July 28, 2025 • 23 mins
In this episode of Mi San Antonio, Pedro Al Aire sits down with Lauren Deal, Director of New Mission Engagement at the San Antonio Food Bank, to shine a spotlight on the Summer Snacks for Kids program. Discover how this initiative is helping to nourish children across the city during the summer months when school meals aren't available. Pedro and Lauren also dive into the wide range of services the SA Food Bank offers—from food distribution and nutrition education to job training and community outreach. It’s an inspiring conversation about how San Antonio comes together to support its most vulnerable neighbors.🎧Listen and learn how you can get involved or benefit from these vital programs
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:05):
One, O, four or five Latino Hits is putting the
spotlight on you, San Antonio and proudly serving our community.
This is the Me san Antonio Community Voices podcast on
iHeartRadio San Antonio. Representano that two ten, Baby Fiano, Petro
Finco Latino Here.
Speaker 2 (00:25):
Fani, Welcome back to another episode of the Me san
Antonio podcast where we discuss all things san Antonio. Speaking
to organizations or representatives of organizations in and around San
Antonio that help and benefit our community, to business leaders, CEOs, vps, directors,
you name it, if it's if it's about San Antonio,
(00:47):
we have them on the Me san Antonio Podcast. Today
I get the pleasure of speaking with Lauren Dial, director
of New Mission Engagement at the San Antonio Food Bank.
We'll be discussing Summer's for Kids. You've heard us talk
about this before. It's a very important program that benefits
kids right here in San Antonio. Lauren, welcome to the podcast.
Speaker 3 (01:08):
Good morning, Padri. Thank you for having me today.
Speaker 2 (01:10):
No, thank you for I heard you just flew in
from vacation from Colorado and your your arms are tired
also well, No, thank you for coming in and speaking
with us today about this this amazing program that I
get the pleasure of talking about every year to our listeners,
(01:34):
and and and you know, really pointing out the benefits
of what is summer snacks for Kids. But before we
get to Summer Snacks for Kids, let's talk about the
San Antonio Food Bank and all the benefits, all the
good that Essay Food Bank does for our community. Because
some folks, you know, a lot of folks on the
west side the drive by that big beautiful building off
(01:55):
of the ninety right, it's off the ninety we you know,
folks see it. I see it because my family lives
down there in that part of town. And you know,
but we just see the building and we don't really
may not know all that Essay Food Bank has to offer,
because it's not just food. Lauren tell us everything Essay
Food Bank does.
Speaker 3 (02:14):
Absolutely. Yeah, we understand that warehouse is giant. People will
assume that we're distributing food, which we absolutely are with
the help of so many partners all across our twenty
nine counties, but we are a lot more than that.
Our distribution efforts are a very small portion of how
we want to make sure we are feeding the line.
But we also know, we want to shorten the line
(02:36):
as well, and if we're going to shorten that line,
there's a bunch of resources we need to be able
to provide. So we have what we call the food
for Today, Food for Tomorrow, and Food for a Lifetime efforts.
Oh yeah, so that food for today is what you know,
what you were just mentioning, making sure that that food
is in that pantry, that there's food on the table
for folks, that people have energy for the day. Food
(02:57):
for tomorrow is the work of our unsung heroes in
our Neighbors Services Office, and they're really making sure that
people are connected to resources like snap Benefits, which has
been in the news a bunch of reas been the conversation, Yeah,
the conversation, but then additional resources as well. Really, there
are the experts on this, and so when somebody calls,
(03:20):
their first question is normally, hey, how do I receive food?
But they know if they're asking that question, there's other
questions they could be asking. So we want to make
sure that we're able to go through that with them,
that those experts are able to ask all those questions
and make sure those resources are being connected. Food for
a Lifetime really is our all of those things combined,
(03:43):
but then also making sure that we have the ability
to train folks. For a long time, we've been training
people in culinary in the culinary field, right, yeah, absolutely
for decades.
Speaker 2 (03:55):
But that kind of makes sense, right, like, hey, we
give out food, come learn how to prepare food.
Speaker 3 (03:58):
Sure, right, Sure? And then a handful of years ago,
everybody in San Antonio paid or not paid, but they
voted on the opportunity for ready to work San Antonio.
And so through that partnership, we've been able to continue
and expand that opportunity to other agencies who are working
in San Antonio as well. So we're receiving referrals from
(04:19):
other agencies, We're sending agencies referrals to other agencies to
get to different training opportunities. And then ultimately one we
want to make sure that they're trained. But then we
also have a farm and we're able to talk about
food for that lifetime extending making sure we have food
all the time, fresh produce for our neighbors.
Speaker 2 (04:38):
Now, tell me more about the programs like the culinary program,
and I recall in the past hearing about job training programs.
Let's dive into those a little bit because you know,
being that as a food bank is in the West Side, right,
an area of San Antonio that we know historically has
(05:03):
we'll put it this way, has had challenges, right, economic challenges,
educational challenges.
Speaker 3 (05:09):
Right.
Speaker 2 (05:09):
So the fact that essay food bank is right there
in the heart of the West Side, how can folks
in that area and all of San Antonio benefit And
what are the programs they can benefit of from aside
from the culinary stuff. Yeah.
Speaker 3 (05:22):
So I don't like to mention that I'm not from
San Antonio.
