When Maria was 16, she had a secret. Every morning, she’d wake up in her family’s car, smooth down her clothes, and walk into school like everything was normal. She’d avoid the cafeteria at lunch—not because she wasn’t hungry, but because she was starving and didn’t want anyone to see her hands shake while she ate the free meal that was often her only food of the day.

Maria’s story isn’t unique. Right here in San Diego County, thousands of young people are facing something that most of us take for granted: knowing where their next meal will come from.

The Crisis Hiding in Plain Sight

Think about the last time you skipped a meal. Maybe you were too busy, or you were trying a new diet. Now imagine you didn’t have a choice. Imagine being a teenager who has to decide: Do I buy food, or do I pay for gas so I can sleep in my car somewhere safe? Do I eat today, or do I save this money for the phone bill so potential employers can reach me?

This is the daily reality for young people experiencing homelessness in San Diego County. Over 8,400 youth face this crisis every year, according to local estimates.

Here’s what surprised even the experts: When organizations working with homeless youth asked families what their biggest challenge was, 85% didn’t say shelter. They said food.

Why Hunger Keeps Kids Trapped

David was 18 when he started sleeping in his car. He’d gotten kicked out of his home and was trying to finish his last year of high school while working part-time. Most days, he’d skip breakfast and lunch, trying to save money. By afternoon classes, he couldn’t concentrate. The words on the page would blur. His teachers thought he wasn’t trying. He was just too hungry to think straight.

The statistics from San Diego Unified School District paint a troubling picture: over 15,000 students have been identified as homeless. When kids are hungry, their grades drop. Many end up leaving school entirely—not because they don’t care about education, but because they’re trying to survive.

And it’s not just about school. When you’re constantly worried about where your next meal is coming from, everything else becomes harder:

• Getting a job requires energy and focus that hunger steals away
• Dealing with trauma takes emotional strength that’s impossible without proper nutrition
• Staying hopeful about the future feels out of reach when you can’t think past your next meal

In San Diego County, 63% of people without housing face food insecurity—and the rate is even higher among young people.

Who’s Actually Helping

This is where the story gets better. Because while thousands of young people are struggling, there are organizations in San Diego that have figured something out: if you want to help someone get back on their feet, you start with making sure they’re fed.

StandUp for Kids: Leading the Fight

StandUp for Kids has been leading this fight since 1990. They were the very first chapter of what’s now a national organization, and they understand something crucial: homeless kids aren’t going to walk into an office and ask for help. So volunteers from StandUp for Kids go where the kids are.

Every week, teams in purple t-shirts walk the streets of San Diego—from downtown to the border region—meeting kids at transportation stops, parks, libraries, and anywhere young people might be trying to survive. They bring food packs, hygiene supplies, and something even more important: someone who cares.

Their approach is comprehensive and proven:

• Street Outreach: Finding kids where they are, offering hot meals, hygiene packs, and a friendly face they can count on
• Centers: Safe spaces where youth can grab a meal, take a shower, get their mail, and just be themselves
• Mentoring Programs: One-on-one support for young people ages 12 to 24, helping them navigate the path from crisis to stability
• Housing Support: Helping kids move from the streets to stable housing, with the support they need to stay there

StandUp for Kids serves youth across North Central, Central Metro, South, and East County San Diego. As one young person who was helped by the organization said, “I’m not exaggerating when I say that I wouldn’t be here without the volunteers and hard work of StandUp for Kids.”

A Network of Support

StandUp for Kids doesn’t work alone. A network of organizations across San Diego has recognized that food security is the foundation everything else builds on.

Father Joe’s Villages serves over 350,000 meals each year to youth and adults throughout San Diego, providing not just food but a pathway to recovery and stability.

Jewish Family Service, Voices for Children, and local food pantries have also stepped up, delivering shelf-stable snacks and easy-to-eat foods directly to places where teens gather. They get it: not every homeless kid has access to a kitchen or even a can opener.

Interfaith Community Services runs mobile programs that bring ready-to-eat meals to young people who are living in cars, couch-surfing, or staying in places without cooking facilities.

Why It Starts With a Meal

Remember David? After months of trying to survive on his own, he finally met a street outreach volunteer from StandUp for Kids San Kids. That first night, they gave him a food pack and told him about their drop-in center. He was skeptical—he’d learned not to trust adults easily.

But he was hungry. So he showed up.

That meal was the beginning of everything changing. With regular access to food, David could think clearly again. With mentoring support, he finished high school. With housing assistance, he moved out of his car. The stability started with something as simple as knowing he’d have dinner.

Maria’s story followed a similar path. Once she was linked to the San Diego Food Bank and other organizations started providing consistent meals, she could focus on her studies. She graduated. She’s now working toward college.

These stories aren’t unusual. They’re what happens when we recognize that food security isn’t separate from ending youth homelessness—it’s where the solution begins.

How You Can Make a Difference

If these stories have moved you, there are real ways you can help:

Donate the basics. Homeless youth need ready-to-eat items: granola bars, peanut butter packets, canned meals with pull-tops, trail mix, and gift cards to fast-food restaurants. StandUp for Kids accepts donations at weekly. You can reach them at (619) 237-5437 or [email protected].

Give your time. We need volunteers for street outreach, meal service, and mentoring programs. Showing up consistently changes lives.

Provide more than meals. Along with food, homeless youth desperately need clean clothes, hygiene supplies, and basic toiletries. Consider putting together supply packs or funding these essential items.

Raise awareness. Most people in San Diego don’t realize how many young people in their community are struggling with hunger and homelessness. Share information about local organizations. Talk about what you’ve learned. Every conversation helps break the invisibility that lets this crisis continue.

Become a mentor. We are always looking for mentors who can commit to showing up for a young person over time. You don’t need special credentials—just consistency, compassion, and a willingness to listen.

The Way Forward

Youth homelessness won’t be solved overnight. It’s a complex problem with roots in poverty, family trauma, mental health challenges, and systemic failures. But here’s what we know for certain: hungry kids can’t focus on anything else. You can’t solve homelessness without first solving hunger.

That’s why StandUp for Kids and their partner organizations have made food security their foundation. Feed a kid today, and you give them the energy to think about tomorrow. Feed them consistently, and you give them the stability to build a future.

No young person should have to choose between eating and staying in school. No teenager should fall asleep hungry in a car, wondering if anyone cares. And in San Diego, thanks to organizations like StandUp for Kids and a network of committed service providers, more and more young people are discovering that someone does care.

The question isn’t whether we can end youth homelessness in San Diego County. The question is whether we will. And it starts with something beautifully simple: making sure every young person has enough to eat.

For information on how to get involved email us at: [email protected]