This submit is dropped at you by the San Antonio Meals Financial institution
Guaranteeing No Youngster Goes Hungry This Summer time: A Name For Group Assist from Emily De Maria, Chief Packages Officer on the San Antonio Meals Financial institution
Because the mom of three boys, I’ve come to know simply how a lot youngsters can eat, in addition to the vital position vitamin performs in my youngsters’s well being — particularly throughout the summer time months when college is out. For years, the San Antonio Meals Financial institution’s efforts to nourish youngsters and households intensify throughout the summer time with our Summer time Meals for Youngsters marketing campaign, a significant lifeline for households the place we associate to offer no-cost meals, snacks, and groceries to youngsters in want all through our area over the summer time break.
With over 200,000 college students in our space dwelling in lower-income households, and one in 5 youngsters experiencing meals insecurity, summer time could be an particularly difficult time for households who depend on the free or decreased price breakfasts and lunches supplied at college. Throughout the college yr, most kids devour as a lot as half of their every day energy at college. As soon as summer time comes, meals prices enhance by over $400 per youngster. This summer time meal hole is the place our summer time meals programming steps in, providing assist to households and kids once they want it most.
Because the Chief Packages Officer on the San Antonio Meals Financial institution, I oversee our kids’s vitamin and well being packages, and I can attest to the unimaginable affect this marketing campaign has on the lives of native households. By means of our community of over 150 summer time meal websites throughout our area, youngsters 18 and beneath can entry kid-tested, kid-approved breakfasts, lunches, and snacks without charge. These summer time meal websites not solely present nutrient-rich, balanced meals, but in addition give dad and mom the peace of thoughts to know that their youngsters’s minds are additionally being nourished by the enjoyable and academic actions hosted at these websites all through the summer time.
I’ve been concerned in summer time meal programming for over a decade and have spent a whole lot of time at these websites speaking with households, interacting with youngsters, and constructing a wealthy understanding of all it takes for households to make ends meet every summer time. Our meal websites present an actual lifeline; with constant, high quality meals that households can rely on. We’re additionally in a position to present further assist to households via entry to meals distributions, advantages help, vitamin schooling and workforce growth.
GET HELP
For households in search of assist with summer time meals for his or her youngsters, please know that you’re not alone. We see you and we perceive how difficult the summer time months could be. Our culinary group and devoted cooks try to create meals that not solely nourish youngsters, but in addition present the chance to attempt new menu gadgets. We worth suggestions from the children and take ‘kid-tested, kid-approved’ very severely!
I encourage you to go to safoodbank.org/summermeals/getmeals/ to be taught how one can entry any certainly one of our summer time meals websites to obtain the help your loved ones wants. Moreover, you’ll be able to contact our Neighbor Providers division at 210.431.8326 for help in making use of for advantages and to assist find a meals distribution occasion close to you. Please know that your dignity and privateness are revered, and our group is right here to assist you each step of the best way.
GIVE HELP
We imagine within the energy of group and acknowledge that each getting assist and giving assist are important parts of our efforts to battle starvation throughout Southwest Texas.
For these with the chance to offer proper now, listed here are a few of the significant methods you’ll be able to assist to make sure that no youngster goes hungry this summer time. You may:
Donate Cash: Each $1 supplies 7 meals for youngsters
Donate Time: Now we have volunteer alternatives for all ages and talents
Donate Meals: Begin a meals drive or construct a Summer time Snacks for Youngsters Package
Donate Voice: Share our marketing campaign along with your community to extend consciousness
Your contribution, regardless of how huge or small, makes a tangible distinction within the lives of youngsters and households in our group. Assist our efforts by visiting safoodbank.org/summermeals/givemeals.
This Could my twins graduated from highschool. As they put together all through the summer time to go off to school, I’ve thought so much about all it took to get to them right here. Through the years, they’ve benefitted from so many packages and supportive providers, together with summer time meal packages which have allowed them to thrive throughout their summer time break and return to high school every year nourished and able to be taught. Along with your assist we are able to make that occur for all youngsters in our group. Collectively, we are able to make sure that each youngster has entry to nutritious meals, serving to them Eat Nice, Play Nice this summer time.
Emily De Maria is a nonprofit chief with 25 years of expertise in growing and implementing packages that handle various group wants. As Chief Packages Officer on the San Antonio Meals Financial institution, she oversees initiatives serving over 100,000 folks weekly throughout Southwest Texas. Emily is devoted to creating strategic partnerships and revolutionary options for social points, serving on a number of boards and commissions. She holds a grasp’s diploma in public affairs from the LBJ College of Public Affairs and a bachelor’s diploma in economics and authorities from the College of Texas at Austin. She and her husband Mark have three sons.
