Food Security Projects

Emergency Options

A number of schools in California provide emergency food baskets or gift cards to families facing food insecurity as a compassionate response to immediate needs. Schools can procure essential food items for baskets by collaborating with local food banks, grocery stores, or community organizations.

Emergency food baskets at schools may be particularly helpful in rural areas or places without easy access to grocery stores. For gift cards, school staff generally outreach to local businesses to provide monetary assistance that can be used to purchase gift cards from grocery stores.

These resources can be distributed discreetly to families identified as in need, ensuring privacy and dignity, a crucial aspect of this process.

Evidence for Use

Among food-insecure households, only 28% use the emergency food system.¹ A San Francisco-based study indicated that there are several reasons food insecure households don’t take advantage of traditional emergency food systems including challenges with timing, long lines at pantries, public stigma, and even for very-low-income individuals, the feeling that food pantries were for individuals or families worse off than them.² In a study focused on barriers affecting the use of traditional food pantries, Hispanic households were more likely to report discomfort utilizing pantries.³ By providing emergency food assistance in a timely and convenient location, school-provided emergency food baskets may help provide a bridge for families to access food.

Implementation Process

Parent liaisons, school navigators, or community outreach workers collaborate with food banks or community partners to stock a small number of non-perishable foods or gift cards at the school site. School staff identify children and families who may benefit and inform parents of available food resources. This method of food distribution is rooted in relationships and requires that the school staff members establish a trusting relationship with parents that ensures their confidentiality in accessing resources.

Best Practices

Train outreach staff on screening and identifying families experiencing food insecurity
Inform new families to the school of the resources available to them
For baskets, stock culturally relevant foods
Consider providing gift cards to grocery stores where money can stretch the farthest
Ensure any assistance is provided discreetly

Participating Schools

Citations

1. Coleman-Jensen A, Rabbitt M, Gregory C, Singh A. Statistical supplement to household food security in the United States in 2021. Amber waves. 2022;2022(Administrative Publication Number (AP-105)):1-31. https://ageconsearch.umn.edu/record/329914/. doi: 10.22004/ag.econ.329914.

2. Fong K, Wright R, Wimer C. The cost of free assistance: Why low-income individuals do not access food pantries. Journal of sociology and social welfare. 2016;43(1):71. https://search.proquest.com/docview/1783855373. doi: 10.15453/0191-5096.3999.

3. Martin KS, Cook JT, Rogers BL, Joseph HM. Public versus private food assistance: Barriers to participation differ by age and ethnicity. Journal of nutrition education and behavior. 2003;35(5):249-254. https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S1499-4046(06)60055-9. doi: 10.1016/S1499- 4046(06)60055-9.