Hunger is a reality for many families in Fresno, California, and children are among the most vulnerable community members. The Fresno Mission and Every Neighborhood Partnership are working to change this.

Although the Central Valley produces a quarter of the country’s food supply, Fresno was ranked one of the most food insecure communities in the United States. Homes with children are about one-third more vulnerable to hunger than homes without children.

While children can eat school lunches throughout the week, some kids in our city may not have access to nutritious food on the weekends.

To help address this need, Every Neighborhood Partnership incorporates a snack or lunch in every one of our Saturday Sports programs, and this year, the Fresno Mission came alongside ENP to pack and provide the meals for every kid attending Saturday Sports.

From January through May, 2023, volunteers with the Fresno Mission packed 350-400 meals every Friday evening. An ENP volunteer would then pick up the meals on Saturday morning and distribute them to the 14 Saturday Sports school sites.

Saturday Sports is a two-hour ENP program held throughout the year that engages volunteers in a group mentoring setting with students giving them the opportunity to do something positive and fun in their neighborhoods.

“Having a snack or lunch at Saturday Sports is a huge component,” says Paul Castillo, ENP’s Recreational Resilience Coordinator. 

If a child is hungry, says Paul, they cannot grow in resilience or confidence, becoming the best version of themselves. While Saturday Sports is designed to cultivate mentorship, healthy relationships, and personal growth among kids, this is not possible if children’s basic needs are not met.

“Without [a snack or lunch], Saturday Sports wouldn’t be complete,” says Paul. “Big shout out to the Fresno Mission for providing these lunches [over the last several months.] Thank you, thank you, thank you!”

“As the Mission focuses in one area, and ENP focuses in another, we realize we’re all the hands and feet of Jesus,” says Desmond Camacho, Director of Development with the Fresno Mission. “We get to come together and meet the [needs in our community], helping people see His love.”

Get involved!

→ Learn more about Saturday Sports

→ Volunteer with Every Neighborhood Partnership

→ Volunteer with the Fresno Mission