Unified Against Hunger: Paramount Schools and Feed the Children
Paramount, California, is a quick 16 miles south and just a hair east of Los Angeles. It’s home to a beautiful outdoor art exhibit, drive-in theaters, and restaurants serving delicious Sinaloa-style cuisine.
Like many areas in or near a high-population metropolis, the city also faces its share of problems: Los Angeles County, where Paramount is located, has the highest poverty rate in California. Child poverty in particular jumped from 9% in 2021 to nearly 14% at the start of 2023.
For the Paramount United School District, which consists of 21 schools and over 13,000 students grades K-12, childhood hunger and poverty aren’t mere data points but a daily reality. Many of the kids in attendance face poverty, are homeless, or are living in foster care.
The district has always been a huge proponent of food access for its students, providing free breakfasts and lunches to all. However, in-school meals don’t solve the whole problem: how do kids eat at night, or on the weekends and holidays? And if a family is already struggling to afford food, how can they buy school supplies, hygiene items, and other necessities?
That’s where you and Feed the Children come in!
Thanks to your support, Feed the Children was able to create and maintain a Food & Essentials Hub in Paramount United. Every month, a shipment from Feed the Children arrives at the Hub, ready to be distributed. Families can access the items they need most, free of charge.
Even before the school year starts, families begin reaching out to Cindy Rawles, a Paramount tutor and mentor who helps manage the Hub.
“Some of our students are homeless, or have moved within the school year and didn’t get to take all of their things with them,” she explained. “When they enroll, we make sure they have everything they need immediately. They’re so excited – they’re putting on their backpack, energetic to go to school instead of hesitant.”
One mom, Sabina, expressed how much the Hub has helped her children feel comfortable in school:
“I was most thankful for the hygiene products,” she said. “The girls get very self-conscious. You can’t be a teenager and go to school smelling. Oh my gosh, they were so happy getting shampoo.”
The pressure of providing enough on a limited budget can be overwhelming for parents. Mom-of-three Mia shared how the Hub has made a difference to her family.
“I’m the only one working, and I was worried that I wouldn’t have money for their school supplies,” Mia admitted. “But now, with the supplies they’ve received, they’re able to do their homework. I’m able to pay my bills. They’re less stressed out because they see me less stressed.”
These stories are uplifting, but are there measurable results? Absolutely! We found that over 60% of the schools supported by Hubs saw an increase in attendance, and a quarter saw an improvement in students’ grades! When school districts like Paramount and donors like you invest in making sure students’ needs are met, you empower them to work harder and dream bigger!
“These resources mean everything to our families here in Paramount,” said District Liaison Julie White. “Yes, we’re a school district, but we understand that if you don’t have food, if you don’t have what you need to come to school, you’re not going to come. That’s why this partnership is amazing, because it’s a holistic approach to education.
“Feed the Children changes lives,” she added. “This is not just, ‘Oh, you give back to the community.’ You give hope to the community. You give life to the community. This is life-changing and life-saving, and I’m just blessed to be a part of it.”
