Nonprofits Create Community is NIA’s theme for 2026, as we celebrate the ways that nonprofits come through for their communities in spite of all the challenges facing them. In this series, meet some NIA-insured nonprofits who share their stories of creating community in their own words.
Meet San Diego Hunger Coalition of San Diego, CA
Sarah D’Agostino, Director of Operations of San Diego Hunger Coalition explains:
“The mission of the San Diego Hunger Coalition (SDHC) is to collaborate with community partners to create equitable access to food assistance in San Diego County through research, education, and advocacy.”
How does your nonprofit and your mission create community for the people and places you serve?
Ensuring That Neighbors Have the Knowledge and Support They Need
“Food is a basic human right and deeply rooted in every culture and community. Our mission is to create equitable access to food assistance across San Diego County so everyone can access three nutritious meals each day.
We create community by strengthening the networks of trusted organizations already embedded in neighborhoods across the county.
While we do not provide direct services ourselves, we equip community partners with the training, resources, and expertise to integrate food assistance into their existing systems and deepen the support they provide.
By empowering these trusted messengers, we help build hunger-free communities that meet people where they are, foster connection and dignity, and ensure neighbors have the knowledge and support needed to help one another close the meal gap.”
What are your nonprofit’s biggest challenges or obstacles to creating community?
Many People with Diverse Needs Across a Large Service Area
“San Diego County’s scale and diversity present our greatest challenges to creating community around food access.
With a population comparable to the entire state of Iowa and a geographic footprint similar to Connecticut, we serve an estimated 842,000 nutrition-insecure residents — roughly one in four San Diegans lack reliable access to three nutritious meals each day.
Reaching every corner of our region requires overcoming significant barriers, including geographic distance, limited technology access, language differences, and capacity constraints among frontline partners.
These challenges are especially pronounced in rural communities, where resources are often more dispersed, but they also exist in densely populated urban areas where trusted organizations are often stretched thin helping households navigate SNAP and WIC applications.
Our challenge is ensuring that, no matter where someone lives or what barriers they face, they can access timely, accurate information and connect to the support systems available in their community.
