Feeding San Diego Expanding School Pantry Program to a Record 72 Schools This Year as Hunger Surpasses Pandemic Levels

With the waitlist of schools to join the program now the longest in program history, the nonprofit is ramping up efforts to provide free, nutritious groceries directly on K-12 campuses

As kids head back to school, Feeding San Diego, the region’s only Feeding America partner food bank, is addressing child hunger with 72 school pantries on Title 1 school campuses throughout the county. The nonprofit plans to add nine new schools to the program during the 2026-2027 school year, yet the waitlist of schools seeking to join the program is now the longest in its history. At its current size, the program is projected to distribute around 4.5 million pounds of food in low-income neighborhoods this fiscal year, and notably over 60% of that food will be fruits and vegetables. During the month of August, an anonymous donor is matching all gifts made to the nonprofit, allowing community members to make twice the impact if they would like to help sustain and expand the program.

Feeding San Diego’s school pantry sites are providing no-cost groceries to students and families during a critical back-to-school time as the affordability crisis coupled with cuts to federal programs continues to impact low-income families. According to Feeding America’s annual Map the Meal Gap study, food insecurity in San Diego County is exceeding pandemic levels, with nearly 430,000 people in San Diego County – including 123,000 children – at risk of not knowing when and where they will receive their next meal. The School Pantry Program currently provides food to about 147,130 households throughout San Diego County. By providing free groceries, the program helps close the financial gap for families and ensures they have the healthy food they need to thrive for nights and weekends at home. School pantry food distributions include fresh produce in addition to non-perishable pantry staples like beans, oats, and canned protein.

The School Pantry Program removes barriers to food access by meeting families where they already are: at school,” said Ali Colbran, senior director of development at Feeding San Diego. “We’ve seen growing demand from schools eager to launch or revive pantries because they recognize the connection between nutritious food, student well-being, and academic success. We’re grateful to the donors making these pantries possible and invite additional supporters to help us expand the program.”

Typically held twice a month and managed by school staff and parent volunteers, school pantries transform school spaces into welcoming food distribution hubs. Parents can easily pick up a variety of nutritious ingredients while picking up or dropping off, empowering them to create wholesome meals at home that support their children’s growth and development. The program currently is present in 18 school districts, reaching as far north as Oceanside and as far south as Otay Mesa. It also serves rural communities like Boulevard in the Mountain Empire and Pauma Valley near Palomar Mountain. San Diego Unified has the largest number of pantries on its campuses and works closely with its Community Schools program.

“Student wellness begins with meeting students’ basic needs,” said Jason Babineau, senior director of Community Schools, San Diego Unified School District. “School pantries ensure students and families have reliable access to nutritious food, helping reduce stress at home and allowing students to come to school ready to learn. Through our partnership with Feeding San Diego, we’re creating healthier school communities and removing barriers that can stand in the way of academic success.”

Feeding San Diego’s most recent survey of pantry participants found that school pantries are making a meaningful difference for families. More than half of respondents reported improvements in their children’s grades and school attendance, while nearly 85% said they were eating more fruits and vegetables and preparing more meals at home. The average household was four or five people with 61% including a senior – indicating a large contingent of multigenerational homes. More than 10% of households included a current or former active-duty service member, consistent with San Diego’s large military presence.

Schools can apply to be a part of the program and are evaluated based on strict criteria, including the percentage of students enrolled that are eligible to receive free or reduced-price meals. At least 50% of the student body must qualify for the school to be eligible for the School Pantry Program. The nonprofit also analyzes existing food distributions in the schools’ zip codes to determine if additional food assistance is needed in each area. In addition, the non-profit consults a dashboard created by Data Science Alliance that pulls in data from the US Census Bureau, US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Feeding San Diego, and California Longitudinal Pupil Achievement Data System (CALPADS).

To support the school pantry program, visit our website to make a donation.