Alameda County Community Food Bank

Press Releases:

Contact: Suzan Bateson
(510) 636-4902

"Summer Lunch Fun Day" — Alameda County Community Food Bank Builds Community Awareness of Free Summer Lunch Program for Kids
New report shows increase in number of participants, but still a long way to go to end summer hunger

Oakland, Calif. (6/14/05) – In a continuing effort to generate awareness of the Free Summer Lunch Program, the Alameda County Community Food Bank is hosting a Summer Lunch "Fun Day" July 19 at Martin Luther King Elementary School in Oakland from 10:30 am to 11:30 am. At this fun and free event open to the public, kids 18 and under can win t-shirts, Frisbees, nerf footballs and “Hope not Hunger” bracelets while learning that there are no restrictions, no sign ups, and no paperwork involved in the lunch program. Further, children and families can call 800-870-3663, enter their zip code and be directed to a Free Summer Lunch site in their area.

According to a newly released report entitled "Schools out...Who Ate?" by the California Food Policy Advocates, during the summer of 2005, 25% of Alameda County children who receive free and reduced price meals during the school year are participating in the Summer Food Service Program. This is an increase of 21% from summer of 2004. During the school year, 65,333 Alameda County children receive a free or reduced price school meal.

Food Bank staff promote summer lunch by hanging posters throughout the community. The success of the program is tracked through the Food Bank’s Summer Lunch Hotline. In the first month of the program, calls to the hotline are up an increase of 6% over the total number of calls received last summer. The dates with the highest call volumes matched the dates of the last week of school and the Food Bank postering day. The zip codes with the highest call volume, 94601, 94603 and 94621, coincide with the areas targeted by the postering campaign. The number of children in the households who have called the hotline total 1,715.

"Although we're thrilled that our outreach efforts have helped increase participation in this valuable nutrition program, it remains unacceptable that 75% of Alameda County school children are going without food during the summer months," states Suzan Bateson, Alameda County Community Food Bank executive director. "It's urgent that we get this message of hope and nutritional support to families immediately."

Alameda County Community Food Bank, the USDA, the city of Oakland, the Oakland School District, AT&T, and the office of Senator Perata (D-Oakland) have partnered since 2004 to promote the Free Summer Lunch Program. This partnership has resulted in more children enjoying free, nutritious summer lunches.