New program tackles kids’ hunger on the weekends
When it comes to food, weekends are a real challenge for some Salinas kids and their families. But now, a local school district and the Food Bank for Monterey County are working together on a solution.
More than 400 people received a bounty of fresh fruits and vegetables at the Food Bank’s Family Market at Vineyard Christian Church on Friday.
“I think it’s sad we have hunger in our community because we have so much vegetables,” Esther Figueroa, a volunteer said. “We’re plentiful in that.”
Statistics have shown 20 percent of people in Monterey County are food insecure. But for kids, that number increases to 25 percent. In certain areas of Salinas, that number is even higher. 2,748 or 30 percent of the students in the Salinas City Elementary School District are homeless.
“It is absolutely mind blowing,” said Superintendent Maria Martinez. “I’ve never worked at a district where 99 percent of your population are at a poverty rate.”
While much of the students’ nutritional needs are met during the school week, weekends are a problem. That’s why the Food Bank and SCESD are launching Kids NOW, “Nutrition on the Weekends.”
“All healthy snacks,” said Melissa Kendrick, executive director for the Food Bank for Monterey County. “So this is stuff that kids that kids can actually eat themselves. So we’ve got peanut butter, we’ve got granola bars, fruit cups.”
What kids are eating is especially important. Kendrick said good nutrition could help ward off illnesses associated with poverty.
Kids NOW is rolling out at Sherwood Elementary, where half the student population is homeless. The Food Bank has committed to packing 400 bags of food for students, but that number could rise to 2,000 by October. Because affordable housing is out of reach for many of these families, it appears that number could grow.
“What I’m seeing this year is that number is going to be higher,” Cheryl Camany, homeless liaison for SCESD said.
“I think all of us can agree,” Kendrick said. “We don’t want a child going hungry at any point during the week, so, this weekend program is very important.”
The Food Bank for Monterey County is completely funding the Kids NOW program. On Friday morning, it received a $5,000 donation from American Ag Credit, which could help give this program a boost.