Speaker 2 (05:26):
Don't neither am I. But you know what, we're here
and we've grown the love of this city. It's rich
culture and history and the people and the food.
Speaker 3 (05:35):
As So in two thousand and nine, I was I
was dropped in the middle of the West Side doing
a year of volunteer service right off of so has
some more on commerce. And it was within the first
three months of getting to know the organizations I was
getting to work with that I fell in love with
San Antonio, like right, And I fell in love with
(05:55):
the culture. I fell in love with the people and
the fact that community organizations, especially on the West Side,
are so closely connected.
Speaker 2 (06:03):
Yes, oh, very tight knit that community. When I when
I moved to San ANTOI started working in Santonio almost
three years ago. Now you quickly realize folks know each
other on the West Side, Folks look out for each other.
Are there issues, Yes, there's issues like in every town,
in every section of any city, right, but but there's
(06:25):
something special about the West side of San Antonio that
I didn't even have the words for it. I have
no idea what it is, but it's it's.
Speaker 3 (06:34):
Beautiful, It's a family, it's a.
Speaker 2 (06:36):
Fact familia there it is, it.
Speaker 3 (06:39):
Is that, And so I just wanted to reinforce like
my love of San Antonio started on the West Side
and it continues to be there. I think as far
as training opportunities for the San Antonio Food Bank, we've
we've always done, like I've mentioned that culinary training, which
is basically like see it's culinary boot camp the first
(07:00):
ten weeks of that and so but then also we
have our warehouse and logistics training as well, and so
oh yeah, so it's an incredible opportunity to make sure
folks have that resource as well. And both of those organizations,
or both of those training programs really leave people with
the ability to start a new job almost immediately. Nice
(07:21):
and so we're able to connect with other businesses who
are looking for folks. We have extensive, beautiful relationships with
the culinary scene in San Antonio and then also with
the warehouse scene as well, to make sure we have
job folks have jobs after they're finished with those trains.
Speaker 2 (07:36):
Now, I'm sure folks hearing that are going to ask themselves, oh, well,
that's great. What does that cost me to get that training?
Speaker 3 (07:43):
The training for the culinary student is free.
Speaker 2 (07:45):
Wow.
Speaker 3 (07:46):
Yeah, and so that is again we're working with the
city of San Antonio. There's some dollars going in to
make sure we can fund that on the back end,
but once when someone's shown that they're eligible to be
a part of the program, it is free to them.
It's ten weeks. They're not only having this very extensive experience,
but they have a caseworker working alongside them to see
(08:06):
to make sure that they're able to get there every day.
Speaker 2 (08:08):
Nice.
Speaker 3 (08:09):
Is childcare an issue. We need to make a connection
to make sure that that person can get away from
the house long enough to do these trainings. So making
sure that they're making sure they can be successful.
Speaker 2 (08:20):
See that's I love that and I love hearing that essay.
Food Bank is that committed to folks who are reaching
out for the help, for the help, and they can
be reassured that, yeah, they're just not diving in and
you hope for the best. No, they have someone guiding
them along the way and not just holding them accountable,
(08:42):
but providing help to get them to their goal. That
is awesome.
Speaker 3 (08:46):
Yeah. Absolutely So. When I try to talk about the
resources the food Bank provides, I think about it as
a tool belt. Every human being on the planet needs
a different set of tools help them be successful. I'm
back in grad school way through at UTSA, congrats. I
need a different set of tools being in that situation
(09:07):
and working a full time job Versus somebody who's jumping
out of high school into college and maybe they're trying
to decide whether college is the right opportunity. They need
a counselor I need I need to right, we all
need different tools. So every human that enters our doors
needs a different set of tools to help them be
successful and self sufficient. And so that's our job. We
(09:28):
want to figure out how to do that. We want
to ask the right questions to make sure we're able
to get them there.
Speaker 2 (09:33):
And that's the worst thing. I think people that are
looking to better themselves, better their lives, the worst thing
they don't do is they don't ask. Ask. What's the
worst thing? You can be told like oh no, or
but we don't do this right, but you ask you. Look,
the services are out there, the opportunities are out there.
I love that I've actually been tossing around. I don't
(09:55):
know if you can tell, but I'm forty now and
keep all I moisturize a lot.
Speaker 3 (10:02):
What regimend are you on? Because you look good?
Speaker 2 (10:06):
It's I don't know, it's it's natural. No, but but
you know, you're right. Like, I'm at a point in
my life too where I'm like, I'm terrible at school,
but I want to go back to school, Like I
think I want to, you know, get something on paper
that says I know this. I I've already gone through
school of life. Right, Let's let's add some true something
(10:28):
on paper that says, hey, this person is educated in this.
So I love that you're you're going back to grad school.
And I love that SA Food Bank can help folks
get certified in something or learn something new. It's awesome.
Now let's jump into something that's very important to our city.
Near and dear to me that I've been able to
discuss UH and talk about this for the last three
(10:48):
years with your CEO, Eric, who has been a guest
on the podcast many times. UH, Summer Snacks for Kids.
