Desert Manna

The communities served by Desert Manna include Barstow, Lenwood, Newberry Springs, Daggett, Yermo and Hinkley and are among the poorest communities of San Bernardino County. Almost 70% of the students in the Barstow Unified School District are eligible for free or reduced cost rneals. Approximately 43% of the residents of Barstow receive food stamps, Medi-Cal benefits, and/or participate in the CalWorks program for low-income families. In December 2012, the unemployment rate for the City of Barstow was 13.5%. During the same period, the State
unemployment rate was 9.7% and the National unemployment rate was 7.8%, The Barstow area has a high rate of teenage pregnancy coupled with the fact that teenage parents are at a high risk of low-income living conditions. Low-income households have a high rate of food insecurity - not being able to have healthy food in enough quantities to nourish their families adequately. According to the USDA, food insecurity is often responsible for chronic health problems, higher levels of aggression and anxiety and poor performance in school.