Kitchen Diaries

Share your story for a chance to receive a $250 Visa gift card and food for you and your family.

Feeding San Diego is looking for individuals willing to share their personal experiences with hunger as part of our Kitchen Diaries series. Kitchen Diaries is a video series that shares stories of Feeding San Diego food recipients to inspire the community to help end hunger in San Diego County. View video examples here.

We’d love to learn more about:

How hunger impacts you and your family.
What led you to seek help.
How receiving food assistance benefits you.

You must be comfortable with our team:

Scheduling an initial video call with you to ensure this project is a good fit
Filming an on-camera interview with you in your home
Capturing footage of you and additional household members such as kids, spouse, etc. (if applicable) interacting in your home and possibly at a Feeding San Diego food distribution
Sharing your story publicly through Feeding San Diego marketing channels such as social media, email newsletter, printed newsletter, and on local news stations

If your submission is selected, you will receive a $250 Visa gift card and food for you and your family in thanks for your time and willingness to share your story.

We are committed to sharing your story with dignity and respect. Thank you for considering this opportunity.

By submitting your story you’re agreeing to the following:

Entry Frequency: One (1) entry per person/email address/household during the Entry Period
Eligibility: Open to individuals who are legal U.S. residents of the state of California residing within San Diego County, and who are 18 years of age or older at the time of entry
Compensation: Submissions chosen will receive a $250 Visa gift card.
Time Commitment: 1-2 hours for filming interview and a 30-minute phone call or virtual call in advance to introduce ourselves and schedule the shoot.
Usage Rights: The resulting interview could be used across a variety of channels, including but not limited to: Feeding San Diego’s social media channels, website, printed materials, email marketing, and/or television. You will have the chance to see and approve the interview before it is shared.

Our Storytelling Promise

Feeding San Diego is committed to showing respect in its storytelling. Stories build new perspectives, deconstruct stereotypes, illustrate the impact of our work at a deeply personal level and humanize the issue.

Kitchen Diaries is a way for our organization to gather stories to raise awareness about the work we do and the people it supports. The people we serve are at the center of all we do. Feeding San Diego treats the neighbors we meet with the utmost respect, sensitivity and care to capture and elevate their stories. We know sharing the deeply personal and emotional details of facing hunger can be hugely challenging and so we ensure the neighbors being featured in videos or written materials are always comfortable and respected throughout the process.

Frequently Asked Questions

If my story is chosen, how will I be compensated?

You will receive a $250 Visa gift card at the end of filming.

What is the time commitment if my story is chosen?

The $250 compensation includes up to two and a half hours of filming your story. This includes 1-2 hours of filming at your home, plus a 30-minute phone or virtual interview in advance. We will be flexible with your schedule and work to find a day and time that works best for you.

What will the interview be like?

Two members of Feeding San Diego’s Marketing & Communications team will come to your home (or a place of your choosing) for the interview. It will be recorded and you will be on camera. The interview will cover much of what is included in the Kitchen Diaries questionnaire. Our goal is to tell your story how you want it told, and to share how the food you receive from Feeding San Diego supports you. We will also capture additional footage of you and potentially others that are part of your story to supplement the interview.