Hungry kids are handicapped when they come to school, all educators know. So good meals for low-income students are part of many schools’ menu, including in La Mesa and Spring Valley.
On Friday, the state superintendent of public instruction announced newly updated lists of groups offering low-cost or free meals for children of low-income families.
At least seven locations offer such help in La Mesa, and 19 in Spring Valley, according to the Child and Adult Care Food Program Day Care Home Sponsors and 2012-13 CACFP Center Sites.
“Too many disadvantaged families are still struggling with the most basic need of all—providing nutritious meals for children,” said Tom Torlakson, the state schools chief. “I hope these updated lists help direct families to these critical resources.”
These are the the 2012-13 CACFP Sites in La Mesa:
- La Mesa Head Start, 7520 El Cajon Blvd., Contact Person: Norma Johnson (619) 444-0503
- Vista La Mesa Head Start, 3900 Violet Street, Contact Person: Norma Johnson (619) 444-0503
- Childrens Time Care, Inc., 5565 Lake Park Way, Contact Person: Jean Griffith (209) 534-9869
- Knowledge University Education, 3655 Via Mercado, Contact Person: Debbie Rivas (951) 313-0604
- Charley Brown Childrens Center, 5921 Jackson Drive, Contact Person: Elizabeth Cortese (619) 463-5126
- The Club – La Mesa Teen Center, 7775 Junior High Drive, Contact Person: Vince Scimone (619) 644-8183
- La Mesa Dale Elementary, 4370 Parks Ave., Contact Person: Jill Whitenburg (619) 668-5764
These are the the 2012-13 CACFP Sites in Spring Valley:
- Head Start - Granada, 3920 N. Granada, Contact Person: Norma Johnson (619) 444-0503
- Head Start – San Martin De Porres, 9119 Jamacha Rd., Contact Person: Norma Johnson (619) 444-0503
- Bancroft Head Start, 3845 Spring Drive, Contact Person: Norma Johnson (619) 444-0503
- Casa de Oro Head Start, 10235 Ramona Ave., Contact Person: Norma Johnson (619) 444-0503
- Grand Avenue Head Start, 905 Grand Ave., Contact Person: Norma Johnson (619) 444-0503
- Child Development Association, Inc., 3845 Spring Drive, Contact Person: Jane McMasters (619) 427-4411
- Grow Smart Childrens Academy - SV Center, 8735 Jamacha Blvd., Contact Person: Hunan Arshakian (619) 464-0305
- Higher Learning Academy, 9467 Jamacha Blvd., Contact Person: Maurice Agnes (619) 606-0618
- Kindercare Learning Centers, 10130 Rothgard Rd., Contact Person: Debbie Rivas (951) 313-0604
- Mount Miguel High School, 8030 Blossom Lane, Contact Person: Vince Scimone (619) 644-8183
- Avondale Elementary, 8401 Stansbury St., Contact Person: Jill Whitenburg (619) 668-5764
- Bancroft Elementary, 8805 Tyler St., Contact Person: Jill Whitenburg (619) 668-5764
- Casa de Oro Elementary, 10227 Ramona Drive, Contact Person: Jill Whitenburg (619) 668-5764
- Highlands Elementary, 3131 S. Barcelona, Contact Person: Jill Whitenburg (619) 668-5764
- Kempton Street Elementary, 740 Kempton St., Contact Person: Jill Whitenburg (619) 668-5764
- La Presa Elementary, 519 La Presa Ave., Contact Person: Jill Whitenburg (619) 668-5764
- La Presa Middle School, 1001 Leland St., Contact Person: Jill Whitenburg (619) 668-5764
- Rancho Elementary, 8845 Noeline Ave., Contact Person: Jill Whitenburg (619) 668-5764
- Spring Valley Middle School, 3900 Conrad Ave., Contact Person: Jill Whitenburg (619) 668-5764
- Casa de Oro ADHC, 9805 Campo Rd., #130 Contact Person: Francisco Orellana (619) 462-0881
(NOTE: All school sites are before and after school programs.)
As part of Torlakson’s Team California for Health Kids initiative, he encourages students to be physically active, eat more fresh fruits and vegetables, and drink more water.
Studies show these factors can lead to better academic achievement in students, the state said.
CACFP, funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, provides nutritious food to infants, children and adults. Under the program, all children enrolled in day-care homes get meals at no charge.
Most day-care centers taking part also provide meals at no charge. In centers that have a separate charge for meals, participants may receive free or reduced-price meals, the state says.
Nearly 5,000 local day-care centers and 17,000 sponsored family day-care home providers in California take part in the CACFP.
Families with children in child-care centers can qualify for free or reduced-price meals if their household income is equal to or less than the income eligibility guidelines. See attached PDF chart.
In a news release, the state also said:
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s most recent income eligibility scales are adjusted for inflation and are higher than the previous year. For example, a family of four that earns no more than $29,965 a year (up from $29,055 last year) can qualify for free meals and snacks. Also, a family of four that earns no more than $42,643 a year (up from $41,348 last year) can qualify for reduced-price meals and snacks. The Income Eligibility Scales for free and reduced-price meals and snacks are attached.
Children who receive California Work Opportunity and Responsibility to Kids (CalWORKs), CalFresh (formerly Food Stamps), Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR), Kinship Guardianship Assistance Payment Program (Kin-GAP), Head Start, Early Head Start, or the Even Start Program are automatically eligible for free meal benefits under CACFP.
Adults who receive CalFresh, FDPIR, Social Security Income, or Medicaid benefits are also eligible for free meals under CACFP. Institutions serve meals to all participants regardless of race, color, national origin, sex, age, or disability.
For more information, see the CACFP Day Care Home Sponsors list and the 2012–13 CACFP Center Sites list.
Government relieving parents of the responsibility to feed their children. How long before government relieves parents of their children?
"Salmonella outbreaks. E. coli outbreaks. Millions of dollars in economic losses. These are among the scenarios the Obama administration warned about last month as it claimed the sequester would force the U.S. Department of Agriculture to furlough meat inspectors. But while the administration prepares to take that step, it continues to pursue a "partnership" with the Mexican government to "raise awareness" about food stamps among immigrants from that country. When a top Senate Republican proposed cutting off funds for that program last week -- in the form of an amendment to a budget resolution -- Democrats on the Budget Committee shot it down. ... Meanwhile, the USDA continues to press forward with plans to furlough meat inspectors, describing it as a necessity of the sequester -- though the department has eased off a bit on warnings that this could lead to more foodborne illness, since all meat and poultry will still have to be inspected." http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2013/03/18/dems-preserve-us-mexico-food-stamp-partnership-while-usda-prepares-for-meat/
By comparison, the lunch program's total cost in 1947 was $70 million; in 1950, $119.7 million; in 1960, $225.8 million; in 1970, $565.5 million; in 1980, $3.2 billion; in 1990, $3.7 billion; and in 2000, 6.1 billion. http://www.fns.usda.gov/cnd/lunch/aboutlunch/NSLPFactSheet.pdf
And didn't you hear, money is the root of all evil.