FoodBank Blog Archive

What’s New at the Warehouse?

Published: May 16, 2012

There is always so much going on here that it’s hard to keep up! However, we’re really excited to tell you about two recent events that we’re really excited about.

Easy Being Green

As the nations’ second oldest food bank, Second Harvest has long been focused on putting community surpluses to good use, rather than going to waste. The food bank is proud to now be a certified Monterey Bay Area Green Business.

Going green was an easy choice, not just because our children deserve a healthy environment, but as a nonprofit business, we rely on careful stewardship of resources to maximize the service we can offer our low-income clients. With Second Harvest’s green business certification and new facility, we’re creating a healthy community in more ways than one. Our energy conservation and solar array means we can provide an additional 60,000 meals a month to our neighbors in need.

Second Harvest team proudly displays green certification

Second Harvest Food Bank is proud to be a certified green business and we appreciate the support received along the way from volunteers, donors, staff, Community Foundation Santa Cruz County and the Monterey Bay Area Green Business Program.

Produce Mobile

Watsonville residents saw the debut of a former beverage truck transformed into a hunger fighting produce mobile. The new tractor and rig rolled in to greet participants of the Don Bosco Passion For Produce program. With 16 roll-up bays to show off different fresh fruits and vegetables and overhead awnings, the truck acts as a farmer’s market on wheels. The new vehicle means the driver and site volunteers save time setting up and can assist clients as they gather the food that often acts as a family’s lifeline until the first of the month or until employment returns.

Produce mobile at Don Bosco in Watsonville

On a recent day, over 225 families turned out for the program, where they received nutritious food they might not otherwise afford while learning about how to cook, eat, and live healthier. After hearing a presentation on protein and healthy fats, participants tasted a tangy citrus dressing to go with a crisp spring salad mix. Making their way around the produce mobile, they received bags that included the salad ingredients along with extra helpings of pears, sweet potatoes, pears, citrus, greens, and mushrooms. Residents were also treated to juice courtesy of Martinelli’s and energy saving light bulbs from PG&E.

Sister Silvia Castillo visiting with community members

The new truck saves lots of unloading time and meant that volunteers had more time to offer nutrition tips or recipe suggestions to residents filling their bags. As she shepherded the crowd through the line, the church’s Sister Silvia Castillo told us the new truck, “keeps (the food distribution) very orderly and helps the line move even faster. We pray for those that bring this food, these blessings to us, for which we are so grateful.”

World’s Biggest Garage Sale Raises Over 68,000 Pounds

Published: May 15, 2012

The World’s Biggest Garage Sale, held at Twin Lakes Church in Aptos on May 5th, was a huge success! Now in its second year, the event raised $22,700. Since Second Harvest can purchase three pounds of food for every dollar raised, that’s 68,100 pounds of food! With a few donations still coming in, it looks like they’ll easily reach 70,000 pounds.

World's Biggest Garage Sale at Twin Lakes Church

Thanks to all the Twin Lakes Church volunteers and to everyone in the community that either donated or purchased items—or both! Special thanks to Gwenda Baker and Laurie Schlaepfer for all of their hard work.

Plantronics Drives In 116,160 Meals

Published: May 10, 2012

Plantronics employees raised $29,040 for Second Harvest on Wednesday through their participation in The Intelligence Project sponsored by Lincoln, which offered a $40 donation for every employee willing to test drive a new Lincoln.

The car company set up in the parking lot off Encinal Street behind Plantronics’ Santa Cruz headquarters. By the end of the day 242 employees made their way out to take a test drive.

Bly Morales and Lisa Allyn, Second Harvest Food Drives and Events Team

Plantronics and an anonymous donor within the company each pledged a $40 match, which turned Lincoln’s $40 match into $120 for each test drive. Since Second Harvest can provide four meals for every dollar raised, this donation will ultimately provide 116,160 meals to people in need throughout Santa Cruz County.

Thanks to all the employees who participated in the test drive and to Plantronics and the anonymous donor for the generous matches. They made the most out of a great opportunity to help our community and we think that’s really smart!

Help Postal Workers Stamp Out Hunger on May 12th

Published: May 9, 2012

Second Harvest is joining forces with the National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC) to help Stamp Out Hunger in Santa Cruz County. Now in its 20^th year, the annual food drive is a nationwide effort that provides assistance to millions of Americans struggling to put food on the table. In 2011, 70.2 million pounds of food were raised!

