{"id":18736,"date":"2026-06-01T15:59:15","date_gmt":"2026-06-01T15:59:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/state.nokidhungry.org\/california\/?p=18736"},"modified":"2026-06-02T21:47:24","modified_gmt":"2026-06-02T21:47:24","slug":"press-release-nkh-norms-hunger-heroes-2026","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/state.nokidhungry.org\/california\/press-release-nkh-norms-hunger-heroes-2026\/","title":{"rendered":"PRESS RELEASE: No Kid Hungry and NORMS Restaurants Honors School Staff for Child Hunger Relief Efforts Across Southern California"},"content":{"rendered":"[vc_row type=”in_container” full_screen_row_position=”middle” column_margin=”default” column_direction=”default” column_direction_tablet=”default” column_direction_phone=”default” scene_position=”center” text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” row_border_radius=”none” row_border_radius_applies=”bg” overflow=”visible” overlay_strength=”0.3″ gradient_direction=”left_to_right” shape_divider_position=”bottom” bg_image_animation=”none”][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_tablet=”inherit” column_padding_phone=”inherit” column_padding_position=”all” column_element_direction_desktop=”default” column_element_spacing=”default” desktop_text_alignment=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_backdrop_filter=”none” column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” column_link_target=”_self” column_position=”default” gradient_direction=”left_to_right” overlay_strength=”0.3″ width=”1\/1″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” animation_type=”default” bg_image_animation=”none” border_type=”simple” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid”][vc_column_text css=”” text_direction=”default”]Date: June 1, 2026<\/span><\/p>\n

No Kid Hungry and NORMS Restaurants Honors School Staff for Child Hunger Relief Efforts Across Southern California<\/span><\/h3>\n

Hunger Hero honorees recognized for their work expanding school breakfast with Breakfast After the Bell models<\/em><\/p>\n

Los Angeles, CA: <\/b>Eating breakfast has a real, powerful effect on kids, but 1 in 6 kids in California lives with hunger and may start the school day on an empty stomach. Today, No Kid Hungry and NORMS Restaurants, LLC announced their Hunger Heroes awardees, eight honorees who work across different departments in school districts across Southern California and have shown outstanding commitment to child hunger relief. This year\u2019s heroes have gone above and beyond to innovate and expand school breakfast programs.<\/span><\/p>\n

Breakfast After the Bell (BAB), a key initiative championed by the No Kid Hungry campaign, provides every student the opportunity to start their school day with a nutritious meal. Studies have shown that kids who eat breakfast are more focused, score significantly higher on tests, miss fewer days of school, and have fewer discipline issues and visits to the nurse\u2019s office.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIn partnership with No Kid Hungry, we\u2019re proud to stand behind the everyday heroes who make a difference in their communities. At NORMS, recognizing and celebrating our \u2018Hunger Heroes\u2019 is more than a program\u2014it\u2019s a commitment to giving back. By treating our nominees to a weekly Bigger Better Breakfast for a year and providing each nominee 25 complimentary kids meal certificates, we hope to extend the impact of their generosity and help ensure more families have access to the meals they deserve.\u201d -Ingrid Martinez, VP of Marketing, NORMS Restaurants, LLC.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cNo Kid Hungry is proud to honor these outstanding individuals for their tireless work to ensure kids start their school day energized and ready to learn\u201d said Kathy Saile, No Kid Hungry California director. \u201cThanks to their efforts, hundreds of thousands of kids can count on a healthy breakfast. Breakfast After the Bell programs remove barriers and ensure that every student – regardless of background – has access to a nutritious meal.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The NORMS x No Kid Hungry 2026 Hunger Heroes are:<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

Adriana Martinez, Noon Aid, Los Nietos School District, Whittier, CA<\/b><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Adriana Martinez’s commitment to the students at Aeolian Elementary extends far beyond her duties as a Noon Aide. A passionate advocate, she frequently steps in to assist with scratch-cooking during staff shortages, guaranteeing that students consistently receive nutritious, high-quality meals. Her dedication to bridging nutrition services with the broader school community, notably through her leadership in the Jr. Chef Pilot Program, showcases her holistic approach to child wellness, making her an indispensable and inspiring force in the Los Nietos School District.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

Anna Yasuhara, Principal, Paramount Unified School District, Paramount, CA<\/b><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Anna Yasuhara is a dedicated school administrator at Gaines Elementary School, whose proactive leadership in implementing the Second Chance Breakfast program at her school has earned her the title of Hunger Hero. She championed this initiative to ensure all students have equitable access to a nutritious morning meal, recognizing its direct impact on their health and learning readiness. Recognizing its impact on student health and learning, she championed the initiative despite operational hurdles and concerns. Anna’s unwavering commitment, problem-solving, collaboration, and innovation, significantly increased breakfast participation and student well-being, making her truly deserving of this recognition.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

