Nearly 50% of Orange County public school students rely on school meals as their primary source of nutrition, according to Ellie Dinh, Second Harvest Food Bank’s director of programs and services.
As a result, Second Harvest steps in to address food insecurity among children through its Kids Cafe program. With the collaboration of the organization’s long-standing partner, Meals on Wheels Orange County, Second Harvest provides no-cost meals from June to August to all kids up to 18 years old.
“We recognize that meals provided throughout the academic year offer reliability and stability for many families, and Second Harvest is committed to providing consistent access to nutrition for at-risk children all year long,” said Dinh.
Ellie Dinh, left, of Second Harvest Food Bank, and Eric Nguy, right, recreation program assistant at the Tustin Family and Youth Center, make sure kids have enough to eat in Tustin on Friday, July 28, 2023. A partnership between Second Harvest Food Bank and Meals on Wheels OC is providing the no-cost lunches to kids at all Kids Cafe sites in Orange County through August. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
Kids enjoy their free lunches at the Tustin Family and Youth Center in Tustin on Friday, July 28, 2023. A partnership between Second Harvest Food Bank and Meals on Wheels OC is providing the no-cost lunches to kids at all Kids Cafe sites in Orange County through August. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
Ravioli pasta with carrots, pretzel stick and milk is part of the free lunch for kids at the Tustin Family and Youth Center in Tustin on Friday, July 28, 2023. A partnership between Second Harvest Food Bank and Meals on Wheels OC is providing the no-cost lunches to kids at all Kids Cafe sites in Orange County through August. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
Kids enjoy their free lunches at the Tustin Family and Youth Center in Tustin on Friday, July 28, 2023. A partnership between Second Harvest Food Bank and Meals on Wheels OC is providing the no-cost lunches to kids at all Kids Cafe sites in Orange County through August. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
Tustin Family and Youth Center staff member Lynda Alvarado, right, gets help from volunteer Omar Rojo to set out free lunches for kids in Tustin on Friday, July 28, 2023. A partnership between Second Harvest Food Bank and Meals on Wheels OC is providing the no-cost lunches to kids at all Kids Cafe sites in Orange County through August. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
Kids at the Tustin Family and Youth Center receive their free lunches thanks to a partnership between Second Harvest Food Bank and Meals on Wheels OC in Tustin on Friday, July 28, 2023. The no-cost meals will be available at all Kids Cafe sites in the county through August. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
A boy enjoys a carrot that is part of his free lunch at the Tustin Family and Youth Center in Tustin on Friday, July 28, 2023. A partnership between Second Harvest Food Bank and Meals on Wheels OC is providing the no-cost lunches to kids at all Kids Cafe sites in Orange County through August. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
Free lunches are ready to be distributed to kids at the Tustin Family and Youth Center in Tustin on Friday, July 28, 2023. A partnership between Second Harvest Food Bank and Meals on Wheels OC is providing the no-cost lunches to kids at all Kids Cafe sites in Orange County through August. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
A youth receives his free lunch from volunteer Jonathan Contreras, left, at the Tustin Family and Youth Center in Tustin on Friday, July 28, 2023. A partnership between Second Harvest Food Bank and Meals on Wheels OC is providing the no-cost lunches to kids at all Kids Cafe sites in Orange County through August. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
Ellie Dinh, center, director of program services at Second Harvest Food Bank, talks with children as they eat their free lunch at the Tustin Family and Youth Center in Tustin on Friday, July 28, 2023. A partnership between Second Harvest Food Bank and Meals on Wheels OC is providing the no-cost lunches to kids at all Kids Cafe sites in Orange County through August. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
The Kids Cafe program meets on most weekdays at 42 sites across the county. Tustin Family and Youth Center, Boys and Girls Club of San Juan Capistrano and Stanton Family Resource Center are a few of the many locations that participate in this program.
Second Harvest has many volunteer opportunities, said Dinh, specifically at Harvest Solutions Farm, in Second Harvest’s Distribution Center and through community food distributions at 250 community partners.
Second Harvest Food Bank is also hosting its second annual Walk to Feed OC, which will be taking place on Sept. 9 at Tanaka Farms in Irvine. This 1.5-mile, non-competitive event is “perfect for everyone,” said Dinh, and will help raise funds and awareness about nutritional and food insecurity in Orange County.
There are many summer meal programs available all across the county for children and families as well as throughout the school year as well.
Laguna Food Pantry in Laguna Beach is open Monday through Friday and allows community members to shop for free groceries, no questions asked. The location is volunteer-run and is always looking for extra hands to help.
Alongside housing and education assistance, South County Outreach helps with food insecurity in Orange County. The Irvine-based organization hosts food markets for people who are needing assistance.
