San Antonio Food Bank and SASIC Partner up to serve free meals to children

In the 1960’s, Oakland, California’s free children’s breakfast program was a signature community initiative.  This low income community opposite of San Francisco and south of Berkley- was void of any social services including nutritional supplements was the perfect environment for this highly influential and often replicated community initiative model.  Fast forward 50 years and some of the basic necessities of the many low income, social and economically disadvantaged communities-regardless of many geographical locations including San Antonio are minimal or nonexistent.  Many NGO’s and nonprofits try to fill that specific gap.  Locally, the San Antonio Food Bank partners with local organizations to oversee multiple food distribution locations; serving as centers or hubs where local residents ages 1 to 18 can receive free breakfast and lunch until August 4, 2011. The San Antonio School for Inquiry and Creativity has recently been approved as one of these strategically located distribution sites.

Under the perseverance and dedication of Mrs. Lettie De La Rosa, the school’s distribution program has been a project in the making for over a year.  An avid community organizer and social services advocate, Mrs. De La Rosa has not only introduced the 9^th Grade Academy of the San Antonio School for Inquiry and Creativity to the San Antonio Food Bank as part of the Food Science curriculum- students have also volunteered their time assisting the food bank with various tasks at their main location in San Antonio.. De La Rosa says, “The students have gained insightful knowledge on the basics of kitchen etiquette to in-depth and technical direction on various kitchen appliances, tools and utensils…this familiarity with dishwashers, commercial ovens and other kitchen equipment is valuable at home and in the workplace.” Mrs. De La Rosa goes on to clarify that this introduction is not about turning out the next generation of fast food workers, but a program “that builds character, confidence and a valuable skill set.”  This assurance is reflective in the fact that these students were able to work alongside with Executive Chef Marco Salazar in the overall food preparation for the entire San Antonio Metro. 

As the 2010-2011 school year progressed, Mrs. De La Rosa continued to involve the San Antonio Food Bank in the school; scheduling guest speakers from the San Antonio Food Bank, talking to students about the importance of nutrition, diet and healthy living.   When she started to inquire about how to become a food distribution center for the neighborhoods surrounding the San Antonio School for Inquiry and Creativity, De La Rosa was told she would have to apply and be approved by the U.S.D.A.   Mrs. De La Rosa, a local resident saw firsthand the importance of centers and programs like this one; and its impact on the local citizens.   In her efforts to give back the community, she was persistent in keeping updated on her application process and how it was passing through the various governmental stages of approval.  Victorious, De La Rosa now runs the San Antonio School for Inquiry and Creativity / San Antonio Food Bank Free Meals for Kids Summer Program at the San Antonio School for Inquiry and Creativity’s Elementary School Cafeteria on San Pedro Avenue twice a day.  Overall, the San Antonio Food Bank collaborates with over 380 partner organizations, distributing food to more than 40,000 families, as stated on their website-www.safoodbank.org. De La Rosa comments, “As a parent of young children and a school faculty member, I feel it is my duty to help out the community anyway that I can… feeling proud to be serving food to underprivileged kids…knowing the importance of fighting hunger.” 

San Antonio Food Bank makes a very valid point to state that “When school is out, low-income children lose their access to regular daily school lunches and breakfasts. These meals typically provide at least one-third and one-fourth, respectively, of the nutrients that a child needs during the school year. Because families can’t meet this need, food banks report increases in requests for emergency food during the summer.”

 As a San Antonio Food Bank Free Meals for Kids Summer Program distribution center Mrs. De La Rosa serves prepackaged breakfasts, often consisting of a bowl of cereal, fruit with juice or milk from 8 am to 9 am.  Lunch- a typical meal of a sandwich, fruit and/or fruit cup, crackers or granola bar, and drink is served from 11:30 am to 12:30 pm, both being served at 4616 San Pedro Ave. between Hildebrand and Basse.  Mrs. De La Rosa also has to explain to the children receiving the free meals that all food has to be eaten on the premises and nothing can be taken away to be eaten later.  Inventory of all food given out is logged then distributed with any left-over prepackaged food items returning to the food bank.  “It is very important that the children eat here at the school for several reasons”, she says.  “One, they are in a safe environment, and we have things for them to do while they are here like educational games and activities…and two,  I know they are getting fed, visually I can see and know the food is going to the intended audience-helping these much deserving children from the local neighborhoods.”

Children ages 1 to 18 can receive free meals from 8 am to 9 am and again from 11:30 am to 12:30 pm at San Antonio Food Bank Free Meals for Kids Summer Program located at the San Antonio School for Inquiry and Creativity, 4616 San Pedro Ave. San Antonio, Texas 78212.