Nourishing U.S. Children and Families Month-After-Month

They may be overlooked by many, but they are never forgotten by Moms Against Poverty, a Bay Area-based nonprofit dedicated to fighting child hunger in the U.S.. In affluent regions like California and Washington, D.C., food insecurity often goes unseen, yet millions of children struggle to get enough to eat.

At Moms Against Poverty, their mission is clear: “To nurture and educate underprivileged children to their fullest potential so they can lead within their own communities and break the cycle of poverty.” With the support of donors and partners like Latter-Day Saints Charities, Moms Against Poverty has provided hunger relief and food assistance programs for low-income families, helping over 2.5 million children and families worldwide, including right here in the U.S.

A Holistic Approach to Nutritional Support for Children

What sets Moms Against Poverty apart is their comprehensive approach to nutritional support for children and families in need. Their work goes beyond food distribution—it’s about filling the gaps that struggling families experience.

“It’s always a dance when addressing the needs of people in different circumstances,” said Moms Against Poverty Principal Founder and CEO, Delfarib Fanaie. “As we engage with schools, shelters, and communities, we realize that needs vary. That’s why our goal is simple: to ‘fill the gap’ by providing whatever is needed—quickly and seamlessly.”

The National Center for Children in Poverty reports that 38% of children in the U.S. live in low-income households, and 1 in 5 children experience poverty. According to Feeding America, nearly 12 million children faced food insecurity in 2020, with many families needing additional meals each month.

Moms Against Poverty works with 31 schools, shelters, and volunteer organizations in California and 39 across the U.S. to provide food assistance programs for low-income families struggling to make ends meet.

Bringing Real Change to School Districts

One of the most impactful partnerships has been with the Castro Valley Unified School District. Superintendent Parvin Ahmadi, who has worked with Moms Against Poverty for four years, highlights the importance of their contributions:

“The support from Moms Against Poverty has made a huge difference in what we can offer families who need help. Unlike many organizations that donate food without providing storage solutions, Moms Against Poverty delivers a full solution—food, hygiene items, freezers, washers, dryers—everything families need to maintain dignity and stability.”

Moms Against Poverty’s resource rooms in schools provide essential supplies, allowing families to pick up food, hygiene products, clothing, and even do laundry. This holistic approach ensures that children can focus on learning instead of worrying about their next meal.

Meeting Urgent Needs Through Food Box Deliveries

In addition to school-based nutritional support for children, Moms Against Poverty delivers weekly and bi-weekly food boxes to struggling communities. In 2021 alone, Moms Against Poverty:

• Fed 12,500 families
• Provided 37,000 children with meals
• Distributed 24,000+ hygiene items

“Food prices are rising, and family budgets are stretched thin,” said Ladan Judge, Moms Against Poverty’s COO. “Malnutrition in young children has a lasting impact on cognitive development. Through our efforts, we’re working to ensure kids stay healthy, stay fed, and stay on track for a bright future.”