The need has never been greater. As the cost of groceries, housing, and other essentials continues to rise, more and more Santa Cruz County residents are turning to Second Harvest Food Bank for help putting nutritious food on the table.
And the need continues to grow.
For families already struggling to make ends meet, higher costs can quickly turn into impossible choices: paying the rent or buying groceries, filling a prescription or putting food on the table. For working families, seniors, children, veterans, people experiencing homelessness, and others facing difficult circumstances, food assistance can provide critical support during a challenging time.
Second Harvest Food Bank Santa Cruz County is seeing more neighbors come through its doors and more people seeking help through its network of community partners. With costs continuing to rise and no immediate end to the economic pressures facing local families, the Food Bank is preparing to meet an urgent and growing need.
But Second Harvest cannot do it alone. The community’s support is more important than ever.
That is why the Second Harvest Food Bank Holiday Food & Fund Drive, running from November 2026 through January 2027, is so important.
As the largest community-wide fundraiser of the year for Second Harvest, the Holiday Food & Fund Drive brings together individuals, families, businesses, schools, and community organizations around one urgent goal: making sure our neighbors have access to nutritious food when they need it. Reaching that goal will require the generosity and support of the entire community.
“At Second Harvest, our neighbors are always at the center of everything we do,” said Erica Padilla-Chavez, CEO of Second Harvest Food Bank Santa Cruz County. “The need we are seeing in our community is significant, and more people are turning to us for help. At the same time, the cost of providing that support continues to increase. We need our community beside us now more than ever. The Holiday Food & Fund Drive gives everyone an opportunity to come together and make sure our neighbors have access to the nutritious food they need.”
The Need Is Growing Across Santa Cruz County
Second Harvest is the only food bank serving Santa Cruz County, reaching more than 75,000 people each month. Its network serves neighbors at every stage of life, including children, seniors, veterans, people experiencing homelessness, and working individuals and families who need additional support.
Today, one in three Santa Cruz County residents experiences food insecurity. And as the cost of living continues to climb, more people are seeking assistance to help fill the gap between what they can afford and what their families need.
To help meet this growing demand, Second Harvest sources more than 11.2 million pounds of food each year from local farms, grocery stores, distributors, and community members.
That food reaches neighbors through a network of 67 partner agencies, including food pantries, schools, soup kitchens, and other community organizations. This network extends the Food Bank’s reach into communities throughout the county, connecting people with nutritious food and support close to home.
The Food Bank’s work also extends beyond traditional food distributions.
Through child-focused nutrition programs, Second Harvest helps ensure children have the nourishment they need to grow, learn, and thrive. As a Diaper Bank, it provides families with essential items such as diapers, formula, and wipes. And through its gleaning program, Second Harvest works with farms and community partners to rescue surplus fruits and vegetables that might otherwise go to waste, making fresh produce available to neighbors who need it.
Together, these programs allow Second Harvest to respond to the immediate needs of local residents while working to improve food access throughout Santa Cruz County.
The Community Is Needed Now More Than Ever
The scale of the need facing Santa Cruz County requires all of us to step up.
During this year’s Holiday Food & Fund Drive, individuals, families, businesses, schools, and community organizations can make a meaningful difference by making a donation, organizing a fundraiser, hosting a food drive, or sharing the campaign with their networks.
The Food Bank is inviting the community to join Holiday Food & Fund Drive Co-Chairs Karl Rice of the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk and Krista Snelling of West Coast Community Bank in helping meet this urgent need.
Every contribution matters. A donation today helps put nutritious food on the table for a neighbor who needs it and helps Second Harvest continue responding as more people turn to the Food Bank for support.
The need is here. It is growing. And our community has the power to respond.
Nourishing today. Building tomorrow. We are the Food Bank.