We are in the middle of summer. We're at a
little bit late on this episode. We usually launched this
episode about summer sacks for kids right before summer starts,
before kids go on summer break from school. We know
there are just I don't know. I don't have a
(11:09):
number thousands of kids. We'll say thousands. I'm sure you
have a number somewhere thousands of kids who benefit of
benefit from school lunches. Right kids go to school in
the morning, they have breakfast at school, they have lunch
at school. Maybe they get snacks in between as well. Awesome,
their bellies are full as they're getting educated. Then summer, summer,
(11:30):
summer comes around, summer break, these kids aren't getting those
school lunches. Maybe mom and dad are working hard, or
maybe just one parent to try to make ends meet,
and all of a sudden they can't stretch the dollar
enough to provide nutritious meals at home. That's where Summer
(11:51):
Snacks for Kids comes in. And this is where you
come in San Antonio. So, Lauren, let's remind folks exactly
what Summer Snacks for Kids is.
Speaker 3 (12:00):
Yeah, So Summer Snacks for Kids, it's a part of
our Summer Meals for Kids campaign. This year, our theme
is serving bright futures and just like you mentioned, making
sure that there's not just food on the table, but
brightly colored and lovely food on the table is the intention. So,
like you mentioned, there is a number two hundred thousand
kiddoses are out of school who normally just here in
(12:22):
San Antonio and that yeah, and so within that two
hundred thousand kids, ultimately twenty million meals is the gap
that needs to be filled from those students who would
normally be receiving that free to reduced lunch breakfast snacks
like you mentioned. And so that's really what the goal is.
And as you can imagine, even with everything going on
(12:45):
and in our southern counties, that's even more challenging, but
that's the goal. That's where we're working to make sure
we're providing those meals and that families have food on
the table.
Speaker 2 (12:56):
And folks in San Antonio can provide for summer snacks
for kids. Tell us how folks around the city who
you know, don't run into these challenges that some families
are a lot of families are facing. How can they
be part of summer snaxper kids? How can they provide
to provide.
Speaker 3 (13:13):
For others goodness? Yes, so really, I know we have
a theme cadence for everything, but we talk about ices.
Speaker 2 (13:21):
Give me this one.
Speaker 3 (13:23):
So we talk about when we're thinking about resources, we
really think about it as like everybody has a different
set of tools. People have different resources to share, and
so we talk about we talk about food, time, money,
and voice. So food being that very like you may
have seen that iconic red barrel, actually saw one in
the iHeart.
Speaker 2 (13:42):
Yeah, we had lobby. That's right.
Speaker 3 (13:44):
So much so time volunteerism coming into our kitchens to
provide those meals that are going out to kiddos is
another great way that people can jump in. Uh. Money
is you know we toss around this our ability to
stretch one dollar into seven meals. Oh wow, that is
(14:05):
still a thing, and that's still where we where we
can see the biggest benefit from people jumping in and
providing support and then voice. We don't give ourselves enough
credit and recognize the networks of people that are around
us take we honestly take them for granted. We don't
realize that our kids soccer team, or the choir that
we're in, or the kickball league that we play in
(14:27):
are all parts of our network. And if you can
use your voice to share the mission of the San
Antonio Food Bank, that is one more person that we
may not have been able to connect with. And so again, food, time,
money and voice, those are really the biggest ways that
people can jump in and support you are San Antonio.
Speaker 2 (14:45):
Food That is awesome. You mentioned the Red Barrel and
networks and who you know and and either people after
school programs or organizations that you have your kids involved
with or other businesses. I just I went to get
an oil change this past weekend. I'm not gonna say
what what oil place. It's one of those you know,
(15:06):
quick ones whatever.
Speaker 3 (15:07):
Uh.
Speaker 2 (15:08):
Right there in the lobby while I'm waiting for my
oil change, there's a Red Barrel Essay Food Bank. And
I was like, hey, wait a minute, I know these folks.
I'm talking to them next week. Like this is so cool.
And so the fact that essay food bank can partner
from you know, with with major businesses, to mom and
pop businesses, to uh you know, uh extracurricular activity, uh
(15:30):
things with with within communities, that is so cool and
and and that anybody can participate. Right again, if you
are you know, if you are a person who lives
in a you know, one of the nicer parts of town,
you do well for yourself. Think about this. I want
you to think about this. And I've said this story before.
I myself am someone who grew up benefiting from a
(15:52):
food bank. When I was a kid growing up in
Los Angeles. Uh mom, mom's single mother worked two jobs
back in LA. She would clean houses during the day
and worked to add a diner in the evening, and
then the same when we moved to Phoenix. But in
Los Angeles, I recall going with my mom on the
weekends to a food bank. I don't remember where in LA,
(16:14):
but I just remember somebody would show up, we would
get in line, pop the trunk, and somebody would place
a box full of food from cereal to vegetables into
the trunk of the car. As a kid, I thought
nothing of it. I was like oh cool food. Did
not know we were struggling, did not know my mom
(16:35):
was trying to stretch every dollar, and that this box
of food held us over until either mom's next check
or till the next box of food. As an adult,
I look back and I'm like, man, if you know,
if we were struggling and I didn't know, imagine kids
today were you know, by the way, when I was
(16:58):
a kid when this happened, I don't know. This is
like nineteen ninety two. Maybe I was, I don't know,
eight right, so I'm forty now. Think about that things
are more expensive now, So if parents are trying to
stretch every dollar, things aren't getting cheap, They're getting more expensive.
