Mission Fed and Jacob & Cushman San Diego Food Bank partner for Hunger Awareness Month to address food insecurity
SAN DIEGO, CALIF. (Sept. 1, 2025) – As funding uncertainty for food and nutrition programs continues to make headlines across the nation, Mission Fed Credit Union is partnering with the Jacob & Cushman San Diego Food Bank through September—Hunger Awareness Month—to raise funds for the Food 4 Kids Backpack Program, which provides weekend packages of food to elementary school children who face chronic hunger when free school meals are unavailable.
The Food 4 Kids Backpack Program currently reaches 96 Title I schools in 19 districts, serving 3,777 students weekly. The packages contain enough food to see them through the weekend and are discreetly delivered to students in their backpacks on Friday afternoons. Mission Fed Credit Union is gathering community donations online and in branches to help ensure children have enough food to stay nourished throughout the weekend.
“I have seen such a tremendous improvement in students,” said a school counselor at a participating Food 4 Kids school. “Their overall well-being, their social emotional health, and their mental health [improved] because of the San Diego Food Bank’s Food 4 Kids Backpack Program.”
This program aimed to reduce nutrition insecurity is fully funded through generous donor support, making community support essential in sustaining and growing the program to help children in need.
“Since 1977, we have been a food safety net and are now the largest hunger-relief organization in San Diego County,” said Casey Castillo, CEO of Jacob & Cushman San Diego Food Bank. “As we face changes in federal funding, support for this program is essential in helping us serve part of the 400,000 San Diegans we reach each month in our communities.”
“Every year, we see our members and the community rally behind this cause to help elementary school children in San Diego who might otherwise go hungry over the weekend, and we are confident they will be just as generous this year,” said Doug Wright, president and CEO of Mission Fed Credit Union. “All it takes is $8 to support a child for a weekend or $32 for the entire month, but we encourage people to give whatever they can.”
To donate and learn more, visit sandiegofoodbank.org/missionfed. Join the conversation online – #HungerFreeSD #Food4Kids.
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About Mission Fed Credit Union
Mission Federal Credit Union (Mission Fed) is the largest member-owned, not-for-profit, full-service financial institution exclusively serving San Diego County. Mission Fed enhances the lives of its members through financial education and services, with a focus on financial empowerment and fostering economic inclusion. Banking at Mission Fed means doing good for San Diego. Mission Fed gives money back to our local communities, has helped hundreds of nonprofits and important causes, and builds deep relationships with community partners.
Mission Fed has served the financial needs of San Diegans for over 60 years through checking, savings, loans, credit cards, investment and insurance services, and other financial offerings. Mission Fed has more than $6.5 billion in assets, over 300,000 members, 34 convenient local branches, 30,000 fee-free CO-OP ATMs nationwide and free mobile and online banking services. The credit union is regularly named a Top Workplaces USA winner and has placed in the top five California credit unions on Forbes’ Best-In-State Credit Unions list. Mission Fed is also the first San Diego-based credit union to receive the “Juntos Avanzamos” designation, honoring its commitment to serving and empowering Hispanic consumers. Federally insured by NCUA and Equal Housing Lender.
About the Jacobs & Cushman San Diego Food Bank & North County Food Bank chapter
Established in 1977, the Jacobs & Cushman San Diego Food Bank is the food safety net for all of San Diego County, providing food to people in need, advocating for the hungry and educating the public about hunger-related issues. Through a combination of programs and robust network of more than 450 local partners, the San Diego Food Bank distributed nearly 53 million pounds of food and supplies in FY 25 to individuals and families through our regional network of services. The organization serves 400,000 people per month in communities throughout San Diego County. Join us online at sandiegofoodbank.org and @sdfoodbank on social media.
