About Second harvest food bank of santa cruz county
Second Harvest Food Bank of Santa Cruz County: Fighting Hunger, Nourishing Communities
Founded in 1972, Second Harvest Food Bank Santa Cruz County was the first food bank in California and is the second oldest in the nation. For almost five decades, this non-profit organization has been dedicated to fighting hunger and providing nutritious food to those who need it most.
The mission of Second Harvest Food Bank of Santa Cruz County is simple yet powerful: to end hunger and malnutrition in our community. The organization works tirelessly to collect surplus food from local growers, manufacturers, retailers, and individuals. This food is then distributed through a network of over 200 partner agencies such as soup kitchens, shelters, schools, senior centers and other non-profits that serve people struggling with hunger.
Second Harvest Food Bank serves an average of 55,000 people every month across Santa Cruz County. These are families with children who cannot afford enough healthy meals; seniors on fixed incomes who have to choose between buying groceries or paying for medical bills; low-wage workers who struggle to make ends meet; homeless individuals who have no access to regular meals.
The impact that Second Harvest has on our community cannot be overstated. By providing access to healthy food options for those facing hunger insecurity they are helping improve health outcomes for vulnerable populations while also reducing waste by redirecting surplus edible foods from landfills into the hands of those most in need.
In addition to their core work distributing nutritious foods throughout the county via their partner agencies network , Second Harvest also runs several innovative programs aimed at addressing specific needs within our community:
1) Nutrition Education Program - This program provides nutrition education classes for adults and children at partner agency sites throughout the county. Participants learn about healthy eating habits on a budget as well as how they can prepare nutritious meals using ingredients commonly found at local pantries.
2) School Pantry Program - This program provides free groceries directly inside schools so that students can take home fresh produce and other healthy foods each week without having to worry about transportation or cost barriers.
3) Mobile Pantry Program - This program brings fresh produce directly into neighborhoods where there may not be easy access grocery stores or farmers markets available . The mobile pantry travels around different locations throughout Santa Cruz County each month so that residents can easily pick up fresh fruits & vegetables along with other pantry staples like canned goods & grains .
4) CalFresh Outreach Program - This program helps eligible low-income households apply for CalFresh (formerly known as "food stamps") benefits which provide monthly financial assistance towards purchasing groceries . By increasing enrollment rates among eligible households , this program helps ensure more families have access to adequate nutrition .
All these programs are designed with one goal in mind: To help alleviate hunger insecurity while promoting healthier lifestyles among vulnerable populations across Santa Cruz County.
As a non-profit organization , Second Harvest relies heavily on donations from individuals , corporations , foundations & government grants . Every dollar donated goes directly towards feeding hungry neighbors right here in our own backyard .
If you're looking for ways you can help support this important work please consider making a donation today! Whether it's $5 or $5000 every little bit counts when it comes fighting against hunger insecurity within our communities!