Boys & Girls Club of Oceanside Granted $25,000 by Rite Aid Foundation KidCents to Promote Healthy Lifestyles

Oceanside, CA (January 2020) – Boys & Girls Clubs of Oceanside (BGCO) has received a $25,000 grant from Rite Aid Foundation KidsCents to support their Culinary Arts program. Last year, Boys & Girls Clubs of Oceanside completed a state-of-the-art commercial Culinary Arts Teaching Kitchen. Housed in the new Center for Innovation, this kitchen enables BGCO to serve freshly prepared meals onsite as well as teach cooking classes, giving youth hands-on experience with nutritious, healthy cooking. Through the Culinary Arts program, youth learn about kitchen safety, basic cooking skills and the importance of a well-balanced diet.

About 1 in 5 youth in San Diego County suffer from food insecurity, and that estimate is even higher for the youth BGCO serves. Approximately 83% are eligible for free/reduced lunch and in a recent Club member survey, youth reported that their number one concern was hunger. We know hunger has negative effects on the physical, social, emotional and cognitive development of children.

The Culinary Arts program provides youth with a healthy supper and snack each day and includes healthy meal planning, preparation, and cooking. Working with our Culinary Arts Staff, youth create culinary masterpieces and learn marketable job skills. Most importantly, no child goes home hungry.

“We are so grateful to have a partner like the Rite Aid Foundation for providing us with the funds to support our commitment to addressing food insecurity and hunger in our community,” said Jodi Diamond, CEO. “Thanks to the Rite Aid Foundation Fund, we are able to ensure that our youth have the quality nutrition they need to grow into strong, healthy adults.

For more information about the Boys & Girls Clubs of Oceanside please contact Vanessa Mendez at vmendez@BGCOceanside.org, call (760) 433-8920, and visit our website or Facebook page.

About Boys & Girls Clubs of Oceanside
Boys & Girls Clubs of Oceanside (BGCO) is a youth development organization that is dedicated to providing a safe, fun and enriching environment for youth to spend time during non-school hours.

Boys & Girls Clubs of Oceanside is a local, independent organization affiliated with Boys & Girls Clubs of America. BGCO raises 100% of the funds that support our life changing programs through individual giving, events and grants. 100% of those funds stay right here in North County to serve youth in our local communities.

We continue to uphold our mission: To inspire, develop and enrich young people to reach their fullest potential as confident, responsible, caring members of society.

About The Rite Aid Foundation
To improve the health and wellness of our communities through engaging experiences that provide our customers with the best products, services and advice to meet their unique needs.