In California’s Fremont Unified School District, 46% of students live in homes which are food insecure. Tri-City Volunteers Food Bank, a staple resource for many Fremont-area families, is seeking to change this statistic.
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06/26/2024 (Fremont, CA) – In 2020, amid the challenges of COVID-19, Tri-City Volunteers (TCV) Food Bank collaborated with Fremont Unified School District to deliver food boxes to all five Title 1 schools. This initiative highlighted the importance of establishing a snack program offering nutritious after school snacks for families with children. 2020 also marks the inaugural year of a now-long partnership between Tri-City Volunteers and American Licorice Company.
In Alameda County, CA, over 15.2% of children are identified as food insecure, and TCV’s goal is to significantly reduce food insecurity among children in the Tri-city area (Fremont, Newark,and Union City). Providing children with healthy snacks contributes essential nutrients, vitamins and minerals to their diet, as well as additional energy throughout the day crucial for learning.
With the support from American Licorice Company beginning in 2022, TCV were able to pilot a more robust Healthy Snacks For Kids Program at their primary Fremont pantry site (TCV Marketplace). The funding provided by American Licorice supported the purchase of yogurt, string cheese, nut butters, baby carrots, pre-cut celery, diced fruit, crackers and fruit leather.
Since its inception, TCV’s Healthy Snacks for Kids Program has impacted over 4,000 children across the Tri-Cities. “We are currently operating multiple Mobile Pantry sites dedicated to supporting children in our community,” shares Kellie Baron, TCV Program Manager.
“We take great pride in assisting the students and families at Schilling Elementary (Newark) and Fremont Adult Community Education (F.A.C.E.). Our aim is to continue serving these locations while implementing the Healthy Snacks for Kids Program in ALL LOCAL SCHOOLS.”
With continued support in the coming year, the Healthy Snacks for Kids Program will address the need for nutritious snacks tailored specifically for children. These efforts will specifically focus on Alameda County, home to American Licorice’s Company Union City facility, where Red Vines candy has been proudly manufactured for decades.
Visit Tri-City Volunteers to learn how you can support them in the fight against food insecurity: https://www.tri-cityvolunteers.org/
To learn more about American Licorice Company’s partnerships, click here: https://americanlicorice.com/our-mission/partners/
