While some San Diegans dream of ice cream and beach cruises as they look forward to summer, other children worry about finding their next meal.
The Jacobs & Cushman San Diego Food Bank is partnering with San Diego County Albertsons and Vons supermarkets to launch the School’s Out, Hunger’s Not Summer Food Drive.
In the summertime, the San Diego Food Bank says there is a dramatic decline in food donations. Sadly, children in low-income families have an even stronger need for food donations because they are no longer receiving free or inexpensive school meals.
“There is always a focus around the holidays, but the reality is that the Food Bank needs food 365 days a year,” said Lori Raya, Southern California Division President for Albertsons and Vons, in a press release.
“Our goal is to help them when they need it the most, over the summer months, when thousands of San Diego County school children are no longer receiving free school meals,” said Raya.
The best way to support the food drive is to donate pre-filled $5 bags of groceries to the San Diego Food Bank. The San Diego Food Bank says customers then place the bags in the designated red food drive barrels at the front of the store.
“Our goal is to make giving easy so we can meet the demand for assistance, which is why we also created a virtual food drive on our website,” said Jim Floros, president & CEO of the Jacobs & Cushman San Diego Food Bank, in a statement.
“Those wishing to give can simply select the food items they wish to donate and pay securely using a credit card. With the community’s help, we will prevent children in San Diego County from going hungry this summer,” said Floros.
The drive is sponsored by SDG&E and the Sycuan Band of the Kumeyaay Nation. They’d like to ensure the organization is able to feed thousands of low-income families living in San Diego County.