A Community We Support: Peña Blanca
Background
The Feed the Hungry San Miguel kitchen in Peña Blanca opened in April 2023. The school is 21 km from central San Miguel de Allende. During school year 2023-2024, 253 children at the Luis Ferro Medina primaria (elementary) school receive both breakfast and lunch through the Feed the Hungry program—more than 500 meals served each school day. Our hydration program also provides clean water in large refillable jugs for the children in the classrooms and for food preparation in the school kitchen.
In addition, 10 families receive food through the Extended Alimentation program for families who present cases of severe malnutrition.
There are also 15 families enrolled in the Early Childhood Nutrition program, which provides food for children who have been weaned but are not yet in school; typically, eight months old to four or five years old. Their mothers receive twice-monthly deliveries of food and educational workshops.
Location Statistics
Per the latest census (2020), the current population of the community of Peña Blanca is 240 men, women, and children, residing in 51 households. At the time of the census, only 14% of the homes had indoor sanitary facilities and only 6% had water piped to the home. The average level of schooling was 6 years; 7.5% of the adult population was illiterate. Forty percent of the population was under 14 years of age. Of residents over 12 years old, 46% were employed.
Nutrition Report – School Year 2022-2023
For the latest Nutrition Report, staff nutritionists assessed 188 students through height, weight, and body fat measurements.
The Luis Ferro Medina elementary school has a population with evident malnutrition, with cases of obesity and notable cases of caloric-protein malnutrition. We now record cases where the children are “at risk” of becoming overweight, as they are close to the range for that category. Overweight and obesity are due to the consumption of processed and high carbohydrate foods and sugary drinks which are easily accessible in the community.
Although 66% of children were found to have a normal weight and height according to their age, they are malnourished. The physical examination of each child revealed nutritional deficiencies, mainly due to the lack or low consumption of vegetables and protein and inadequate amounts of foods rich in vitamin B3, vitamin A, and zinc. We observed clinical signs such as dry skin, dry hair, and brittle nails, and a large percentage of the population suffers from dental problems due to their well water.
Health Assessment Results
| Condition | Percent of Children |
|---|---|
| Obese | 1% |
| Overweight | 6% |
| At risk of overweight | 10% |
| Normal | 66% |
| Light underweight | 10% |
| Moderate underweight | 5% |
| Severe underweigh | 2% |
During the assessment, we had the opportunity to ask the children questions to obtain more information about their habitual diets. Most of them did not know about vegetables other than tomatoes and onions.
We look forward to seeing improvements in the health and wellbeing of the children, with the implementation of the school meals program and the hydration program, and nutritional education for children and parents through workshops offered in the community.
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