San Diego County CA— San Diego Hunger Coalition (SDHC) has been recognized by the National Child Nutrition Foundation for excellence in collaboration. The 2019 Excellence Award for Collaboration celebrates an organization which develops successful partnerships to champion and deepen the impact of child nutrition programs, specifically those funded by the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) through the USDA Food and Nutrition Service.
The award celebrates the San Diego Hunger Coalition’s work to unify strategies and generate consensus between government agencies, nonprofit organizations, school districts, and community centers throughout the region. Particularly noted in the award are the collaborative efforts between SDHC, Kitchens for Good, and Feeding San Diego to expand at-risk afterschool supper programs in San Diego County. These USDA-funded programs provide full nutritious meals to low-income children, ages 18 and under, engaged in afterschool enrichment activities at schools and community centers.
SDHC, through their Hunger Free Kids Task Force and 2018 Hunger Free Kids Report, inspired and aided Kitchens for Good to become a CACFP sponsor that will now serve afterschool suppers to low-income children at 9 different locations in San Diego County.
The Hunger Coalition partners with Feeding San Diego to identify potential meal sites that may be served through their CACFP sponsorship. Through joint efforts, Feeding San Diego began delivering afterschool supper meals to 2 new supper sites in the City Heights neighborhood, serving more than 60 low-income kids, Monday through Thursday. City Heights is a high poverty area that is culturally diverse with a high concentration of immigrants. Programs such as CACFP help new arrivals find their footing as they adapt to their new surroundings and communities.
San Diego Hunger Coalition’s research shows that there are opportunities to bring an estimated additional $170 million in federal funding for child nutrition to San Diego County. This national award recognizes SDHC’s role in stewarding collaborative research, strategies, and advocacy throughout San Diego, and championing improved nutrition for all children in the region.