Food Donation Opportunities

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Many people in Santa Cruz County are at risk of going hungry. Partnerships between food businesses, community groups, and non-profits can dramatically reduce hunger, food waste, and waste disposal costs in Santa Cruz County.

Whether you have a few servings of a prepared dish or a lot of extra food, there is a community group near you that can use it to feed people in need. The non-profit organizations listed on this page help distribute extra food safely and equitably to people in need.

Food donations also help the County and its cities to meet state mandated food recovery goals. In Santa Cruz County, food is the largest component of the waste stream for food stores, restaurants, and institutions like schools, hospitals, and care facilities. For most food businesses, 40-60% of their total waste is food waste, much of which is still edible. Donating edible food not only helps feed hungry people, it helps business reduce waste disposal costs, and reduces the amount of methane gas released into the environment when organic food waste decomposes in the landfill.

Helps people in need
Saves on waste disposal costs
Reduces the release of greenhouse gasses into the environment

What About Liability for Food Donations?

The California “Good Samaritan Food Donation Law” lets businesses and individuals donate edible food and protects you and your business from liability that may arise from the use of donated food.

Tips for Successful Food Donations

Develop relationships with Second Harvest Food Bank and a local Food Recovery Organization (see list below.)
Plan scheduled food donations with a Food Recovery Organization, especially if extra food is regularly available.
There is a great need for protein foods like eggs, meat, cheese, etc.
Always contact the Food Recovery Organization before making an unscheduled food delivery.
For donations of prepared food, it is best to establish a relationship with one or two non-profits. Food containers can sometimes be emptied and washed at the donation site. As the level of trust grows, you may feel comfortable leaving food trays at the donation site for later retrieval.

Directory of Santa Cruz County Organizations Accepting Food Donations

(Please call ahead to ensure that the organization is still participating in food recovery)

