Food For Children Program

The problem of hunger threatens tomorrow’s youth

Child hunger is a growing problem in Santa Cruz and San Benito Counties. Since 2001, the number of households reporting that their children have skipped meals or experienced hunger in the past 12 months has more tripled. School-aged children who experience hunger generally miss school 50% more often than those who have enough to eat. If these children are malnourished for the first six months of their lives, their physical and mental development may fall behind other children by as much as two years.

Food For Children helps nourish our most precious resource

To help reduce the burden of childhood hunger in our community, Second Harvest operates the Food For Children program in 26 schools and low-income housing areas throughout our service area. The program provides child-friendly food from the USDA commodities program, plus healthy food that is either purchased or donated.

Click here for a list of Food For Children distribution sites and schedule.