Children's Nutrition Program

 Since the COVID 19 pandemic began and the country's economy shut down, the Food Bank of Nevada County has seen a dramatic increase in need. For the last 5 months and on average, we are serving about 10,000 people per month from our weekly drive-through. These county distributions are frequented by hundreds of families with children and teens.

We have decided to begin distributing an additional bag of child-friendly food items to families with children. These bags contain real food and not just snack foods. We want to ensure that our country's children who are schooling from home, whether it is hybrid or full time, have access to healthy meals as well as snacks. This will ensure that we will reach more children, those that are homeschooled or on campus.

We will be reevaluating our school snack program after the majority of schools resume full time on campus instruction. 

Thank you,

Nicole McNeely

The Food Bank of Nevada County Executive Director 

 The Food Bank's Children's Nutrition Program began in 2004. 

The School Snack Program is intended to feed school children who would otherwise go hungry until lunch. Since the beginning of the School Snack Program, teachers have noticed an increase in the level of attention from their class and an overall improvement in the grades of the children who were not previously eating a healthy and nutritious breakfast. All snacks are nutritious and low in sugar. There is no cost to the schools and every child receives a snack, no matter their income bracket.

If you are an instructor with a program or classroom that you feel could benefit from the Children's Nutrition Program, please contact our office at (530) 272-3796, Monday through Thursday from 10 AM to 2 PM.

Teacher's Testimony

"Snacks from the food bank are so very important to our students.  Not only do they feed our students who are financially unable to purchase snacks from the vending machines during the school day, they feed students whose family is low on food at home, and students are able to focus and learn better when they have food available to them.  In some cases, the snack cupboard is the reason that some students come to school and stay throughout the day. 
Last year, a student was able to make it through the full school day when he had the provided snacks available to him. Without the snacks, he was unable to focus and became agitated. This young man is now working full time for a local business, and is continuing his learning. 
Having the snacks available to them provides our students comfort and security they may not have otherwise. They know food will always be available in our cupboard."  

Julie Gregerson Education Specialist
Silver Springs High School

Last year the School Snack Program provided our local children with 13,860 snacks per week at 28 different schools.

Dates, times, and locations coming soon!

Each year we provide free lunches to hungry children in Nevada County. During the school year, our local children are eligible for Free and Reduced lunches at the schools. However, during the summer, that particular plan is not available. Through the Food Bank’s Summer Lunch Program, meals are prepared and delivered to students at low-income area apartments, community organizations, and local parks.

Last year, the Summer Lunch program provided 2,800 nutritious lunches!

To become a sponsor of this program or to volunteer, please contact our office at (530) 272-3796 or email info@foodbankofnc.org

Due to COVID-19 restrictions, some of our policies have changed.  We plan on providing lunches at a series of locations for the summer of 2020. We will implement social distancing and ask that lunches are taken "to-go". Thank you for your cooperation.