Imagine the impact you could make by helping programs like
(17:21):
summer snacks for kids or really not just throughout the summer,
but throughout the year, and how you can help Essay
Food Bank make that difference in families, in kids' lives. Now.
I mentioned things are getting more expensive, and I know
it's early. We don't know the full impact yet, but
we know it will make an impact. Folks can step
(17:43):
up now and help ensure that Essay Food Bank always
has food to provide for the community because we know
there's budget cuts that may affect the food Bank. We
don't know how bad, right, but we know SNAP is
getting affected organizations that receive government money that's going to
dry up. So one of some steps, essay food Bank
(18:07):
is taking now or the community can take now to
continue to help others who definitely absolutely need it.
Speaker 3 (18:13):
Yeah. Well, first you hit on a couple of things
that are super crucial with your story. I one was
you mentioned you said, maybe you're going to good zip code,
maybe you do really well. The reality is that every
zip code in San Antonio, YEP sees sees where troubles is. Yeah,
(18:34):
there's a part of it that struggles. And so remember that.
It's even if you're in a no matter what neighborhood
you're in, somebody close by probably can benefit from the
services that the San Antonio Food Bank in our partners provide.
The other one that was really important and I really
appreciated you bringing it up, is the average person who's
using our services we have we have it there not
(18:57):
we but there's an acronym and it's ALICE and it's
income limited I'm sorry, asset limited, income constrained and employed.
The average person that's coming to use a service of
the San Antonio Food Bank benefit from a service is working.
They're working multiple jobs, and so you know, there's some
stereotypes that are that are brought to light, especially in
(19:21):
these budget conversations, and so I want to remind the
community of that that, especially in San Antonio, we are
hard working people. We are dedicated to our city and
we are dedicated to that amelia that we are we
work in, we work in connection with. But then as
far as our budget cuts the community, I think one
(19:48):
thing I learned early on about the San Antonio com
community is that San Antonio shows up during the pandemic.
San Antonio shows up during a natural disaster. San Antonio
shows up.
Speaker 2 (20:01):
They sure do.
Speaker 3 (20:03):
And so one I say, be ready. We don't know,
we don't know exactly what the effects are going to be,
but we know it's going to it's going to hurt
the ones who are most vulnerable, the ones who are
already struggling, the ones who are already challenged by the
systems we've created, are the ones that are going to
(20:24):
be affected by these cuts.
Speaker 2 (20:26):
And so.
Speaker 3 (20:28):
Volunteer, Yeah, donate, stay engaged, stay engaged with your local
and the city, estate and national governments stay in the know.
That way you can be armed when when you have
the opportunity to make that choice.
Speaker 2 (20:44):
You know, the the word community popped into mind right
now as we were, as you were saying all that,
and because that's what we are, and that's how communities
thrive by helping each other out and step up when
we all absolutely need to ensure that the most vulnerable
(21:05):
don't suffer because they already are. You know, folks are
already suffering, and unfortunately, that is life. There's gonna be
good moments and there's gonna be bad moments. So we've
learned from history. How do we prepare for the bad moments?
Now is the time to prepare. Step up and donate
to the Essay Food Bank and donate to summer snacks
for kids and ensure that kids this summer, next summer,
(21:28):
the summer after that and after that and after that,
always have nutritious meals readily available to them while on
summer break and not even just summer breaks, throughout the
year period. Lauren, this has been so much fun. I
love talking to Essay Food Bank every year. And I
say Essay Food Bank like Essay Food Bank is a being, right,
(21:49):
I mean the great people like yourself, right, great people
like yourself, like your CEO Eric, just everyone there that
does an amazing job year in, year out to provide
for our community. Is there anything else we miss? Anything
you want to drop in there? We're working folks. What
website can they hit up to either volunteer to donate
or benefit of some of the programs that Essay Food
(22:11):
Bank provides.
Speaker 3 (22:12):
You so much? Yes, please go to Essay Foodbank dot
org to check out. You know, we talked about providing
food for today, tomorrow, in a lifetime, so if you're
in need of services, those are available there. But also
if you want to jump in and give back, we
talked about food, time, money, and voice, and so you
can find categories to do that as well.
Speaker 2 (22:30):
And then for more information for summer snacks for.
Speaker 3 (22:33):
Kids, Yes, Sayfoodbank dot org slash Broadway Bank for Kids
is our partnership with Broadway Bank and our partnership with
the Summer Meals Program.
Speaker 2 (22:43):
Lauren Deal, director of New Mission Engagement at San Antonio
Food Bank, thank you so much.
Speaker 3 (22:48):
Thank you Pegro, It's so nice to see you.
Speaker 1 (22:50):
Likewise, this was another me San Antonio Community Voices podcast
from one A four to five Latino Hits. Don't forget
to show this podcast with a friend. iHeartRadio and one
oh four or five Latino hits probably serve our San
Antonio community.
One, O, four or five Latino Hits is putting the
spotlight on you, San Antonio and proudly serving our community.
This is the Me san Antonio Community Voices podcast on
iHeartRadio San Antonio. Representano that two ten, Baby Fiano, Petro
Finco Latino Here.
