Feeding San Diego Expands School Pantry Program To 72 Campuses

SAN DIEGO, CA — Feeding San Diego is expanding its school pantry program to a record 72 campuses this school year as food insecurity in the county surpasses pandemic-era levels, the nonprofit announced Wednesday.

The program will add nine schools during the 2026-27 school year, but the waitlist of schools seeking to participate is also the longest in the program's history, according to the organization.

The pantries are expected to distribute about 4.5 million pounds of food this fiscal year to low-income families, with more than 60% consisting of fruits and vegetables. The program currently operates at schools in 18 districts, from Oceanside to Otay Mesa and rural communities including Boulevard and Pauma Valley.

Feeding San Diego said nearly 430,000 people in the county, including about 123,000 children, are at risk of food insecurity, according to Feeding America's annual Map the Meal Gap study.

The school pantries provide free groceries, including fresh produce, as well as pantry staples such as beans, oats and canned protein, to students and families. Distributions are typically held twice a month and are managed by school staff and parent volunteers.

The program currently serves about 147,130 households throughout the county, according to Feeding San Diego. Schools must have at least 50% of their students qualify for free or reduced-price meals to be eligible.

San Diego Unified School District has the most participating campuses and works with Feeding San Diego through its Community Schools program.

"Student wellness begins with meeting students' basic needs," Jason Babineau, senior director of Community Schools for San Diego Unified, said in a statement.

A recent Feeding San Diego survey found more than half of pantry participants reported improvements in their children's grades and attendance. Nearly 85% said their families were eating more fruits and vegetables and preparing more meals at home.

An anonymous donor is matching donations to Feeding San Diego throughout August. Donations can be made through the nonprofit's website.