Feeding San Diego Awarded Grant for Summer Meals to Keep Children from Going Hungry

Feeding San Diego has received a $50,000 grant from Albertsons, Vons, Pavilions Foundation’s Nourishing Neighbors program.

The grant is intended to combat hunger during the summer months and after school hours when school-aged children face higher rates of food insecurity.

The funding is backed by the “Fight Hunger, Serve Hope” initiative from the grocers’ private label brand O Organics and will be used to support the School Pantry Program, Feeding San Diego’s largest program targeting childhood hunger.

School pantries are pop-up food distributions at elementary, middle and high schools across the county once or twice a month. Parents receive fresh produce and pantry staples to use after school and on weekends. This summer, some pantries remain open to support families with during the break.

“During the summer months, kids lose access to nutritious meals provided at school as part of the Universal School Meals program,” said Ali Colbran, senior director of development at Feeding San Diego. “This creates an urgent need for food resources for families who rely on school meals to feed their children.”

A new study from Feeding America, Feeding San Diego’s national partner, revealed that just over 100,000 kids in San Diego County are experiencing food insecurity.

“At Albertsons, Vons and Pavilions, we are committed to making a difference in the lives of children facing food insecurity, and we’re pleased to partner with Feeding San Diego to fund grants dedicated to providing healthy meals for youth in need throughout the summer,” said Kevin Curry, a division president of Albertsons, Vons and Pavilions.

O Organics has donated a total of $7 million in 2024 to the Nourishing Neighbors Program to fund grants for school breakfasts, weekend breakfast, backpack programs with food, summer meals and many other breakfast-related programs.

This follows a 2023 donation of $7 million to fund similar grants for youth.

Nourishing Neighbors is a charitable program of the Albertsons, Vons, Pavilions Foundation. The program aims to eradicate hunger in America by keeping food banks stocked and supporting meal distribution programs at schools. In 2023, along with the national Albertsons Companies Foundation, the company contributed over $200 million in food and financial support, including over $40 million through the Nourishing Neighbors Program.