With a pause in food assistance benefits driving thousands of Santa Cruz County residents to seek help, Second Harvest Food Bank and its partners have doubled volunteer shifts to pack grocery boxes, plan to expand pickup locations and received more than $1 million in community support.
Food Insecurity
Food insecurity in Santa Cruz County is a growing and deeply complex issue, affecting seniors, families, farmworkers and young people across the region. These news stories explore the rising demand for food assistance, the local organizations stepping up to meet it, and the policy decisions shaping access to basic nutrition. From emergency response during crises to long-term solutions and community-led efforts, this coverage highlights both the challenges residents face and the resilience of those working to ensure everyone has access to healthy, reliable food. This collection will continue to grow as new reporting is added and as local conditions and state and federal policies evolve.
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A food crisis is underway in Santa Cruz County: Here are four ways you can help now
As the holidays approach, thousands of local families are facing an unexpected crisis. Due to the federal government shutdown, more than 25,000 Santa Cruz County residents will not receive CalFresh (SNAP) food assistance this month. Seniors, children, and working families who rely on these benefits are left without support. The impact is already rippling across […]
Posted inLatest News
Santa Cruz County, other agencies approve $1 million in donations to Second Harvest Food Bank
The Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors declared a local emergency over food insecurity Tuesday and approved a $500,000 donation to Second Harvest Food Bank, as federal food aid delays from the ongoing government shutdown leave thousands without assistance. Other local governments and organizations also pledged to help fund the effort, for a total of more than $1 million.
Posted inHealth & Wellness
Where to get free meals and groceries in Santa Cruz County if CalFresh benefits expire
Lookout assembled a list of several Santa Cruz County nonprofits, organizations and restaurants that are helping to fill the gap by offering free meals, groceries and other services to those who lose food assistance.
Posted inHealth & Wellness
Federal shutdown could leave 35,000 Santa Cruz County residents without CalFresh as food banks brace for surging need
More than 35,000 Santa Cruz County residents could lose access to federal food assistance in November as the ongoing government shutdown halts CalFresh payments, leaving families and students scrambling for support.
Posted inFood & Drink
In aging Santa Cruz County, a free seniors lunch draws a cross-generational crowd in search of affordable meals and social connection
In the past five years, Grey Bears’ free hot lunch program in Santa Cruz has grown from serving a few dozen volunteers to feeding up to 300 people a day, as more residents turn to the nonprofit for food and connection amid rising costs and isolation.
Posted inFood & Drink
‘A very challenging time’: SNAP cuts and lost funding deepen food insecurity in Santa Cruz County
Santa Cruz County’s food safety net is under growing strain as deep federal funding cuts and new SNAP restrictions reduce the food supply to local nonprofits like Grey Bears and Second Harvest Food Bank. With demand already high, local leaders warn that thousands more will soon lose benefits.
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Sustainable giving for sustainable living: Grey Bears grows a greener solution to senior hunger
By 7:00 a.m. the Grey Bears Volunteers are well on their way to packing over 4,000 grocery bags filled with fresh, organic produce for seniors much like themselves.
Posted inPolitics & Policy
After sudden $700K drop in funding, Second Harvest calls for community support
Second Harvest Food Bank Santa Cruz County is facing a sudden loss of over $700,000 in federal aid and a potential $400,000 state funding cut, threatening its ability to provide more than 3 million meals to tens of thousands of residents. In response, the food bank has launched “Operation Bridge the Gap” to encourage community support through donations, volunteering, and advocacy while seeking answers and solutions from policymakers.
Posted inStudent Stories
Unsung Santa Cruz: Alexis Keith’s non-profit battles food insecurity and empowers teens
This article was in the top 3 winners of Lookout’s Journalism Scholarship challenge, which invited high school students to highlight an unsung hero in their life. For placing in the top 3 they were awarded a $500 scholarship. Learn more and find all of the winners here. The kitchen is a chaotic place. Picture this: […]
