We distribute food through over 100 partner agencies and non-profits on the ground throughout Santa Cruz County. These recovery centers, assisted living homes, pantries, after-school programs, and more reach people in need, know their clients, and provide them with food from Second Harvest so that no one has to face life’s biggest challenges on an empty stomach.
Interested in Becoming a Member Agency?
If your organization, agency, or program serves members of the community in need of healthy food, and meets our requirements, you can apply to become a Member Agency. Member Agencies (Partner Agencies) can shop at our Distribution Center to obtain healthy food and fresh produce for their clients.
Our Partner Agencies
See who’s feeding hope in the community
All Saints Episcopal Church
American Legion/Veteran’s Memorial Building
Assisted Living Project
Associated Faith Communities
Bay Avenue Senior Apartments
Big Brothers Big Sisters
Boys and Girls Club
Bright Path Day Program
Calvary Episcopal Church
Casa de la Cultura
Casa Pacific—Encompass
Child Evangelism Fellowship
Christmas Project
Community Bridges
Cornerstone Food Pantry
County of S.C. Parks & Rec.
Davenport Resource Center
Digital Nest
Discoveryland Christian Preschool
Downtown Streets Team
El Dorado Center—Encompass
Fasting Prayer Mtn. of World
First United Methodist Church—Watsonville
Food Not Bombs
Freedom Roads Food Pantry
Grey Bears
Harbor Light Gospel Tabernacle
Haven of Hope—Halcyon House
Holy Cross
Homeless Services Center
Hope Church
Hope Ministry
Iglesia Adventista Hispana
Iglesia De Cristo
Iglesia de Dios
Iglesia Roca Firme
Inner Light Pantry
Jacob’s Heart
Janus of Santa Cruz
LIUNA Local 270
Lutheran Community Church
Mid Peninsula Housing Services
Monarch Services
Monterey Bay Teen Challenge
Mountain Bible Church
Mountain Community Resource Center
Neighbors Helping Neighbors
New Life Center
Nueva Vista Community Resources
Oratorio Don Bosco
Pajaro Rescue Mission
Pajaro Valley Loaves & Fishes
Pajaro Valley Shelter Services
People’s Pantry
Progressive Baptist Church
Resetar Hotel—Abode Services
Resurrection Church Pantry
River Street Shelter—Encompass
Salud Para La Gente
Salvation Army—Santa Cruz
Salvation Army—Watsonville
San Agustin Pantry
Santa Cruz Aids Project—Encompass
Santa Cruz Bible Church
Santa Cruz Resid. Recovery—Encompass
Santa Cruz Women’s Health Center
SC Volunteer Center – Community Connection
Second Story—Encompass
Shorelife Community Church
Si Se Puede—Encompass
St. Francis Soup Kitchen
St. Philips Food Pantry
Star of the Sea
Teen Kitchen Project
Telos Encompass
Transitional Aged Youth- Encompass
Tyler House—Encompass
UCSC Family Student Housing
UCSC Slug Support Pantry
UCSC Student Union Assembly Pantry
Valley Churches United Mission
Walnut Avenue Family and Women’s Center
Watsonville Environmental Science Workshop
Watsonville SDA Food Pantry
Watsonville Wetlands Watch
Watsonville Works
Westview Presbyterian Church
YMCA Camp Campbell
Youth N.O.W.
YWCA Childcare
Partner Agency Spotlight
- Agency Spotlight–Youth N.O.W.
What is the best way for a hungry student to focus on studying and class activities?
It’s a trick question. Studying, learning, and even paying attention are all next to impossible when you’re hungry or lacking in nutrients.
That’s why Youth N.O.W., one of Second Harvest’s hundred partner agencies, makes healthy snacks available to all the students in their program.
Youth N.O.W., in Watsonville, is an after-school student center that provides no-cost tutoring and academic support in a safe social environment for middle and high school youth. Academic services include individualized tutoring, homework help, independent study, school project resources, computer labs, and more. Enrichment classes, clubs, sports clinics, and evening social events make up their social programs.
And the healthy food provided by Second Harvest Food Bank rounds out the organization’s offerings.
“One of the first things our students do when they arrive at our center is to grab a snack,” Jenna Rodriguez, Director of Operations, said. “Sometimes students will even drop by during their lunch hour to grab a quick snack like a granola bar or an apple.”
Youth N.O.W. recognizes that all the academic support in the world can’t help a struggling student if she’s hungry or lacking in nutrition. And research shows that childhood hunger and malnutrition greatly increase the risk of developmental problems down the road.
So thanks to Youth N.O.W.’s partnership with Second Harvest, the children they serve can fuel up on healthy snacks before delving in to the work and study that will open up a lifetime of opportunities in the years ahead.