SummerStockUp: In Support of Child Nutrition

On July 9th, we asked you, our supporters, “What could be groovier than supporting kids this summer?” And you answered by helping us raise over $60,000 during our first-ever SummerStockUp giving day. We could not be more grateful. Funds raised through SummerStockUp, as the name implies, will help stock food supplies for our Child Nutrition Programs. One in five children in Arizona face hunger.  That’s a staggering number, but filling those meal gaps for kids who do not have enough to eat is what our programs strive to achieve.

For hundreds of kids across Southern Arizona, our Child Nutrition Programs “provide a nutritious meal to little ones at home in a way that is accessible for their families,” explains Dulce Carrillo, Family Health and Advocacy Manager at the Community Food Bank. Maintaining a low barrier for families, so access to healthy food is easy and convenient, is a critical ingredient of all three programs under the umbrella of Child Nutrition: Summer Breakfasts, After School Snacks, and School Pantries.

Child Nutrition Programs

The Summer Breakfast program runs through August 2nd and offers individual-sized breakfast snack kits five days a week for children ages 0-18 at 19 sites in Pima County. On Fridays, participants receive a Weekend Pack to make breakfast at home. During the school year we provide healthy, filling Super Snacks for kids up to age 18 at 16 community sites across Southern Arizona. Food is provided as part of the USDA’s federal Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP). This ensures that kids and teenagers can enjoy the nutrition they need after school. This school year we are supplying 34 school pantries in seven districts: Tucson Unified, Sunnyside, Flowing Wells, Amphitheater, Baboquivari, Tombstone, and Nogales. School pantries are designed to serve families by offering a convenient place for parents and guardians to supplement their food supplies.

It Takes A Village

To administer these programs, we partner with schools, libraries, and community hubs. The staff at these locations play a vital role in eliminating food security barriers for the children in our communities. Librarians not only administer after school snack and summer breakfast programs, they also provide learning enrichment opportunities to our kids. Teachers might help get kids on the school bus with the food they need. School bus drivers might be charged with ensuring that a child makes it home along with food that is earmarked for his family. It takes a village to run these programs.

Cindy, a staff member at Santa Rosa Library says, “The snack program is important for the children as it provides nourishment after school. Most children don’t have food with them when they come to the library after school. We all know how hungry we can be after a full day of school or work. The children always say thank you and they all have their favorite snacks.”

So you know what else would be really groovy? Take stock (SummerStock, if you will) of who is supporting the kids in our communities and thank them. The next opportunity you get, thank your local librarian, your kids’ teachers, and their bus drivers. After all, we know for growing children having enough food is the best recipe for success.