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One reason, sadly, parents and guardians may be relieved their kids are back in school is they’ll get a chance to eat regular, proper meals.
According to Feeding San Diego, a non-profit organization dedicated to providing hunger-relief for individuals and families in the region, more than 100,000 children throughout San Diego County experience food insecurity.
Food insecurity is not having regular access to safe, affordable and nutritious food that contributes to good health. Basically you don’t have every day access to three meals a day that cover the basic food groups.
More often than not, Pacific Island, Black and Latino families experience food insecurity at higher rates than white families.
The county of San Diego reports that in 2022 anywhere between 7 and 12 percent of Chula Vista households were enrolled in SNAP, the federally subsidized Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program. Similar numbers were reflected in National City.
When families for whatever reason can’t meet their kids’ nutritional needs at home, schools step in by providing access to low cost or free breakfast and lunch.
Some kids may not like being back in the classroom after having just been relieved of their academic studies for weeks, but when school is back in session its an opportunity for them to eat at least two meals a day.
It doesn’t help that the Trump Administration and the GOP are advancing cuts to CAL-Fresh—the state’s name for the federal SNAP program—that will begin in the Fall, taking even more food out of children’s mouths at home and school. Chances are high that if it’s not your kids then it is probably a kid you or your child knows that is going hungry.
A small sliver of silver lining and relief is the start of county’s Safety Net Bridge Program, initiated by County Supervisor Monica Montgomery Steppe.
This Saturday she and South County Supervisor Paloma Aguirre will help with food distribution at South Region Live Well Center in Chula Vista.
With class in session there are plenty of lessons to be learned by students and parents alike, namely while some people may want to take food from your mouth, there are others who are willing to provide for as long as they can.