Speaker 2 (00:25):
Fani, Welcome back to another episode of the Me san
Antonio podcast where we discuss all things san Antonio. Speaking
to organizations or representatives of organizations in and around San
Antonio that help and benefit our community, to business leaders, CEOs, vps, directors,
you name it, if it's if it's about San Antonio,
(00:47):
we have them on the Me san Antonio Podcast. Today
I get the pleasure of speaking with Lauren Dial, director
of New Mission Engagement at the San Antonio Food Bank.
We'll be discussing Summer's for Kids. You've heard us talk
about this before. It's a very important program that benefits
kids right here in San Antonio. Lauren, welcome to the podcast.
Speaker 3 (01:08):
Good morning, Padri. Thank you for having me today.
Speaker 2 (01:10):
No, thank you for I heard you just flew in
from vacation from Colorado and your your arms are tired
also well, No, thank you for coming in and speaking
with us today about this this amazing program that I
get the pleasure of talking about every year to our listeners,
(01:34):
and and and you know, really pointing out the benefits
of what is summer snacks for Kids. But before we
get to Summer Snacks for Kids, let's talk about the
San Antonio Food Bank and all the benefits, all the
good that Essay Food Bank does for our community. Because
some folks, you know, a lot of folks on the
west side the drive by that big beautiful building off
(01:55):
of the ninety right, it's off the ninety we you know,
folks see it. I see it because my family lives
down there in that part of town. And you know,
but we just see the building and we don't really
may not know all that Essay Food Bank has to offer,
because it's not just food. Lauren tell us everything Essay
Food Bank does.
Speaker 3 (02:14):
Absolutely. Yeah, we understand that warehouse is giant. People will
assume that we're distributing food, which we absolutely are with
the help of so many partners all across our twenty
nine counties, but we are a lot more than that.
Our distribution efforts are a very small portion of how
we want to make sure we are feeding the line.
But we also know, we want to shorten the line
(02:36):
as well, and if we're going to shorten that line,
there's a bunch of resources we need to be able
to provide. So we have what we call the food
for Today, Food for Tomorrow, and Food for a Lifetime efforts.
Oh yeah, so that food for today is what you know,
what you were just mentioning, making sure that that food
is in that pantry, that there's food on the table
for folks, that people have energy for the day. Food
(02:57):
for tomorrow is the work of our unsung heroes in
our Neighbors Services Office, and they're really making sure that
people are connected to resources like snap Benefits, which has
been in the news a bunch of reas been the conversation, Yeah,
the conversation, but then additional resources as well. Really, there
are the experts on this, and so when somebody calls,
(03:20):
their first question is normally, hey, how do I receive food?
But they know if they're asking that question, there's other
questions they could be asking. So we want to make
sure that we're able to go through that with them,
that those experts are able to ask all those questions
and make sure those resources are being connected. Food for
a Lifetime really is our all of those things combined,
(03:43):
but then also making sure that we have the ability
to train folks. For a long time, we've been training
people in culinary in the culinary field, right, yeah, absolutely
for decades.
Speaker 2 (03:55):
But that kind of makes sense, right, like, hey, we
give out food, come learn how to prepare food.
Speaker 3 (03:58):
Sure, right, Sure? And then a handful of years ago,
everybody in San Antonio paid or not paid, but they
voted on the opportunity for ready to work San Antonio.
And so through that partnership, we've been able to continue
and expand that opportunity to other agencies who are working
in San Antonio as well. So we're receiving referrals from
(04:19):
other agencies, We're sending agencies referrals to other agencies to
get to different training opportunities. And then ultimately one we
want to make sure that they're trained. But then we
also have a farm and we're able to talk about
food for that lifetime extending making sure we have food
all the time, fresh produce for our neighbors.
Speaker 2 (04:38):
Now, tell me more about the programs like the culinary program,
and I recall in the past hearing about job training programs.
Let's dive into those a little bit because you know,
being that as a food bank is in the West Side, right,
an area of San Antonio that we know historically has
(05:03):
we'll put it this way, has had challenges, right, economic challenges,
educational challenges.
Speaker 3 (05:09):
Right.
Speaker 2 (05:09):
So the fact that essay food bank is right there
in the heart of the West Side, how can folks
in that area and all of San Antonio benefit And
what are the programs they can benefit of from aside
from the culinary stuff. Yeah.
Speaker 3 (05:22):
So I don't like to mention that I'm not from
San Antonio.
Speaker 2 (05:26):
Don't neither am I. But you know what, we're here
and we've grown the love of this city. It's rich
culture and history and the people and the food.
Speaker 3 (05:35):
As So in two thousand and nine, I was I
was dropped in the middle of the West Side doing
a year of volunteer service right off of so has
some more on commerce. And it was within the first
three months of getting to know the organizations I was
getting to work with that I fell in love with
San Antonio, like right, And I fell in love with
(05:55):
the culture. I fell in love with the people and
the fact that community organizations, especially on the West Side,
are so closely connected.
Speaker 2 (06:03):
Yes, oh, very tight knit that community. When I when
I moved to San ANTOI started working in Santonio almost
three years ago. Now you quickly realize folks know each
other on the West Side, Folks look out for each other.
Are there issues, Yes, there's issues like in every town,
in every section of any city, right, but but there's
(06:25):
something special about the West side of San Antonio that
I didn't even have the words for it. I have
no idea what it is, but it's it's.