You can help by leaving a sturdy bag of non-perishable foods next to your mailbox prior to the time of regular mail delivery on Saturday, May 12th. Canned soups and stews, vegetables, protein such as tuna and peanut butter, pasta, beans, rice and cereal are good items to include.

Local letter carriers will collect these food donations as they deliver the mail and econd Harvest will distribute the food through our network of 200 agencies and programs across Santa Cruz County.

“In 2011 our county alone raised over 42,000 pounds of food during Stamp Out Hunger and we’re asking everyone to pitch in to make this year an even greater success,” said Danny Keith, Chief Development & Technology Officer of Second Harvest Food Bank.

Danny Keith visits with letter carriers at the Aptos Post Office

The need for food assistance continues to exist in every community in America. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s annual study measuring food security in the United States, the number of Americans living in food insecure homes reached nearly 49 million in 2011. Perhaps most alarming is the fact that more than 16 million children in America—more than one in five—are faced with the prospect of hunger. Here in Santa Cruz County the number is one in four.

More information

Nutrition Educator & Chef Offers Fresh Ideas

Published: April 26, 2012

One of the nice things about having new people on staff is the creative ideas they bring to our efforts to encourage people to eat healthy. Although nutrition related information doesn’t vary all that much—what’s good for you is good for you—fresh twists on preparing seasonal produce are worth their weight in rutabaga.

We recently spoke to Adriana Sierra who started volunteering at Second Harvest when her daughter, Angelica, had an internship here. She works part time here now and also maintains a business as a personal chef focused on clients with restricted diets or health concerns.

Adriana leads a class for parents at Starlight Elementary School in Watsonville

Adriana explains that she gets people to expand the variety of foods they eat by having them try recipes from different cultures that share a common ingredient with their own. “For example, cumin is a popular seasoning in both Latin and Middle Eastern cuisines. I use that familiar flavor to get people to try different preparations.”

Looking over the produce

“I’m always looking for new ideas and recipes,” Adriana says. “Whenever I travel, I take a cooking class.”

You have to be inventive when your job involves coming into the food bank in the morning, seeing what kind of produce is going to be distributed through our agencies, and figuring out a recipe that’s quick and easy to prepare (that can be presented on-site that same day under a variety of conditions!). Our Nutrition Programs group does that every week.

“I tell people to try a new vegetable every week. Buy a small amount and look for a recipe on the Internet.”

Check out some of the healthy and delicious recipes our Nutrition Educators have been cooking up lately.

Find out more about our Passion For Produce program.

Rotary Interact Club Raises 19,850 Pounds

Published: April 18, 2012

Santa Cruz County Rotary Interact Clubs raised 19,850 pounds of food and funds during their 10+10 food drive at local groceries. That’s up 6,622 pounds from 2011 and well over their stated goal of raising 10,000 pounds in 30 days!

The Interact Club is an affiliate of Rotary International for youths ranging in age from 12 to 18. Rotary is a service club organization with the motto, “Service Above Self.” The volunteers work to combat hunger, provide education, improve health and promote peace.

Rotary Interact members at New Leaf Market in Capitola

The majority of food and funds raised came during the Rotary Interact Store Drive on April 2^nd. Club members collected donations from shoppers at New Leaf Community Markets in Capitola and Santa Cruz, Deluxe Foods in Aptos, and the Mi Pueblo and SaveMart stores in Watsonville.

Thanks to all the club members who worked so hard to exceed their goal, the grocery stores for their support, and all the community members who made a donation.

All food and funds raised go toward Second Harvest’s Food For Children program, which helps local families by providing fresh fruit and vegetables as well as staple foods at more than 50 locations throughout Santa Cruz County.

CAFB Legislative Day 2012

Published: April 17, 2012

An enthusiastic group attended the California Association of Food Banks (CAFB) Legislative Day on April 11, 2012 in Sacramento, including several representatives from Second Harvest. All together, there were 48 representatives from 41 California food banks there to advocate for the approval of AB828, AB1560, SB970 and SB1391, and to voice their opposition to Governor Brown’s proposed cuts to the needy.

Lee Hulquist, Prog. Mgr., Food Bank for Monterey County; Teresa Moran, Nutrition Prog. Mgr., SHFB; Assemblymember Bill Monning; Bob Cadwalader, SHFB volunteer; Joel Campos, SHFB Sr. Mgr., Outreach & Educ.

