One out of five children in San Luis Obispo County face hunger. Summer can be a difficult time for these children who rely on free or reduced-price breakfast and lunch programs at school during the school year. A $30,000 grant from Hunger Is, a joint charitable program of The Albertsons Companies Foundation and the Entertainment Industry Foundation, provided access to healthy breakfasts to children who face hunger in San Luis Obispo County.
“Our families love that their children have access to free healthy meals as part of our summer program, it helps simplify their lives that much more so they can focus on providing for their families during the day, and spending quality time with their children at night,” said Meghan Harris, Boys & Girls Club of North San Luis Obispo County.
The SLO Food Bank’s Summer Breakfast Bag program provides one month’s worth of healthy breakfast items, nutrition information and fun recipes in a reusable bag for each participating child. The breakfast bags were delivered to high need locations serving families with children.
“Transportation is a real barrier for low-income families in rural areas without grocery stores nearby, especially during the summer months when kids are home during the day. Breakfast bags are a great way of getting a large volume of healthy food to children and teens in the more rural and remote areas of our County,” said Jen Miller, director of programs at the Food Bank Coalition of San Luis Obispo County.
“I am overjoyed to witness Hunger Is making a difference on a local level by awarding over $4.6 million in grants to provide more breakfasts to children in need. I’m so happy to help raise attention and start conversations about the critical issue of childhood hunger in America,” said Academy Award – nominated actress and Hunger Is Ambassador Viola Davis. “I was one of the millions of children who went to school hungry every day. I am proud to support an organization that is giving children the fuel that they need to succeed.”
About the Food Bank Coalition of San Luis Obispo County:
The Food Bank Coalition is a non-profit, tax exempt organization, serving all of San Luis Obispo County through its direct food programs and network of community partners. Their mission is to alleviate hunger in San Luis Obispo County and build a healthier community. Last year they distributed nearly six million pounds of food to help our neighbors struggling with hunger. Nearly half of the food distributed was fresh produce, including more than 200,000 pounds harvested locally by their GleanSLO program. They collaborate with our nation’s network of Food Banks and effectively utilize their team of 1,800 volunteers, keeping their overhead at a very low six percent. To learn more about the work done by the Food Bank Coalition throughout San Luis Obispo County, please visit their website www.slofoodbank.org.
About Hunger Is:
Hunger Is, a joint charitable program of the Albertsons Companies Foundation and the Entertainment Industry Foundation (EIF), is designed to build awareness and raise funds in an effort to eradicate childhood hunger in America. Funds raised through Hunger Is directly benefit programs focused on combating childhood hunger and improving health-related outcomes. For more information, visit www.HungerIs.org.
About the Albertsons Companies Foundation:
Founded in 2001, the Albertsons Companies Foundation, formerly the Safeway Foundation, supports causes that impact our customers’ lives. Albertsons Companies stores provide the opportunity to mobilize funding and create awareness in our neighborhoods through the generous contributions by our customers, our employees’ passion and partnerships with our vendors. We focus on giving locally in the areas of health and human services, hunger relief, education and helping people with disabilities. Albertsons Companies and the Albertsons Companies Foundation have invested $2 billion in our neighborhoods since 2001. For more information about the Albertsons Companies Foundation, visit www.albertsonscompaniesfoundation.org.
About the Entertainment Industry Foundation:
Founded in 1942, the Entertainment Industry Foundation (EIF) is a multifaceted organization that occupies a unique place in the world of philanthropy. By mobilizing and leveraging the powerful voice and creative talents of the entertainment industry, as well as cultivating the support of organizations (public and private) and philanthropists committed to social responsibility, EIF builds awareness and raises funds, developing and enhancing programs on the local, national and global level that facilitate positive social change. For more information, visit www.eifoundation.org.