Health care includes seeking medical attention when you need it. Equally important is being food-secure and staying healthy in the first place with good nutrition. Second Harvest Food Bank Santa Cruz County is combining those two key factors by partnering with Watsonville Community Hospital to bring the new Nourish fresh pantry to the hospital. “At Watsonville Community Hospital, Second Harvest is addressing one of the root causes of food-insecurity in our county,” says Second Harvest CEO Erica Padilla-Chavez. “The Food Bank recognizes the link between food insecurity and health adversities an ..read more

Excerpt from Santa Cruz Sentinel  by Tara Fatemi Walker In today’s culture, people unfortunately — and unrealistically — expect instant gratification and quick results. But cultivating long-term change, including improving inequities in our society, requires patience and hard work. Second Harvest Food Bank Santa Cruz County, no stranger to creating programs and services to nourish the local community, recently launched the Farmer Equity Program (FEP). This pioneering project is part of The Food Bank’s newly created sustainability initiative, Land & Sea, which also includes l ..read more

By EDITORIAL BOARD | Santa Cruz Sentinel | PUBLISHED: November 12, 2023 at 3:43 p.m. | UPDATED: November 16, 2023 at 8:26 a.m. We live in a wealthy county, compared to much of the rest of the state. And yet, nearly a quarter of Santa Cruz County residents, some 65,000 people, are receiving food through the ever-present-in-times-of-trouble Second Harvest Food Bank. The juxtaposition is not that difficult to understand with the cost of housing, scarcity of rentals, and incessant inflation that has eroded the purchasing power of many county residents. The Food Bank’s goa ..read more

Excerpt from Santa Cruz Sentinel  by Tara Fatemi Walker  SANTA CRUZ — Would you like to savor the creative talents of renowned local chefs, and simultaneously provide nutritious meals to Santa Cruz County children? The annual Chefs’ Dinner, Oct. 25 at Holy Cross Hall, raises money for The Food Bank’s award-winning Food for Children initiative. A tasting menu features local wine paired with small courses from six chefs who donate their time and talent. “I am grateful for the participating chefs and all the other volunteers who create a delicious and successful evening,” says Food ..read more

In an encouraging display of dedication to her constituents, Congresswoman Zoe Lofgren recently paid a visit to Second Harvest Food Bank Santa Cruz County. Their mission? To listen to the personal stories of struggling community members and to discuss the pressing issues surrounding CalFresh (SNAP) benefits, WIC funding, and the potential threat of a government shutdown. CalFresh Benefits and the Fight for Full Funding The reduction of emergency pandemic CalFresh allotments on March 26th hit hard for many families. Even before the pandemic, the pre-existing rates were insufficient to support n ..read more

Excerpt from The Pajaronian  by Tara Fatemi Walker The causes of food insecurity are complex, but research suggests that health, housing and employment are key factors. Feeding America—the country’s largest hunger relief organization—reports that annual healthcare costs for food-insecure adults are on average $1,834 higher than food-secure adults. Food insecurity, as defined by the United States Department of Agriculture, is a lack of consistent access to enough food for people to live a healthy life. In May, Second Harvest Food Bank sponsored the annual CalFresh Forum, gathering lea ..read more

Date: August 1, 2023 Rep. Jimmy Panetta’s recent visit to Second Harvest Food Bank Santa Cruz County shed light on the challenges faced by his constituents since the end of emergency allotments of CalFresh (nationally known as SNAP) benefits on March 26, 2023. The visit highlighted the dire circumstances faced by families as they navigate reduced benefits amidst record inflation, emphasizing the need for continued CalFresh funding. Second Harvest participants from District 19 shared heart-wrenching stories of making tough choices between nutritional necessities due to inadequate benefits. Rep ..read more

Excerpt from Santa Cruz Sentinel  by Tara Fatemi Walker The Food Bank’s goal is to ensure no one in Santa Cruz County goes without nutritious food. Thanks to community partners, The Food Bank nourishes 65,000 people monthly. Let’s get closer to some of the key people and farms who help make this possible. Emily Freed, Second Harvest’s Supply Chain Director, works with agriculture partners to receive fresh produce donations. Labor, water, and the impacts of climate change on our local agricultural community regularly come up in conversation with these partners. “Farming is hard work ..read more

SECOND HARVEST FOOD BANK ENCOURAGES ADVOCATING FOR MORE SUPPORT Excerpt from The Pajaronian  by Tara Fatemi Walker  A Santa Cruz County resident and Second Harvest Food Bank client who received $281 per month in CalFresh benefits for more than two years saw those benefits decrease to $40 in April. The woman, who asked not to be identified, says the recent ending of CalFresh Emergency Allotments means she may not be able to afford the special diet she needs to control her diabetes. She was also worried how she would make it through the end of the month with only $40. “Now I will ..read more

Excerpt from Santa Cruz Sentinel  by Tara Fatemi Walker  Looking at the long line of people awaiting food on a Thursday at Santa Cruz Bible Church, it’s impressive that Second Harvest Food Bank and the church are feeding this many families. The actual number is even higher. Everyone in line will go through the farmers market-style food distribution and select groceries their family needs. Lots more get fed through a ripple effect that takes place after the official 12-1 p.m. distribution ends. Don’t underestimate the power of what community organizations can accomplish with ..read more