Feeding San Diego and North Terrace Elementary School free food distribution on Camp Pendleton in honor of Memorial Day, May 26 2022. Photo courtesy Feeding San Diego

Feeding San Diego, the county’s leading hunger relief and food rescue organization, is honored to announce it is a recipient of a $100,000 grant from The Conrad Prebys Foundation for its 2022 summer grant cycle. 

The funds will support the nonprofit’s School Pantry Program, helping to break the cycle of food insecurity for the youth of San Diego County by providing nutritious meals to families.  

The longstanding program, which is Feeding San Diego’s largest hunger-relief program for children, alleviates childhood hunger by providing nutritious food to children, youth, and their families at no cost onsite at local schools. This ensures consistent, reliable access to healthy food on a dependable schedule at familiar locations. 

The School Pantry Program operates throughout San Diego County in partnership with 13 school districts. School Pantries operate at Title 1 elementary, middle, and high schools across districts located in US Census Bureau low-moderate income tracks where a high percentage of students come from low-income families and have a high incidence of health risk and low access to food assistance.  

“The School Pantry Program is vital to many families throughout San Diego County who need support to ensure nutritious food is consistently available,” said Ali Colbran, Feeding San Diego’s director of development, Institutional Giving & Donor Relations.

“We are incredibly grateful that The Conrad Prebys Foundation recognizes the importance of this program and has again included Feeding San Diego in a grant cycle. It will surely make a difference to children and parents in San Diego County who rely on food assistance.”  

The awarded summer applicants reflect a balance between focus areas of personal interest to Conrad Prebys, including visual and performing arts, higher education, medical research, health care, and youth development. 

Feeding San Diego’s grant falls under the youth development category, as the program is instrumental in combatting the negative outcomes of childhood hunger like health issues, stress, and challenges with workforce preparedness.  

“Access to nutritious food is essential to a healthy society, particularly for children whose young minds and bodies need it to thrive,” said Grant Oliphant, CEO of The Conrad Prebys Foundation.

“The Foundation understands the deeply rooted impact that hunger has on individuals and is grateful to be able to give to Feeding San Diego to support the School Pantry Program. This program is integral to the prosperity of San Diego families who are raising our region’s future generation.” 

For more information on The Conrad Prebys Foundation or the grantees, visit ConradPrebysFoundation.org. For more information on the School Pantry Program, visit feedingsandiego.org/our-programs/school-pantry