CLOSE THE HUNGER GAP FOR SAN DIEGO KIDS
100 by 2030
More than 123,000 children in San Diego are facing food insecurity. To help close the hunger gap, we have committed to opening 100 school pantries in San Diego County by 2030.
Over 50 schools are on our waitlist for a school pantry. Your support helps provide thousands of students and their families with much-needed groceries.
The School Pantry Program
Nearly 430,000 people across San Diego County face hunger, including over 123,000 children, while more than 29% of all food produced in the United States goes unsold or uneaten every year.
High grocery prices, coupled with rising rent and utility costs, are stretching many families’ resources to the breaking point. Three out of every 10 San Diegans don’t make enough to cover basic living expenses. For young students, not knowing where their next meal will come from is especially detrimental.
Feeding San Diego partners with over 71 schools throughout the county to create School Pantries. These pantries provide reliable access to healthy dry staples and – uniquely – to fresh produce, accessible to families at trusted locations they already visit, their local schools.
But there’s more work to be done.
Another 50+ schools (and counting) are on our waiting list. Feeding San Diego is committed to pulling these schools off of the waitlist — and we need your help.
Every School Pantry Helps Hundreds of Kids
In FY26 (July 1 – June 30, 2026), School Pantries served 9,000 households monthly. Throughout the year, these pantries provided over 2.9 million meals.
According to our FY26 survey results, participants attending School Pantries report:
- 84% of families eat more fruits and vegetables
- 70% of families eat less unhealthy food (fast food, junk food)
- 57% of families agree or strongly agree that their child’s grades have improved
- 62% of families agree or strongly agree that their child’s attendance has improved
Help take the next school off the waitlist!
Current School Pantry Partners
*Schools we took off the waitlist in FY26
Hancock Elementary
“We are providing a service to those who are serving our country. These are families who have transitioned from one place to another for service purposes. These are families who are on a fixed income, and they are in San Diego, one of the most expensive cities in the United States. The basic needs of feeding your family, the basic needs of feeding yourself, and having that energy need to be covered first. Really, we’re trying to catch them up into stability.”
-Abigail Avila, community schools coordinator at Hancock Elementary
Berry Elementary
“Kids often have the fastest meals, the quickest stuff, the dollar mac and cheese, and then they’re coming to school without energy, or their brains aren’t functioning properly. For someone to step up and say, we’ll provide the money it takes to make sure other children get good food. That’s really what our world needs is more of that.”
-Joe Prosapio, principal at Berry Elementary
Guajome Park Academy
“It’s expensive to live in California. We just moved here in August. My husband is injured medically. He hasn’t been working for two months, so things have been challenging lately. It’s good to know that here are resources like this available because it does help, I think every little bit helps.”
-Jessica, a parent whose son attends Guajome Park Academy
Lemon Crest Elementary
“Receiving fruits and vegetables totally helps us. We’re getting WIC with her, but that’s only $25. So it’s really helpful. The extra stuff that I can make a new dinner with really helps our family. I’m surprised to receive this support. I can’t believe that you guys are coming out to the schools and doing this for us. It’s really awesome.”
-Adrienne, a mom of three whose kids attend Lemon Crest Elementary
Lincoln Middle School
“I have four kids in the Oceanside School District. I have been volunteering since we started about six weeks ago. The impact has been huge. We’ve really seen the line grow and more people come each week. It brings the community together. People are working together, picking up for their neighbors. Everyone is coming together.”
-Monica, parent of two students at Lincoln Middle School
Help Build More School Pantries
Questions?
We’re happy to help! Please contact Ali Colbran, our senior director of development, at acolbran@feedingsandiego.org
