Food for Thought

During 2019, FFT again conducted its Backpack program. This program discreetly provides a nutritious bag of food each Friday to children attending our local schools. These children participate in free and reduced meal programs during the school week, but are at risk for food insecurity on the weekend. Each food bag is placed in the childs backpack for weekend consumption. The food provided is kid friendly and requires no refrigeration, stoves, dishes, or flatware. During the 2019 calendar year, FFT provided 11,357 bags of food through this program. This program started in 2006.

CHOP Carson High Options Program, also known as Grab-N-Go started at Carson High School in March 2018. The program delivers lunches 4 days a week to students participating in the afternoon alternative education program. the kids come to school after regular school lets out -- too late for receiving a regular lunch. In 2019 1,495 meals were delivered.

During the 2019 school break FFT conducted the Summer Food Service Program SFSP. This program provided free meals to children ages 2-18 Monday-Friday at three serving locations. These locations were selected due to their proximity to elementary schools with high incidences of students receiving free meals during the school year. Consequently, the children receiving meals through the SFSP are likely the same children participating in the school meal programs. During this period 2,801 free meals and 266 snacks were served at these three sites. Without this program, these children might not have received adequate nutrition during the school break. This was the 7th year we have conducted this program.