Food on the Move
The Problem:
Texas has the 2nd highest rate of “food insecurity” in the U.S. and the highest rate of child hunger in the nation—1 in 5 children go to bed hungry. 84% of DISD students qualify for free and reduced price lunches at school. Unfortunately, when the school day ends, their parents’ inability to provide nutritious meals doesn’t.
Our Unique Response:
Every summer 100,000 children in Dallas go hungry when school lets out and they lose access to free lunch programs. During the summer, Food on the Move combats childhood hunger by providing over 250,000 meals in a mobile feeding program targeting youth at low-income apartment sites, churches, nonprofits, and summer camps. To find out how to receive summer meals through Food on the Move, click here.
This year, Food on the Move is taking its stand against childhood hunger statewide, offering mobile feeding programs in Dallas, Houston, San Antonio, and Austin. The goal for summer 2012 is to serve over 500,000 summer meals and make an impact on childhood hunger across Texas.
Our Biggest Challenge:
Accessing this resource is especially difficult for low-income children stuck at home during the summer. By bringing this resource to their neighborhood, CitySquare is able to make a greater impact on childhood hunger. However, rising food and transportation costs make it difficult to reach as many children.
Our Effectiveness:
CitySquare is the third largest summer food sponsor in the state of Texas. In 2011, we served 633,973 summer meals to youth throughout Dallas and Austin.
Last summer, through an innovative collaboration with AmeriCorps and PepsiCo Food on the Move was able to deliver meals and provide 45 minutes of enrichment to 7,405 children who did not participate in traditional summer programs. Of these youth, 1,136 summer participants received the President’s Active Lifestyle Award for completing six weeks of regular physical activity. The U.S. Department of Agriculture has hailed Food on the Move “a model for the rest of the nation.”
Click here to see a list of our 2012 Food On The Move locations
See our program in action - click here.
To donate to CitySquare’s Food on the Move program, click here
