Summer break adds a layer of food insecurity to many Tucson children, who rely on their schools for one to two meals a day.

Compounding the issue is the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s recent decision to cancel over $1 billion – $21 million that was earmarked for Arizona – in local food programs that supported schools and food banks including the Local Food for School and Local Food Purchase Assistance programs.

Those cuts go into effect in the 2025 fiscal year.

The Tucson Family Food Project, which provides meal kits and teaches young people how to cook for themselves, is hoping to help ease some of the pain.

The organization, launched in 2021, expanded its services to the summer months in 2023 and has seen a gradual increase in the number of people it serves.

Tucson Family Food Project has been around since the pandemic. From the start its goal has been to teach kids to cook so they can fend for themselves.

Founded in 2021 by Steven Cota-Robles, the goal is to provide not only meals, but equip young people with the knowledge and confidence to prepare food for themselves and their families.

”Food is the basis of everything,” said Cota-Robles. “You know, we all have to eat.”

The program serves over 250 students weekly and is continuing  to expand its services largely in collaboration with local businesses and community leaders who help Cota-Robles and his team raise awareness and support.

Partnerships with local restaurants including El Güero Canelo have helped to introduce students to culturally significant dishes including Sonoran hot dogs. The goal is to involve a number of Tucson restaurants, Cota-Robles said.

”One of the goals is to get these restaurants involved,” he said. “If you want to show people how good your food is, have the kids try it and have them tell everyone how good it is.”

The organization has a YouTube channel where they post videos of their meal kits and how to prepare them. This gives the kids a guideline to follow and helps them hone their culinary skills.

Cota-Robles said that young people who learn to cook for themselves are less likely to rely on pre-made meals.

”The reality is, we’re providing a lot of these families with some of their only nutrition, or some of their only nutrition outside of school,” said Cota-Robles. “Now with the cutting of school breakfast and lunch programs, it loses a source of nutrition for more families than people understand.”

Community members can support the organization through donations, volunteering, or participating in fundraising events.

Contributions of kitchen essentials, such as utensils and cookware, to ensure that all students have the tools they need to succeed in the program are also very welcome.

”Once people realize that it’s so much more than just handing out food. It’s actually empowering these kids,” Cota-Robles said. “It’s building their skills in the kitchen and the community loves it.”

Arizona Sonoran News is a news service of the University of Arizona School of Journalism.

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