Speaker 3 (06:34):
Beautiful, It's a family, it's a.
Speaker 2 (06:36):
Fact familia there it is, it.
Speaker 3 (06:39):
Is that, And so I just wanted to reinforce like
my love of San Antonio started on the West Side
and it continues to be there. I think as far
as training opportunities for the San Antonio Food Bank, we've
we've always done, like I've mentioned that culinary training, which
is basically like see it's culinary boot camp the first
(07:00):
ten weeks of that and so but then also we
have our warehouse and logistics training as well, and so
oh yeah, so it's an incredible opportunity to make sure
folks have that resource as well. And both of those organizations,
or both of those training programs really leave people with
the ability to start a new job almost immediately. Nice
(07:21):
and so we're able to connect with other businesses who
are looking for folks. We have extensive, beautiful relationships with
the culinary scene in San Antonio and then also with
the warehouse scene as well, to make sure we have
job folks have jobs after they're finished with those trains.
Speaker 2 (07:36):
Now, I'm sure folks hearing that are going to ask themselves, oh, well,
that's great. What does that cost me to get that training?
Speaker 3 (07:43):
The training for the culinary student is free.
Speaker 2 (07:45):
Wow.
Speaker 3 (07:46):
Yeah, and so that is again we're working with the
city of San Antonio. There's some dollars going in to
make sure we can fund that on the back end,
but once when someone's shown that they're eligible to be
a part of the program, it is free to them.
It's ten weeks. They're not only having this very extensive experience,
but they have a caseworker working alongside them to see
(08:06):
to make sure that they're able to get there every day.
Speaker 2 (08:08):
Nice.
Speaker 3 (08:09):
Is childcare an issue. We need to make a connection
to make sure that that person can get away from
the house long enough to do these trainings. So making
sure that they're making sure they can be successful.
Speaker 2 (08:20):
See that's I love that and I love hearing that essay.
Food Bank is that committed to folks who are reaching
out for the help, for the help, and they can
be reassured that, yeah, they're just not diving in and
you hope for the best. No, they have someone guiding
them along the way and not just holding them accountable,
(08:42):
but providing help to get them to their goal. That
is awesome.
Speaker 3 (08:46):
Yeah. Absolutely So. When I try to talk about the
resources the food Bank provides, I think about it as
a tool belt. Every human being on the planet needs
a different set of tools help them be successful. I'm
back in grad school way through at UTSA, congrats. I
need a different set of tools being in that situation
(09:07):
and working a full time job Versus somebody who's jumping
out of high school into college and maybe they're trying
to decide whether college is the right opportunity. They need
a counselor I need I need to right, we all
need different tools. So every human that enters our doors
needs a different set of tools to help them be
successful and self sufficient. And so that's our job. We
(09:28):
want to figure out how to do that. We want
to ask the right questions to make sure we're able
to get them there.
Speaker 2 (09:33):
And that's the worst thing. I think people that are
looking to better themselves, better their lives, the worst thing
they don't do is they don't ask. Ask. What's the
worst thing? You can be told like oh no, or
but we don't do this right, but you ask you. Look,
the services are out there, the opportunities are out there.
I love that I've actually been tossing around. I don't
(09:55):
know if you can tell, but I'm forty now and
keep all I moisturize a lot.
Speaker 3 (10:02):
What regimend are you on? Because you look good?
Speaker 2 (10:06):
It's I don't know, it's it's natural. No, but but
you know, you're right. Like, I'm at a point in
my life too where I'm like, I'm terrible at school,
but I want to go back to school, Like I
think I want to, you know, get something on paper
that says I know this. I I've already gone through
school of life. Right, Let's let's add some true something
(10:28):
on paper that says, hey, this person is educated in this.
So I love that you're you're going back to grad school.
And I love that SA Food Bank can help folks
get certified in something or learn something new. It's awesome.
Now let's jump into something that's very important to our city.
Near and dear to me that I've been able to
discuss UH and talk about this for the last three
(10:48):
years with your CEO, Eric, who has been a guest
on the podcast many times. UH, Summer Snacks for Kids.
We are in the middle of summer. We're at a
little bit late on this episode. We usually launched this
episode about summer sacks for kids right before summer starts,
before kids go on summer break from school. We know
there are just I don't know. I don't have a
(11:09):
number thousands of kids. We'll say thousands. I'm sure you
have a number somewhere thousands of kids who benefit of
benefit from school lunches. Right kids go to school in
the morning, they have breakfast at school, they have lunch
at school. Maybe they get snacks in between as well. Awesome,
their bellies are full as they're getting educated. Then summer, summer,
(11:30):
summer comes around, summer break, these kids aren't getting those
school lunches. Maybe mom and dad are working hard, or
maybe just one parent to try to make ends meet,
and all of a sudden they can't stretch the dollar
enough to provide nutritious meals at home. That's where Summer
(11:51):
Snacks for Kids comes in. And this is where you
come in San Antonio. So, Lauren, let's remind folks exactly
what Summer Snacks for Kids is.
