We inspire and support Santa Cruz County to provide nourishment for all community members. Our vision is to build a lifetime of food literacy and be a thriving community where everyone has access to nutritious food to support their health and well-being. While our role as emergency responders to natural disasters is critical and urgent, our larger goal is to break the cycle of food insecurity and hunger in Santa Cruz County. At our heart is our distribution of healthy food by delivering foods to nonprofit agencies for their food pantries, soup kitchens and shelters; with nutrition education; and by providing grassroots access-points to CalFresh.
This year we have distributed more than 10,000,000 pounds of food to our community partners to provide to their clients, members, and patients.
Help us help our partners! Did you know that over 1/4 of our county’s residents face hunger every month? That staggering statistic highlights how many are living on the edge, including children and young families. You can help us provide food for 65,000 people a month in Santa Cruz County who depend on us and our network of 80+ community partners to fill pantry shelves and provide hot meals ($1 buys 3 healthy meals).
With your donation, you are generating the funds that source the food and make it possible for our nonprofit partners who serve community members directly to never have to pay for the fresh produce and proteins they need for their clients. Your donation to Second Harvest Food Bank is how we ensure food is available to anyone, from seniors to young families, the homeless, and anyone needing enough food to learn, work, and thrive.
Volunteers help power Second Harvest Food Bank.
We put two frozen chickens, a bag of dried staples, produce, bananas, berries, bread, and juice into a family’s car. One of the young boys said excitedly: “Mommy, look! We get to have fruit again!” The mother teared up as her two boys did victory wiggles in their seats.
Staff member at nonprofit pantry