• AB828 requires California to opt out of the lifetime federal ban from SNAP benefits for persons convicted of a felony involving controlled substances.

• AB1560 seeks to align Medi-Cal and nutrition assistance by removing the CalFresh gross income test for Medi-Cal recipients and their families, and ensuring that children in those households are certified for free school meals.

• SB970 allows online health coverage application information to be used for simultaneous CalFresh or CalWORKs applications, and for uninsured CalFresh recipients to be enrolled into health coverage.

• SB1391 establishes a statewide cost-effective threshold for collecting CalFresh overissuances when overissuance is due to administrative error.

The group received a warm welcome when they visited the offices of State Assemblymembers Bill Monning and Luis Alejo, and State Senators Sam Blakeslee and Joe Simidian. Bob Cadwalder, a policy and advocate volunteer at Second Harvest, attributes this to the positive relationship the advocacy group has built with these government officials.

Lee Hulquist, Prog. Mgr., Food Bank for Monterey County; Joel Campos, SHFB Sr. Mgr., Outreach & Educ.; Assemblymember Luis Alejo; Teresa Moran, Nutrition Prog. Mgr., SHFB; Bob Cadwalader, SHFB volunteer

“Our enthusiasm is the key,” he says. “CAFB has a reputation among those we visit of supporting bills near and dear to our elected officials and that makes them willing to share their opinions regarding the bills and their hopes and concerns regarding the state budget.”

Bob says that Legislative Day was not only successful in this manner but also in terms of good friends meeting and encouraging one another.

About CAFB

CAFB was founded in 1995 to promote collaboration in response to emerging social, economic and legislative challenges impacting hungry people throughout California.

To accomplish their mission, they focus on providing support to a membership of 41 food banks, increasing the visibility of hunger and its solutions, sharing food resources and influencing public policy. CAFB develops and advocates positions at the federal, state, and local level on behalf of its member agencies and the low-income people they serve.

View more information on the bills supported by CAFB.

Volunteers Make A Difference

Published: April 12, 2012

Second Harvest’s Volunteer Appreciation Luncheon was held Friday, March 30^th at the Watsonville Elks Club. This annual event gives us a chance to acknowledge the dedication and hard work of our many volunteers and it’s something we look forward to it every year.

Erika Flores, Hotline Outreach Coord., Crystal Moran, volunteer, Teresa Moran, Nutrition Programs Mgr., Rosario Valerio, Nutrition Programs Specialist

After Willy Elliott-McCrea welcomed and thanked the attendees for their invaluable contributions to the community, several staff members from the food bank talked about the accomplishments of the fourteen different groups represented at the event.

Joel Campos, Sr. Mgr. Outreach & Education, Rebecca Henderson, Agency Relations Mgr., Willy Elliott-McCrea, CEO

On average, we have 15-20 volunteers at the food bank every day and many others working out in the community. In a typical year, approximately 55,000 hours volunteer hours are donated to Second Harvest. To date, we have had an incredible 40,000 hours donated.

Volunteers help us do everything from sorting donated food and packing USDA bags, to tabling events and holding food drives. They advocate and teach, manage food distributions, provide administrative assistance, and serve on our board. They are the reason we have been able to grow successful programs such as Passion For Produce and Food For Children.

Last week, a group of volunteers from Target packed 1,800 USDA bags, which equals 18,000 pounds of food!

Volunteers from Target pack USDA bags

Our volunteers enable us to reach and help more people than we could ever do on our own. We are truly thankful for their energy and enthusiasm. They are making their communities stronger and healthier and inspire us every day.

Get involved

Mesa Verde Gardens Keep Growing

Published: April 10, 2012

More families, more acreage, and more fresh healthy food!

Mesa Verde Gardens is growing by leaps and bounds, empowering low-income residents in Santa Cruz County to grow their own pesticide-free fresh fruits and vegetables in community gardens throughout Watsonville.

Giant carrot!

Founded by Ana Rasmussen, Mesa Verde Gardens helps low-income people improve their health and lower food costs with their own year-round organic edible gardens. Two programs are currently available.

Teamwork

Early Childhood Gardens
The Early Childhood Gardens project gives low-income preschoolers access to fresh, organic produce and the opportunity to learn about plants, life and health in an outdoor organic garden.