Speaker 3 (12:00):
Yeah, So Summer Snacks for Kids, it's a part of
our Summer Meals for Kids campaign. This year, our theme
is serving bright futures and just like you mentioned, making
sure that there's not just food on the table, but
brightly colored and lovely food on the table is the intention. So,
like you mentioned, there is a number two hundred thousand
kiddoses are out of school who normally just here in
(12:22):
San Antonio and that yeah, and so within that two
hundred thousand kids, ultimately twenty million meals is the gap
that needs to be filled from those students who would
normally be receiving that free to reduced lunch breakfast snacks
like you mentioned. And so that's really what the goal is.
And as you can imagine, even with everything going on
(12:45):
and in our southern counties, that's even more challenging, but
that's the goal. That's where we're working to make sure
we're providing those meals and that families have food on
the table.
Speaker 2 (12:56):
And folks in San Antonio can provide for summer snacks
for kids. Tell us how folks around the city who
you know, don't run into these challenges that some families
are a lot of families are facing. How can they
be part of summer snaxper kids? How can they provide
to provide.
Speaker 3 (13:13):
For others goodness? Yes, so really, I know we have
a theme cadence for everything, but we talk about ices.
Speaker 2 (13:21):
Give me this one.
Speaker 3 (13:23):
So we talk about when we're thinking about resources, we
really think about it as like everybody has a different
set of tools. People have different resources to share, and
so we talk about we talk about food, time, money,
and voice. So food being that very like you may
have seen that iconic red barrel, actually saw one in
the iHeart.
Speaker 2 (13:42):
Yeah, we had lobby. That's right.
Speaker 3 (13:44):
So much so time volunteerism coming into our kitchens to
provide those meals that are going out to kiddos is
another great way that people can jump in. Uh. Money
is you know we toss around this our ability to
stretch one dollar into seven meals. Oh wow, that is
(14:05):
still a thing, and that's still where we where we
can see the biggest benefit from people jumping in and
providing support and then voice. We don't give ourselves enough
credit and recognize the networks of people that are around
us take we honestly take them for granted. We don't
realize that our kids soccer team, or the choir that
we're in, or the kickball league that we play in
(14:27):
are all parts of our network. And if you can
use your voice to share the mission of the San
Antonio Food Bank, that is one more person that we
may not have been able to connect with. And so again, food, time,
money and voice, those are really the biggest ways that
people can jump in and support you are San Antonio.
Speaker 2 (14:45):
Food That is awesome. You mentioned the Red Barrel and
networks and who you know and and either people after
school programs or organizations that you have your kids involved
with or other businesses. I just I went to get
an oil change this past weekend. I'm not gonna say
what what oil place. It's one of those you know,
(15:06):
quick ones whatever.
Speaker 3 (15:07):
Uh.
Speaker 2 (15:08):
Right there in the lobby while I'm waiting for my
oil change, there's a Red Barrel Essay Food Bank. And
I was like, hey, wait a minute, I know these folks.
I'm talking to them next week. Like this is so cool.
And so the fact that essay food bank can partner
from you know, with with major businesses, to mom and
pop businesses, to uh you know, uh extracurricular activity, uh
(15:30):
things with with within communities, that is so cool and
and and that anybody can participate. Right again, if you
are you know, if you are a person who lives
in a you know, one of the nicer parts of town,
you do well for yourself. Think about this. I want
you to think about this. And I've said this story before.
I myself am someone who grew up benefiting from a
(15:52):
food bank. When I was a kid growing up in
Los Angeles. Uh mom, mom's single mother worked two jobs
back in LA. She would clean houses during the day
and worked to add a diner in the evening, and
then the same when we moved to Phoenix. But in
Los Angeles, I recall going with my mom on the
weekends to a food bank. I don't remember where in LA,
(16:14):
but I just remember somebody would show up, we would
get in line, pop the trunk, and somebody would place
a box full of food from cereal to vegetables into
the trunk of the car. As a kid, I thought
nothing of it. I was like oh cool food. Did
not know we were struggling, did not know my mom
(16:35):
was trying to stretch every dollar, and that this box
of food held us over until either mom's next check
or till the next box of food. As an adult,
I look back and I'm like, man, if you know,
if we were struggling and I didn't know, imagine kids
today were you know, by the way, when I was
(16:58):
a kid when this happened, I don't know. This is
like nineteen ninety two. Maybe I was, I don't know,
eight right, so I'm forty now. Think about that things
are more expensive now, So if parents are trying to
stretch every dollar, things aren't getting cheap, They're getting more expensive.
Imagine the impact you could make by helping programs like
(17:21):
summer snacks for kids or really not just throughout the summer,
but throughout the year, and how you can help Essay
Food Bank make that difference in families, in kids' lives. Now.
I mentioned things are getting more expensive, and I know
it's early. We don't know the full impact yet, but
we know it will make an impact. Folks can step
(17:43):
up now and help ensure that Essay Food Bank always
has food to provide for the community because we know
there's budget cuts that may affect the food Bank. We
don't know how bad, right, but we know SNAP is
getting affected organizations that receive government money that's going to
dry up. So one of some steps, essay food Bank
(18:07):
is taking now or the community can take now to
continue to help others who definitely absolutely need it.
Speaker 3 (18:13):
Yeah. Well, first you hit on a couple of things
that are super crucial with your story. I one was
you mentioned you said, maybe you're going to good zip code,
maybe you do really well. The reality is that every
zip code in San Antonio, YEP sees sees where troubles is. Yeah,
(18:34):
there's a part of it that struggles. And so remember that.
