No Child Hungry: Pediatricians Promoting Food Security

AAP-OC works to ensure every child and family in Orange County has affordable, healthy food.

The No Child Hungry project began through a small, 18-month grant from national AAP’s Healthy People 2020 Grant Program to address Healthy People 2020 Objectives NWS12 (Eliminate very low food security among children) and NWS13 (Reduce household food insecurity and in doing so reduce hunger). Our goal is to identify food insecurity, poverty, and health issues experienced by our OC families, and to assist these families in getting the support and services they need.

Read More to see how the AAP-OC accomplished these objectives.

Food Help for Today

Need Food?

Help Fight Food Insecurity in Orange County

The mission of the No Child Hungry project is to help identify and fight food insecurity in Orange County, California. The following 2-item questionnaire can help identify individuals who are at risk of being food insecure if their response to both these statements are ‘yes’.

1. Within the past 12 months, we worried whether our food would run out before we got money to buy more.
2. Within the past 12 months, the food we bought just didn’t last and we didn’t have the money to get more.

Once a food insecure individual is identified, we help by providing the services and resources to have food. The ‘Need Food?’ cards provide a simple and discrete way for individuals and families to find food resources via a text messaging system.

How it Works:

  1. Using a mobile device, text “FOOD4U” for English or “COMIDA” for Spanish to (866) 353-1713
  2. A welcome message will guide users to

NOTE: If you have unsubscribed to text messages by sending “Stop” to (866) 353-1713, to resubscribe, please text “FOOD4U” or “COMIDA” to (866) 353-1713.

For food assistance locations and free CalFresh application help:

2-1-1 of Orange County will pick up the phone 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and can assist callers in multiple languages.

Resource Materials

Pediatrician Resources

Food Resources

Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) – WIC locations can help you get benefits as quickly as possible. See how to get help.

How to Get Food Help in OC Handout – ENGLISH | SPANISH | VIETNAMESE

Good and Cheap: Eat Well on $4/Day – Free, electronic cookbook to create many delicious meals even on a strict budget.