Children plant seeds, learn about the garden, watch their crops grow, and harvest and eat the food they’ve grown—making a lasting connection that will have a positive effect on their health and quality of life.

Scott in the classroom with kids

Twice a month, Scott Ferreter, a bilingual garden educator, visits each pre-school to teach the kids about nutrition. His creative hands-on approach, incorporating art, music and puppet shows is perfect for little gardeners. Lately, they’ve been focusing on the healthy aspects of edible plants.

Community Gardens
The Community Gardens project offers low-income families the opportunity to grow their own fruits and vegetables in shared garden space at three locations in Watsonville. There are 90 14’ x 12’ family plots all together. Each family pays $5/month for the use of an individual garden plot.

On a recent weekend, gardeners gathered to get the plots ready for planting.

Anna helps section off planting areas

Mesa Verde Gardens also has a 1/8 acre Sustainable Agriculture Demonstration Garden, adjacent to the Community Garden at All Saints Episcopal Church. In 2011, all produce was donated to the Pajaro Valley Loaves and Fishes food pantry. In 2012, they are growing crops specifically requested by Loaves and Fishes staff for use in their daily lunch program.

Thanks to Sierra Azul Nursery and Gardens for donating space in their greenhouses. They are currently caring for 2,000 tomato plants and 1500 pepper plants started from seed until they can be moved outdoors.

Seedlings

Special thanks to local farmer, Diane Cooley, for donating the use of her tractor and employees’ time to till the fields each Spring and Fall.

Thanks also to the Pajaro Valley Community Trust for their funding.

To everyone who has volunteered time and/or made a donation, thank you.

Help Mesa Verde Gardens continue to grow by volunteering or making a donation.

National Agriculture Day

Published: March 27, 2012

“Health Grows Here” was the theme for this year’s National Agriculture Day Spring Luncheon on March 21^st at the Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds. This annual event, organized by the Santa Cruz County Farm Bureau and Agri-Culture, is a celebration of the area’s farming legacy and the abundance of healthy foods grown here on the Central Coast.

Willy Elliott-McCrea, CEO, Second Harvest Food Bank

Guest speaker, Second Harvest CEO, Willy Elliott-McCrea, talked about the importance of teaching people to eat more fruits and vegetables and less processed foods in order to maintain good health.

“The rate of obesity and diabetes has more than tripled for children aged 6-11 in the last 30 years,” he explained. “You can now buy 2000 calories in a 2-liter bottle of soda for 69 cents. In 2011, healthcare costs in America, driven by nutrition-related disease, set a record $2.6Trillion. Everyone is paying the price as these costs continue to skyrocket.”

Willy encouraged everyone in the room to work together to ensure that all children have access to healthy food so they can thrive and become successful contributing members of their communities.

That’s what our Passion For Produce and other nutrition programs are all about. Second Harvest has trained 200 Nutrition Ambassadors to manage nutrition workshops and produce distributions at 20 sites throughout Santa Cruz County. This volunteer program empowers people with the education and tools to help themselves and their communities be healthier.

Two thirds of all the food we distribute, five million pounds a year, is farm-fresh fruits and vegetables from our partners in agriculture. Our strategy for staying healthy is a simple back-to-basics approach based on the following:

Drink water and milk, not soda
Fill half your plate with fruits & vegetables
Eat more lean proteins and whole grains
Take a walk every day and save sweets for special occasions

Anti-Hunger Advocates Gather in Washington

Published: March 14, 2012

Joel Campos, Senior Manager of Outreach and Education at Second Harvest attended the National Anti-Hunger Policy Conference held February 26-28th in Washington D.C.

He was one of more than 800 anti-hunger and anti-poverty advocates, federal, state and local government officials, child advocates, representatives of food banks and food rescue organizations, and nutrition and anti-obesity groups that participated in three days of training, networking and Capitol Hill advocacy.

L-R, Vicki Escarra, Feeding American National CEO, Joel Campos, Congressman Sam Farr, Sue Sigler, CA Association of Food Banks Executive Director

This annual conference is co-sponsored by Feeding America and FRAC (Food Research and Action Center). It provides an opportunity for participants from around the country to share information and learn how to strengthen the quality and reach of federal nutrition programs, learn best outreach and program practices from other states and localities, fill in the gaps in food service for millions of low-income children, and identify creative ideas for new and innovative approaches to ending hunger.