It's even if you're in a no matter what neighborhood
you're in, somebody close by probably can benefit from the
services that the San Antonio Food Bank in our partners provide.
The other one that was really important and I really
appreciated you bringing it up, is the average person who's
using our services we have we have it there not
(18:57):
we but there's an acronym and it's ALICE and it's
income limited I'm sorry, asset limited, income constrained and employed.
The average person that's coming to use a service of
the San Antonio Food Bank benefit from a service is working.
They're working multiple jobs, and so you know, there's some
stereotypes that are that are brought to light, especially in
(19:21):
these budget conversations, and so I want to remind the
community of that that, especially in San Antonio, we are
hard working people. We are dedicated to our city and
we are dedicated to that amelia that we are we
work in, we work in connection with. But then as
far as our budget cuts the community, I think one
(19:48):
thing I learned early on about the San Antonio com
community is that San Antonio shows up during the pandemic.
San Antonio shows up during a natural disaster. San Antonio
shows up.
Speaker 2 (20:01):
They sure do.
Speaker 3 (20:03):
And so one I say, be ready. We don't know,
we don't know exactly what the effects are going to be,
but we know it's going to it's going to hurt
the ones who are most vulnerable, the ones who are
already struggling, the ones who are already challenged by the
systems we've created, are the ones that are going to
(20:24):
be affected by these cuts.
Speaker 2 (20:26):
And so.
Speaker 3 (20:28):
Volunteer, Yeah, donate, stay engaged, stay engaged with your local
and the city, estate and national governments stay in the know.
That way you can be armed when when you have
the opportunity to make that choice.
Speaker 2 (20:44):
You know, the the word community popped into mind right
now as we were, as you were saying all that,
and because that's what we are, and that's how communities
thrive by helping each other out and step up when
we all absolutely need to ensure that the most vulnerable
(21:05):
don't suffer because they already are. You know, folks are
already suffering, and unfortunately, that is life. There's gonna be
good moments and there's gonna be bad moments. So we've
learned from history. How do we prepare for the bad moments?
Now is the time to prepare. Step up and donate
to the Essay Food Bank and donate to summer snacks
for kids and ensure that kids this summer, next summer,
(21:28):
the summer after that and after that and after that,
always have nutritious meals readily available to them while on
summer break and not even just summer breaks, throughout the
year period. Lauren, this has been so much fun. I
love talking to Essay Food Bank every year. And I
say Essay Food Bank like Essay Food Bank is a being, right,
(21:49):
I mean the great people like yourself, right, great people
like yourself, like your CEO Eric, just everyone there that
does an amazing job year in, year out to provide
for our community. Is there anything else we miss? Anything
you want to drop in there? We're working folks. What
website can they hit up to either volunteer to donate
or benefit of some of the programs that Essay Food
(22:11):
Bank provides.
Speaker 3 (22:12):
You so much? Yes, please go to Essay Foodbank dot
org to check out. You know, we talked about providing
food for today, tomorrow, in a lifetime, so if you're
in need of services, those are available there. But also
if you want to jump in and give back, we
talked about food, time, money, and voice, and so you
can find categories to do that as well.
Speaker 2 (22:30):
And then for more information for summer snacks for.
Speaker 3 (22:33):
Kids, Yes, Sayfoodbank dot org slash Broadway Bank for Kids
is our partnership with Broadway Bank and our partnership with
the Summer Meals Program.
Speaker 2 (22:43):
Lauren Deal, director of New Mission Engagement at San Antonio
Food Bank, thank you so much.
Speaker 3 (22:48):
Thank you Pegro, It's so nice to see you.
Speaker 1 (22:50):
Likewise, this was another me San Antonio Community Voices podcast
from one A four to five Latino Hits. Don't forget
to show this podcast with a friend. iHeartRadio and one
oh four or five Latino hits probably serve our San
Antonio community.
Popular Podcasts
Fudd Around And Find Out
UConn basketball star Azzi Fudd brings her championship swag to iHeart Women’s Sports with Fudd Around and Find Out, a weekly podcast that takes fans along for the ride as Azzi spends her final year of college trying to reclaim the National Championship and prepare to be a first round WNBA draft pick. Ever wonder what it’s like to be a world-class athlete in the public spotlight while still managing schoolwork, friendships and family time? It’s time to Fudd Around and Find Out!
Crime Junkie
Does hearing about a true crime case always leave you scouring the internet for the truth behind the story? Dive into your next mystery with Crime Junkie. Every Monday, join your host Ashley Flowers as she unravels all the details of infamous and underreported true crime cases with her best friend Brit Prawat. From cold cases to missing persons and heroes in our community who seek justice, Crime Junkie is your destination for theories and stories you won’t hear anywhere else. Whether you're a seasoned true crime enthusiast or new to the genre, you'll find yourself on the edge of your seat awaiting a new episode every Monday. If you can never get enough true crime... Congratulations, you’ve found your people. Follow to join a community of Crime Junkies! Crime Junkie is presented by audiochuck Media Company.
The Breakfast Club
The World's Most Dangerous Morning Show, The Breakfast Club, With DJ Envy, Jess Hilarious, And Charlamagne Tha God!