By Anahid Brakke, Executive Director, San Diego Hunger Coalition

For forty-five years, San Diego Hunger Coalition has believed in a Hunger Free San Diego where anyone facing hunger can get the assistance they need. This can only be achieved when we work collaboratively to provide programming supported by research, education, and advocacy.

I'm proud to share with you some of our results and outcomes from 2018, accomplished through leading coordinated action with our 100+ partners.

CalFresh Program

• Convened and facilitated 24 CalFresh Task Force meetings for over 40 organizations to collectively address barriers to enrollment, resolve case issues and share best practices.
• Increased enrollment by 3,303 households receiving CalFresh benefit.
• Trained 270 staff and volunteers from 51 partner organizations on how to provide application assistance to clients.
• Worked with colleges and universities to increase awareness and enrollment in CalFresh resulting in an additional 5,496 low0income college students receiving benefits.

Hunger Free Kids

• Since 2015, launched 41 meal programs and connected 5,000 kids to 393,000 meals.
• Facilitated Hunger Free Kids Task Force meeting, bringing together more than 60 nonprofits, school districts and meal providers to improve programs, increase collaboration and leverage resources.