Members of Congress, Hill staff and key Administration officials attend the conference, provide comments as part of plenary sessions and panels, and join participants at receptions and special events.

Priorities for advocates this year include ensuring there will be no further reductions to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP).

“The proposed cuts to these programs and others like them will reduce benefits for families at a time when the working poor are struggling to put food on the table,” says Campos. “We need to let our legislators know that these programs are critical to helping people stay healthy during these difficult economic times.”

What is SNAP and why is it important?
Formerly known as Food Stamps, SNAP helps put food on the table for more than 46 million people each month. Benefits are responsive, targeted, and temporary. The average household has an income of only 57% of the federal poverty guideline and 84% of all benefits go to households with a child, senior or disabled person. SNAP has proven to be one of the most responsive and efficient safety net programs with an accuracy rate of over 96%. With hunger, unemployment, and economic hardship affecting so many Americans, SNAP is more important than ever.

What is TEFAP and why is it important?
TFAP provides food at no cost to low-income Americans in need of short-term hunger relief through organizations like food banks and pantries. Nutritious TEFAP foods are an essential resource for local emergency food providers (such as Second Harvest), which combine government commodities with privately donated foods to maximize TEFAP benefits far beyond the budgeted amount for the program.

In addition to SNAP and TFAP, there are several other nutrition assistance programs focused on women, infants and children and the elderly that need support.

To learn more:
Food Research and Action Center (FRAC)
FRAC is the leading national nonprofit organization working to improve public policies and public-private partnerships to eradicate hunger and under-nutrition in the U.S.

Feeding America
Second Harvest Food Bank Santa Cruz County is one of over 200 food banks in the U.S. working in partnership with Feeding America to distribute food in their communities.

Annual Awards Celebrate Hunger Fighters

Published: March 13, 2012

The Annual Awards Dinner on March 7th gave us a chance to thank the community for their tremendous efforts to help the less fortunate. As you know, we raised over 2.7 million pounds of food during the 2011 Holiday Food Drive. With a 38 percent increase in the number of people needing emergency food assistance since 2008, every can and every dollar donated is making a difference in someone’s life.

The event took place at the Santa Cruz Business Park on Mission Street, which was donated for our use by Ow Properties. Our amazing decorating crew transformed the space with tables decorated in green, black and white. The centerpieces were oversized glass vases filled with fresh green apples.

We were happy so many people could attend: local school kids, organizations and businesses as well as long-time friends and supporters. One of the best things about working at Second Harvest is that we get to interact with so many people, from pre-school aged kids to retired folks, everyone can make a contribution.

Dinner is served

After guests had a chance to fill their plates at the buffet with the healthy and delicious food served up by Conscious Creations of Santa Cruz, the program began.

Don Lane, Mayor of Santa Cruz with 2012 Hunger Fighter, Bob Montague

In honor of their committed volunteerism the 2012 Hunger Fighters, Michelle Boisen of Soquel Creek Water District and Bob Montague of Pajaro Valley Loaves and Fishes, received proclamations from the cities of Santa Cruz, Capitola, Watsonville, and Scotts Valley, as well as the offices of Congressman Sam Farr, Congresswoman Ann Eshoo, State Senators Joe Simitian and Sam Blakeslee, and State Assembly Members Bill Monning and Luis Alejo.

The Holiday Food Drive Awards were presented by Willy Elliott-McCrea, Chief Executive Office of Second Harvest and Danny Keith, Chief Development and Technology Officer. You can view the entire awards/sponsors list here.

Rene Schlaepfer looks on as Ryan Coonerty passes baton to Pat Wadors

Having served as Holiday Food Drive co-chair for two years, Ryan Coonerty, Santa Cruz Council Member, passed the baton to incoming co-chair, Plantronics, Inc., with Pat Wadors, Senior Vice President of Human Resources accepting on behalf of CEO, Ken Kannapan. Ken will co-chair the 2012 Holiday Food Drive with Rene Schlaepfer of Twin Lakes Church.

Willy Elliott-McCrea closed the evening by saying, “Hunger is more than a moral issue, it erodes the very fabric of our community. I want to thank each and every one of you for your unwavering dedication to doing whatever it takes to build a strong community.”

Through our network of 200 local agencies and programs and their 3,000 volunteers we serve 55,000 Santa Cruz County residents every month. Thank you for making this possible.

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