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 50 schools, churches, 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.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a_ovu_EQO-8&feature=player_embedded[/youtube]

The problem of hunger threatens our youth

Child hunger is a growing problem in Santa Cruz County. Since 2001, the number of households reporting that their children have skipped meals or experienced hunger in the past 12 months has more than tripled. School-aged children who experience hunger generally miss school 50% more often than those who have enough to eat. If 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. Read an overview about this program. Watch a long version of the video, or click here for a short version.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g40Fm0lzgfY&feature=player_embedded[/youtube]

Click here for a list of Food For Children distribution sites. Call our Community Food Hotline at (831) 662-0991 to receive a referral to your nearest site.