Lourdes Cervantes, Food Service Supervisor, Samueli Academy, Santa Ana, CA<\/b><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Lourdes Cervantes is being recognized as a Hunger Hero for her selfless dedication as a Food Service Supervisor at Samueli Academy. She ensures all 7th\u201312th grade students consistently receive free, nourishing breakfast, lunch, and after-school snacks. Her commitment goes beyond logistics; she actively seeks student feedback to boost participation, incorporates preferences, and uses special meals to create moments of celebration. By fostering trust and respect in the cafeteria, Lourdes ensures students feel seen, valued, and well-fed, directly contributing to their health, focus, and ability to thrive academically and personally.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

Martha \u201cPatty\u201d Chavez, Cafeteria Helper, Los Nietos School District, Whittier, CA<\/b><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Martha Chavez\u2019s commitment to ensuring kids have the nutrition they need to grow and thrive goes well beyond her official duties as a Cafeteria Helper at Rancho Santa Gertrudes Elementary. She is a vital safeguard against childhood hunger, consistently ensuring that every student at Rancho Santa Gertrudes Elementary receives a nutritious meal. Her proactive involvement in the district’s nutrition education pilot program further demonstrated her commitment, elevating the role of cafeteria staff and forging vital partnerships with teachers to promote lasting healthy eating habits. Her efforts stand as a powerful affirmation that school nutrition is fundamental to a student’s success.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

Martha Espiritu, Family & Community Engagement Specialist, Anaheim Union High School District, Anaheim, CA<\/b><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Martha Espiritu is an unparalleled advocate for her school community, rightfully earning recognition as a Hunger Hero. As the Family & Community Engagement Specialist at AUHSD\u2019s Family Center, her dedication extends far beyond the traditional scope of her role; Martha is a beacon of compassion who personally ensures students and staff are nourished and cared for. She fundamentally understands that food is a powerful catalyst for connection and community-building, and by consistently showing her love through cooking, Martha has transformed a simple necessity into a heartfelt act of support and encouragement that fuels both academic achievement and communal spirit.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

Ruben Sandoval, Teacher, Los Nietos School District, Whittier, CA<\/b><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Ruben Sandoval is being recognized as a Hunger Hero for his creative integration of nutrition education into his middle school curriculum, which dramatically increased student engagement with the school meals program. He went beyond his role as a Math and Science teacher by actively partnering with Nutrition Services, turning his classroom into a lively hub where students learned culinary skills and the science behind healthy eating. This partnership not only de-stigmatized school meals but also proved that strong advocates like Ruben are essential for bridging the gap between student wellness and academic achievement, securing a healthier future for his students.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

Sarah Davis, Student Success Coordinator, Samueli Academy, Santa Ana, CA<\/b><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Sarah Davis\u2019s unwavering and compassionate commitment to student well-being is heroic. As the Student Success Coordinator at Samueli Academy, she has been a tireless <\/span>advocate, working directly with foster youth and those experiencing homelessness (McKinney-Vento students), to provide consistent access to meals on campus, supplemental food resources to take home, and ongoing support beyond formal school hours. Sarah provides an essential presence\u2014offering an extra snack or a listening ear\u2014which reinforces a school culture where every young person feels seen, supported, and well-fed.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

Veronica Flores, Campus Safety Aide Elementary, Paramount Unified School District, Paramount, CA\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Veronica Flores, a deeply cherished and indispensable member of the Gaines Elementary community in Paramount, CA, is being recognized as a Hunger Hero. Her unwavering dedication to student nutrition goes far beyond mere compliance. She is celebrated for transforming the school’s nutrition program into a beacon of compassion and care, demonstrating a tireless and personal commitment to combating food insecurity. Her efforts ensure every child has the essential fuel they need to succeed both academically and personally.<\/span><\/p>\n

NORMS Restaurants, LLC and No Kid Hungry California salutes these community heroes and all those who work tirelessly to keep our kids and families nourished and healthy.<\/span><\/p>\n

# # #\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

About No Kid Hungry<\/b><\/p>\n

No child should go hungry in America. But millions of kids in the United States live with hunger. No Kid Hungry is working to end childhood hunger by helping launch and improve programs that give all kids the healthy food they need to thrive. This is a problem we know how to solve. No Kid Hungry is a campaign of Share Our Strength, an organization committed to ending hunger and poverty. Join us at NoKidHungry.org.<\/span><\/p>\n

ABOUT NORMS<\/b><\/p>\n

Since opening in 1949, NORMS has helped usher in a new era of casual family dining in Southern California by delivering on its promise of \u201cgreat food, great service, and great value.\u201d Open for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and late-night dining, NORMS is known for its friendly service and welcoming environment, iconic design, and fresh, quality meals at affordable prices. Today, NORMS fans span across generations, and as the brand continues to grow beyond its 24 locations in Los Angeles, Orange, and Riverside counties and Las Vegas, NORMS remains the place \u201cWhere Life Happens.\u201d For more information about NORMS, please visit <\/span>NORMS.com<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

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