ABOUT THE FOOD 4 KIDS BACKPACK PROGRAM
The Food 4 Kids Backpack Program provides food to chronically hungry elementary school students from low-income households who are at risk of hunger over the weekend when free school meals are unavailable.
HOW ARE CHILDREN SELECTED FOR THE PROGRAM?
Teachers and nurses identify students who display signs of chronic hunger. Warning signs include stomach aches, dizziness, difficulty concentrating, hoarding food from the cafeteria and absenteeism.
Once identified by a school teacher or nurse, the student’s parents are sent a permission slip to enroll the student in the program.
Every Friday afternoon students on the program are discretely given a bag of food to tuck into their backpacks for the weekend. Each food pack provides enough food for an entire weekend.
WHAT FOOD ITEMS ARE INCLUDED IN THE BACKPACK?
Sample items include peanut butter; beans and franks, ravioli or stew in pop-top cans; cereal; juice boxes; fruit cups; raisins; pudding cups; granola bars; shelf-stable milk; and macaroni and cheese.
Who is Eligible?
- San Diego County schools with 80% or more kids on free or reduced lunch
- Chronically hungry children hand selected by teachers
What documents are required upon enrollment?
- All participating schools are required to submit a referral form for every student enrolled in the program.
- Each child must return a signed permission slip to participate in the program from their parent or guardian.
How many schools are currently enrolled?
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22 San Diego County elementary schools will be enrolled on the program during the 2010-2011 school year. These include:
Alvin Dunn Elementary San Marcos Balboa Elementary San Diego Bobier Elementary Vista Calvin J. Lauderbach Elementary Chula Vista Cherokee Point Elementary San Diego Edison Elementary San Diego Harborside Elementary Chula Vista Herbert Ibarra Elementary San Diego John Adams Elementary San Diego Kimbrough Elementary San Diego Libby Elementary Oceanside Lincoln Elementary Escondido Mary Lanyon Fay Elementary San Diego Maryland Elementary Vista Mission Elementary Oceanside John Montgomery Elementary Vista Ocean Beach Elementary San Diego Laura G. Rodriguez Elementary San Diego San Marcos Elementary San Marcos Sherman Elementary San Diego Sunset Elementary San Ysidro Vista La Mesa Elementary La Mesa
How much does it cost to feed a child for a year?
- $270 = 1 school year (36 weekends)
- $30 = 1 month (4 weekends)
- $7.50 = 1 weekend
HOW CAN I HELP FUND A CHILD OR SCHOOL ON THE PROGRAM?
Contact Trisha Gooch, Development Manager, San Diego Food Bank at 858-527-1419 Ext. 29 or tgooch@sandiegofoodbank.org
