San Diego Law Firms Raise Over $150,000 to Support Families Through Feeding San Diego’s School Pantry Program
For the past 13 years, Feeding San Diego’s Food from the Bar campaign has united the local legal community in a friendly competition to raise funds and volunteer their time in support of the non-profit’s mission to provide nutritious meals to anyone in need while maximizing food rescue. This year’s campaign, held annually in June, raised $150,000 to support Feeding San Diego’s School Pantry Program, a proven, longstanding hunger-relief program that provides free nutritious food to students and their families on K-12 school campuses. Currently, the program operates on 70 campuses throughout San Diego County, providing critical food assistance to households living on low incomes. According to data from Feeding America, over 100,000 children in San Diego County are experiencing food insecurity.
The firm that took top billing in this year’s campaign is Singleton Schreiber, which single-handedly raised over $75,000, both from employees and the firm itself. The additional firms that comprised the top five fundraisers include: Cooley LLP, Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman, Judicate West, and Garcia Hong Law. An anonymous donor provided a $25,000 matching gift for all donations received during the Food from the Bar campaign, further bolstering its efforts. In addition to funds, the law firms also donated their time, giving 318 hours during the month-long campaign to help sort, pack, and distribute rescued food to San Diegans experiencing food insecurity. In total, there were 21 participants in this year’s campaign, consisting of law firms, legal services organizations, and government legal offices.
“Addressing food insecurity is essential to strengthening our communities, and Feeding San Diego continues to make a meaningful impact where it matters most. We’re proud to support the new School Pantry at Morse High School, which provides students and their families with reliable, dignified access to the food they need,” said Jerry Singleton, managing partner of Singleton Schreiber. “No child should have to worry about their next meal, and this pantry helps ensure students can focus on learning and thriving.”
Since 2021 Feeding San Diego has been focused on expanding its School Pantry Program. For schools to qualify, at least 50% of students must be eligible for free or reduced-price meals. In recent years, the program has expanded to 70 campuses across the county, but there are still 56 schools on a waitlist to be part of the program. Funds raised during Food from the Bar will be allocated directly to the program, providing operational funding for a new school pantry at Morse High School in Southeast San Diego. The school serves a diverse population of 1,623 students, with 89% of the student body representing communities of color. The school pantry requires $50,000 annually for its operating budget, and the Food from the Bar funding was vital in the growth of the School Pantry Program, including bringing Morse High School off the waitlist. The school has been waiting for its own School Pantry since October 2024, with more than 75% of the student body qualifying for free or reduced-price meals.
“Our decision to partner with Feeding San Diego came from our commitment to equity and our responsibility to remove barriers that prevent students from thriving,” said Principal Cynthia Larkin of Morse High School. “Families in our community are constantly navigating high living costs and the ongoing impact of our current economy. Partnering with Feeding San Diego provides Morse with a sustainable and dignified way to support our families who may be in need. We truly want to make Morse a place where every student feels seen, heard, loved, and respected.”
The School Pantry at Morse High School will provide nutritious groceries to 200 households once a month, with the first distribution scheduled for Thursday, December 18, 2025, from 3-4 p.m. Feeding San Diego is actively seeking donors to sponsor the remaining 56 schools, enabling them to be removed from the waitlist.
