SACRAMENTO – The Sacramento City Unified School District Nutrition Services Department has served nearly 3.2 million meals since school campuses were closed in March. The district continues to serve meals at 44 sites Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

“Sac City Unified Nutrition Services staff is made up of 300 hardworking and dedicated heroes, who have worked throughout this crisis to make sure our students are fed,” said Diana Flores, SCUSD Director of Nutrition Services. “They’ve provided 36,000 meals per day, and last week reached the milestone of providing more than 3 million meals since March when our students left school campuses. We are thankful for community partners such as No Kid Hungry, who has been with us every step of the way to help sustain and feed our families. No Kid Hungry is a mission we all share – and I thank them for their support.” 

Sac City Unified works with a number of community partners to make these meals possible, and has received generous support from No Kid Hungry, a national campaign run by Share Our Strength, a nonprofit working to solve problems of hunger and poverty in the United States and around the world. On September 11, No Kid Hungry announced it would award SCUSD with $100,000 towards purchasing a food truck, which will be custom-made for rapid quick meal services. 

“With the coronavirus pandemic raging on at the same time that devastating wildfires are ravaging the state, school meals are more essential than ever for making sure kids have enough to eat,” said Kathy Saile, Director of No Kid Hungry California. “Since the coronavirus closed schools, Sacramento City Unified School District has been innovating and adapting their meals programs to safely feed kids, and No Kid Hungry is pleased to partner with the district to reach more families in need.” 

The mobile food truck will also be used during Summer Meal Services to expand the district’s reach in its most vulnerable communities. No Kid Hungry additionally awarded $150,000  to be used during this pandemic to support meal services. Recent grants will also fund new technology that will be essential to reopen schools safely, and Mask Up Sacramento signage to encourage our community to wear their mask. 

Additionally, No Kid Hungry funded the Sacramento Food Bank to open five new distribution hubs at school sites. 

“It is an honor to partner with the Sacramento City Unified School District (SCUSD) and No Kid Hungry to help provide food and nourish the families whose children attend these various schools. Staff members at this school district are incredibly caring and committed. It’s heartbreaking to think Sacramento’s children experience food insecurity higher than the State and national average. This partnership is an attempt to try and provide relief and kindness during these very challenging times. We are grateful to No Kid Hungry and the SCUSD,” said Blake Young, President & CEO Sacramento Food Bank & Family Services. 

Please visit Central Kitchen website for more information about SCUSD Nutrition services: https://thecentralkitchen.org/