In the rural community of Cañada de Garcia, located 28 kilometers from our distribution center, a new school kitchen was inaugurated in September. Now, 34 students in the elementary school Emiliano Zapata are receiving healthy lunches every school day from Feed the Hungry San Miguel.
Health assessments were conducted by our nutritionists to measure the students’ height, weight, and muscle mass and determine their nutritional status. Children were interviewed about what they eat at home, so that we can adapt the lunch menus as needed, considering what they are accustomed to.
The latest census (2020)* reported that the population of the Cañada de Garcia community was 128 men, women, and children, residing in 30 households. Only one third of the homes had toilet or sanitary facilities. At the time of the census, 35% of residents were children age 14 or younger. The average school achievement for adults was less than 6 years; 10% of the adult population were illiterate.
We thank the community leaders, teachers, volunteers, and donors like you for allowing us to expand our School Lunch Meals program to this needy community.
*Source: 2020 INEGI Census (Instituto Nacional de Estadística, Geografía e Informática).
See Feed the Hungry San Miguel president Mike Taylor and Feed the Hungry A.C. president Jennifer Venkatraman on opening day at the new kitchen: