Garden Grove Unified School District Expands Mobile Food Pantry Program

Mobile Food Pantry at Peters

Garden Grove Unified School District has expanded its Mobile School Food Pantry program, which launched last year at Peters K-3 and Peters 4-6 elementary schools in partnership with the Second Harvest Food Bank of Orange County.  During the 2018-2019 school year, the mobile food pantry program will be offered again at Peters Elementary School, and also at Heritage Elementary Computer Science Immersion Academy and Violette Elementary School.  

At the mobile food pantry, area families and community members may select free fruits and vegetables and receive nutritional information about healthy eating.  The program aims to fight hunger in the community and is offered at more than 30 schools across Orange County through an application process.

“We are thrilled to see this program grow because we know how important it is to ensure students and their families have access to healthy food,” said Teri Rocco, Board of Education trustee. “We encourage the community to take advantage of this free resource.”

Second Harvest Food Bank provides training in operation and food safety protocols at these farmer’s market style events.  Parent volunteers help run the pantry which is offered once a month at each of the three schools.  Attendees must bring their own bags to carry their produce home. 

The schedule for the Mobile Food Pantry at Peters Elementary School, located at 13162 Newhope Street in Garden Grove, is September 7 at 1:30 p.m., October 5 at 1:30 p.m., November 2 at 1:30 p.m., December 7 at 12:00 p.m., January 11 at 1:30 p.m., February 1 at 1:30 p.m., March 1 at 1:30 p.m., April1 12 at 1:30 p.m., May 3 at 1:30 p.m., and June 7 at 1:30 p.m.

The Mobile Food Pantry events at Heritage Elementary Computer Science Immersion Academy will be held at 2:00 p.m. on September 6, October 4, November 1, November 29, January 10, February 7, March 7, March 28, May 2, and June 6. Heritage Elementary Computer Science Immersion Academy is located at 426 S. Andres Place in Santa Ana.

The Mobile Food Pantry events at Violette Elementary School will take place at 9:00 a.m. on September 4, October 9, November 13, December 4, January 8, February 5, March 5, April 9 and May 7. Violette Elementary School is located at 12091 Lampson Avenue in Garden Grove.