San Diego Meal Program Fills Fridges and Families
By - Posted on March 20, 2011
It’s a habit that will never be broken. One child, or in my case, four kids independently visit the family fridge, open the door and gaze at the jars of emptied jelly, forgotten salad dressing and misfit mayonnaise. The fridge just stands there, in its cold, lonely ghost town of an existence, not offering anything savory to snack on.
This is the month-end stare down at our house when the family budget is stretched so thin that Top Ramen is considered a luxury and even the dog knows how to make Macaroni ‘n Cheese. For those domiciled with empty cupboards and fridge shelves, take notice! There is hope out there…not in jicama or horseradish, but in honest-to-goodness “real food” where kids don’t have time to whine because their taste buds are tamed and stomachs are satisfied.
With just $32.00 and some careful planning, kids can visit the fridge each month-end with a smile, thanks to the San Diego-based Good Source Solutions and their start-up community food source, The Treasure Box. Each month, the box always contains 21-25 pounds of high quality, frozen foods including chicken, pork, beef or seafood, in addition to vegetables, fruit, a side dish and a dessert. This initial investment, ordered mid-month in advance, can feed a family of four for a week and a senior citizen for nearly a month.
“It is quality food at a value price for the community,” said Chris Balian, who serves Southern California counties as community outreach representative at The Treasure Box. Groceries purchased in advance through The Treasure Box would cost a family $60.00 to $80.00 or more at the market, he emphasized.
Savvy shoppers, i.e. moms, know that a family meal cannot be purchased at just one store. With The Treasure Box, the meal planning and savings gets sliced in half. It’s a one-time order and one-time pick-up two weeks later.
March’s deadline has come and gone, but it’s not too late to check out April’s menu. Families can order by April 19, 2011 and pick up their treasure trove of delectables by April 30, 2011. Faith-based or community groups who might consider sponsoring a meal program in their neighborhood are also encouraged to contact the Treasure Box. Since its inception nearly three years ago, the start-up organization has grown to 380 partners in California, Arizona and Nevada.
Copyright 2011 Colleen McNatt
