in the United States and encourage communities to take action.
More than 100,000 children in San Diego County live in food-insecure households. With students returning to school this fall and financial pressures high for families, demand for food assistance continues to grow. Feeding San Diego currently operates the School Pantry Program at 62 schools across the county, while another 58 schools are waiting to join. The gift from Target will fund three additional school pantries, according to a news release.
Target has 28 stores in San Diego and has supported Feeding San Diego for 15 years, contributing more than $1.3 million in funding and 17 million pounds of food since 2010—equivalent to more than 2.7 million meals locally. Target employees in San Diego County have also contributed nearly 1,500 volunteer hours.
“Target is proud to continue supporting Feeding San Diego’s important work with schools,” said Susie Citizen, Target’s senior store director for San Diego. “We know the importance that having access to nutritious food can have on children’s health and success, and we’re committed to doing our part to help meet that need in our community.”
