“At Life Science Cares San Diego, we know children cannot learn when they are hungry, and that lasting change starts with meeting families’ basic needs. The Encanto Elementary School pantry is a powerful, tangible investment that helps students come to school ready to learn and thrive. We are proud to support this work and partner with Feeding San Diego to expand its impact across the county,” said Alicia Kitagawa, Executive Director of Life Science Cares San Diego.
That belief is at the heart of Life Science Cares San Diego’s investment in a new school pantry at Encanto Elementary School, which brings reliable access to nutritious food directly to students and families in a community facing growing economic pressure. As the cost of living continues to rise across San Diego County, many households are forced to make difficult tradeoffs between essentials like groceries, housing, and transportation. For students, those challenges do not stay at home and instead show up in the classroom, affecting focus, well-being, and academic success.
Through its partnership with Feeding San Diego, Life Science Cares helped bring Encanto Elementary off the School Pantry Program waitlist, now serving nearly 200 households with fresh produce and nutritious groceries. By providing food in a trusted school environment, the pantry reduces barriers to access while supporting dignity for families and strengthening stability within the school community.
This work reflects a broader commitment to addressing the root causes of poverty by mobilizing the life sciences community in support of long-term, community-driven solutions. Beyond funding, Life Science Cares San Diego continues to engage partners and volunteers to expand the reach and impact of nonprofit programs across the region, helping ensure support shows up where families need it most, both inside and outside the classroom.
Food insecurity remains a persistent challenge across San Diego County, where 100,000+ children live in food-insecure homes. School-based programs play a critical role in closing gaps that transportation, cost, and access often create. By meeting families where they already are, these programs help ensure that support is consistent, accessible, and able to strengthen entire school communities.
At its core, the Encanto Elementary School pantry is about more than food. It is about creating the conditions for students to learn and thrive, and for families to feel supported rather than stretched thin. It is one part of a broader continuum of care that helps remove barriers so children can focus on learning, growth, and opportunity.
Building on this same commitment, Life Science Cares San Diego is also proud to launch its Back-to-School Backpack Drive, running from July 20, 2026 to August 10, 2026. Through this effort, backpacks and essential school supplies are distributed to nonprofit partners across the region, helping ensure students start the school year prepared and confident. By providing these basic necessities, the drive helps reduce financial strain on families and gives students the tools they need to fully participate in the classroom from day one.
For more information or to support, please visit www.lifesciencecares.org/san-diego.
