Spare Change, Big Impact: How Sacramento Kids Are Turning Couch Cushions Into Food Security

Summer just got a lot more meaningful for Sacramento-area kids. The Sacramento River Cats and Yolo Food Bank have teamed up on Change for Change, a campaign that proves you don’t need a fortune to make a real difference—just some spare change and a little creativity.

Here’s the setup: Kids 15 and younger pick up a mason jar bank from one of three locations—Sutter Health Park in West Sacramento, the Yolo Food Bank warehouse in Woodland, or any branch of the Yolo Public Library—and spend June filling it however they can. Lemonade stand? Sure. Dog walking gig? Absolutely. Check the couch cushions? Why not. The point is getting young people hands-on and engaged with their community while raising money for families facing food insecurity across Yolo County.

The incentive sweetens the deal: fill your jar and return it during the week of July 6 through July 11, and you’ll score two free River Cats tickets for a future game this season. It’s a win-win that actually feels earned. Alex Simmons, senior manager of development with Yolo Food Bank, and Jordan Klein, Sacramento River Cats community coordinator, brought this idea to life because they understood something important—kids are more invested when they feel ownership. This isn’t something being done *for* them; it’s something they’re *doing*.

What makes this campaign particularly smart is the timing. Schools are out, parents are hunting for summer activities that matter, and the ballpark becomes a natural finish line. Every dollar collected supports Yolo Food Bank’s food distribution programs, which deliver fresh produce and groceries to families in need. That’s tangible impact a kid can actually see.

The jars themselves come with encouragement built in—a progress bar to show how full they’re getting, plus ideas for fundraising methods. Small touches that keep momentum going through June and into July. This is the kind of project that teaches generosity without preaching it, creates habits around community service, and gives kids a concrete reason to think beyond themselves.

If you’re looking for something your kids can do this summer that actually matters, Change for Change is it. Pick up a jar, get creative, and help feed your neighbors. River Cats tickets are just the cherry on top.