Feeding San Diego responds to increased need by adding meal sites for children and teens

FEEDING SAN DIEGO RESPONDS TO INCREASED NEED BY ADDING MEAL SITES FOR CHILDREN AND TEENS

Three more emergency meal sites added across San Diego County

San Diego (April 14, 2020) — Today, Feeding San Diego announced three additional special meal distributions for children and teens, including the Armed Services YMCA and two Vista Community Clinic locations, Balderrama and Libby Lake. In total, Feeding San Diego is now operating eleven ongoing youth emergency meal sites to address the rising demand for hunger-relief services throughout San Diego County.

“Due to COVID-19 related school closures, children and teens across San Diego County are even more at risk,” says Vince Hall, CEO of Feeding San Diego. “We are focused on ensuring these vulnerable students can access nutritious food while maintaining social distance.”

Free, hot meals are available for children and youth Monday through Friday at most locations, and at one location cold meals are offered on Saturdays. Meals are kid-friendly and nutritious, like whole-grain pizzas, homemade macaroni and cheese, and fresh burritos.

Current meal sites are listed below:

• Armed Services YMCA Wednesday I 12:30 PM 3293 Santo Rd., San Diego, CA 92124
• Boys and Girls Club San Marcos Monday to Friday I 3:00 PM 1 Positive Pl., San Marcos, CA 92069
• Casa de Salud Monday to Friday I 1:00 PM 1408 Harding Ave., National City, CA 91950
• La Maestra Community Health Centers Monday to Saturday I 11:30 AM 4440 Wightman St., Ste 200, San Diego, CA 92105
• Mission Cove Apartments Monday to Friday I 12:00 PM 3239 Conch Way, Oceanside, CA 92058
• Ocean Discovery Institute Monday to Friday I 3:00 PM 4255 Thorn St., San Diego, CA 92105
• Pro Kids City Heights Monday to Friday I 11:00 AM 4085 52nd St., San Diego, CA 92105
• Pro Kids Oceanside Monday to Friday I 11:00 AM 821 Douglas Dr., Oceanside, CA 92058
• Sierra Vista Apartments Monday to Friday I 12:00 PM 422 Los Vallecitos Blvd., San Marcos, CA 92069
• Vista Community Clinic – Balderrama Monday to Friday I 11:30 AM 605 San Diego St., Oceanside, CA 92058
• Vista Community Clinic – Libby Lake Monday to Friday I 11:30AM 4700 North River Rd., Oceanside, CA 92057

Nearly all sites are providing each youth with a breakfast and a lunch (Armed Services YMCA is lunch service only).

Feeding San Diego youth meal sites contribute to the wellness, healthy growth, and development of children and youth by providing healthy meals and snacks at after-school and summer centers in San Diego.

To reduce the risk of community transmission of COVID-19 and guarantee adherence to social distancing practices, the distribution sites are all using a drive-through model. All meals are free and are available to youth 18 years old or younger, or anyone with a disability. No identification or personal information is required. Children do not have to be present to receive a meal, but the parent or guardian picking up meals on their behalf needs to provide basic information about their child to the site staff members. These prepared meals are distributed on a first-come, first-served basis.

In addition to the youth meal sites, Feeding San Diego offers other food assistance at sites throughout San Diego County. Additional community resources are accessible by calling 2-1-1 or visiting 211sandiego.org. For more information on Feeding San Diego’s COVID-19 response, visit feedingsandiego.org/coronavirus.

ABOUT FEEDING SAN DIEGO

Feeding San Diego is a non-profit organization on a mission to connect every person facing hunger with nutritious meals by maximizing food rescue. Established in 2007, Feeding San Diego is the leading hunger-relief and food rescue organization in San Diego County and the only Feeding America affiliate in the region. Feeding San Diego provides more than 26 million meals every year to children, families, seniors, college students, military families and veterans and people facing homelessness in partnership with a network of 300 local charities, schools, faith communities, meal sites and food pantries. Through an efficient model focused on reducing our impact on the environment, every dollar donated helps provide four nutritious meals to people in need. To learn more about Feeding San Diego and its hunger-relief initiatives, visit feedingsandiego.org