Organization	Food Services	Foods Accepted	Drop off Information	Service Area
Second Harvest Food Bank 800 Ohlone Pkwy Watsonville CA 95076 831-722-7110	Local Food Bank: Food Recovery and Distribution	Fresh produce, fresh refrigerated grocery, frozen grocery, baked goods, shelf-stable non-perishable foods, cold prepared foods, and frozen prepared foods	8:00am-5:00pm, call to arrange.	Countywide South County
Grey Bears 2710 Chanticleer Ave Santa Cruz CA 95062 831-479-1055	Food recovery and distribution, food pantry, congregate feeding	Fresh produce, fresh refrigerated grocery, frozen grocery, baked goods, shelf-stable non-perishable foods, cold prepared foods, and frozen prepared foods	Pick up by arrangement. Drop off at 2710 Chanticleer 7:00am-2:00pm, M-F	Countywide Mid County
Teen Challenge Monterey Bay 45 Brennan Street Watsonville CA 95076 831-722-2074	Congregate feeding	Fresh produce, fresh refrigerated grocery, frozen grocery, baked goods, shelf-stable non-perishable foods, cold prepared foods, and frozen prepared foods	Pick up or drop off by arrangement	South County
Santa Cruz Barrios Unidos 1817 Soquel Ave Santa Cruz CA 95062 831-457-8208	Food pantry	Shelf-stable groceries, fresh produce, baked goods, refrigerated grocery, refrigerated prepared foods	Pick up or drop off by arrangement	Mid County
Elm Street Mission 117 Elm St Santa Cruz CA 95060 831-420-0543	Congregate feeding	Fresh produce, fresh refrigerated grocery, baked goods, shelf-stable non-perishable foods	Pick up or drop off by arrangement	Santa Cruz, Mid County
Pajaro Valley Loaves and Fishes 150 Second St Watsonville CA 95076 831-722-4144	Food pantry, congregate feeding	Refrigerated grocery, baked goods, shelf-stable groceries	Pick up or drop off by arrangement	Scotts Valley, Santa Cruz, Mid County, Watsonville
Holy Cross Food Pantry 210 High Street Santa Cruz CA 95060	Food distribution, food pantry	Fresh produce, baked goods, shelf-stable groceries, frozen prepared foods	Pick up or drop off by arrangement	Santa Cruz
People’s Pantry Twin Lakes Church 2701 Cabrillo College Dr. Aptos CA 95003 831-465-3381	Food distribution, food pantry	Baked goods	Pick up or drop off by arrangement	Mid County
Valley Churches United 9400 Highway 9 Ben Lomond CA 95005 831-336-8258	Food pantry	Fresh produce, fresh refrigerated grocery, frozen grocery, baked goods, shelf-stable non-perishable foods, cold prepared foods	Pick up or drop off by arrangement	San Lorenzo Valley, North Coast, Scotts Valley, Los Gatos
Salvation Army 214 Union St Watsonville CA 95076 831-724-3922	Food distribution, congregate feeding	Fresh produce, fresh refrigerated grocery, frozen grocery, baked goods, shelf-stable non-perishable foods, frozen prepared foods, cold prepared foods, hot prepared foods	Pick up or drop off by arrangement	Watsonville
American Legion Post 64 846 Front St Santa Cruz CA 95060 831-566-7615	Food distribution, food pantry, congregate feeding	Fresh produce, fresh refrigerated grocery, baked goods, shelf-stable non-perishable foods, cold prepared foods, frozen prepared foods	Pick up or drop off by arrangement	Santa Cruz and Watsonville
UVC-VMPP Veterans Meal Serve 846 Front Street Santa Cruz CA 95060 831-426-3609	Food pantry, congregate feeding	Fresh produce, fresh refrigerated grocery, frozen grocery, baked goods, shelf-stable non-perishable foods, cold prepared foods, frozen prepared foods, hot prepared foods	Pick up or drop off by arrangement	Santa Cruz, Soquel, Watsonville
Martha’s Kitchen 112 E Beach St Watsonville CA 95076 408-293-6111	Congregate feeding	Fresh refrigerated grocery, frozen grocery, baked goods, shelf-stable non-perishable foods	Pick up or drop off by arrangement	Santa Cruz, Watsonville
Salvation Army 721 Laurel Street Santa Cruz CA 95060 831-426-8365	Food distribution	Fresh produce, fresh refrigerated grocery, baked goods, shelf-stable non-perishable foods	Pick up or drop off by arrangement	Santa Cruz
Encompass Community Services - Si Se Puede 106 Maple St Watsonville CA 95076 831-761-5422	Congregate feeding	Fresh refrigerated grocery, baked goods, shelf-stable non-perishable foods	Pick up or drop off by arrangement	Watsonville
Gateway Bible Church 5000 Grantie Creek Rd. Scotts Valley CA 95066 831-438-0646	Food distribution	Fresh produce, fresh refrigerated grocery, baked goods, shelf-stable non-perishable foods	Pick up or drop off by arrangement	Scotts Valley
Tradewinds Church 280 State Park Dr Aptos CA 95003 831-788-7233	Food distribution	Grocery items, produce and prepared food.	Pick up or drop off by arrangement	Scotts Valley, Soquel, Aptos
Hope Church 4525 Soquel Dr Soquel CA 95073 831-288-3053	Food distribution	Grocery items, produce and prepared food.	Pick up or drop off by arrangement	Watsonville
Walnut Ave. Family Women’s Center 303 Walnut Ave Santa Cruz CA 95060 831-426-3062	Food pantry	Fresh produce, fresh refrigerated grocery, baked goods, shelf-stable non-perishable foods	Pick up or drop off by arrangement	Santa Cruz
St. Francis Soup Kitchen 205 Mora St Santa Cruz CA 95060 831-459-6712	Congregate feeding	Fresh produce, fresh refrigerated grocery, baked goods, shelf-stable non-perishable foods, cold prepared foods, frozen prepared foods	Pick up or drop off by arrangement	Santa Cruz
Harbor Light Church 2008 17th Ave Santa Cruz CA 95062 831-345-9644	Food pantry	Fresh produce, fresh refrigerated grocery, baked goods, shelf-stable non-perishable foods	Pick up or drop off by arrangement	Santa Cruz
Shorelife Community Church 875 Monterey Ave Capitola CA 95010 831-462-7490	Congregate feeding	Fresh produce, frozen grocery, baked goods, shelf-stable non-perishable foods	Pick up or drop off by arrangement	Mid County
Community Connection 300 Harvey West Blvd Santa Cruz CA 95060 831-425-8132	Food distribution	Fresh produce, baked goods, shelf-stable non-perishable foods	Pick up or drop off by arrangement	Countywide
UCSC Redwood Free Market Rachel Carson Café A270 1156 High St Santa Cruz CA 95064	Food pantry	Fresh refrigerated grocery, frozen grocery, baked goods, shelf-stable non-perishable foods, cold prepared foods	Pick up or drop off by arrangement	Santa Cruz, UCSC Students and Graduate Students
Santa Cruz Bible Church 444 Frederick St Santa Cruz CA 95062 831-429-1162	Food pantry, food distribution	Fresh produce, frozen grocery, baked goods, shelf-stable non-perishable foods	Pick up or drop off by arrangement	Santa Cruz