Food Bank News

We've Moved Our Blog!

2010-07-22T14:06:00.000-07:00

The Second Harvest Food Bank blog is now hosted at http://blog.shfb.org. We will no longer be updating this one, so please update your bookmarks and news feeds! Our new feed address is http://blog.shfb.org/index.php/feed/.

From Fraud to Food: Cisco Systems Auction Provides over 69,000 Meals!

2010-06-15T10:39:00.000-07:00

When Cisco’s Governance Risk and Controls group received a 2006 Range Rover HSE Sport Wagon as part of a court settlement, they decided to auction the car and turn the proceeds over to Second Harvest.

“With just over 23,000 miles and still under factory warranty, we knew the vehicle would sell for a significant amount,” said Jeff Bonham, senior manager, Service Abuse Investigations. “We decided that the proceeds from the auction would better serve the community. Our group was familiar with Second Harvest from previous volunteering events at their facility and it made sense to have the auction benefit the Food Bank.”

An internal website was launched, followed by email promotions and Cisco signage promoting the auction to U.S. based Cisco employees. At the close of the auction, a lucky Cisco employee drove away with a great vehicle, and the Food Bank received a donation for the full winning bid amount of $34,600.

"The proceeds from the auction come at a critical time for Second Harvest," says Van Dang, vice president, Legal Counsel, and Second Harvest Food Bank board member. "Donations from Cisco and our employees provide a tremendous opportunity for those in need, especially at a time when so many are struggling to provide for their families.”

The funds will go towards the Food Bank’s Share Your Lunch summer campaign that aims to feed 85,000 children a month this summer. During the school year, children from low-income families receive free and reduced price breakfast and lunches through their school’s nutrition program. When school is out for the summer, these meals are not available and these children are at an increased risk for hunger as their parents struggle to stretch already tight budgets even farther.

“Providing nutrition for children during the summer months is a necessity,” says Marguerite Lee, Corporate Community Relations Manager for Cisco. “Keeping them healthy and prepared for the school year is key to their academic achievement and sets them up for future success.”

Pictured from left to right: Jeff Bonham (Cisco), Tami Cardenas (Second Harvest), Tim Walker (Cisco) and Marguerite Lee (Cisco).

Defense Authorization Bill Includes Support for Child Nutrition Programs

2010-06-07T16:44:00.000-07:00

Last Thursday, the House voted on an amendment to the Defense Authorization Bill. The amendment, sponsored by McGovern (D-MA), Emerson (R-MO), Bishop (D-GA), includes a “Sense of Congress” stating that hunger and obesity are impairing military recruitment and must be properly addressed by fully funding Child Nutrition Programs.

An encouraging 341 members voted to support the amendment, with only 85 voting against.

The Defense bill does not appropriate funding to the Child Nutrition Act, but it stands as a record that Congress feels that child nutrition programs should allocate an additional $10 billion over the next ten years, as requested by President Obama.

The “Sense of the Congress” amendment says “reducing domestic childhood obesity and hunger is a matter of national security. The federal Child Nutrition Programs under the Richard Russell National School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1751 et seq.) and the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 1771 et seq.) should be funded at the President’s request; and the increases in funding for such programs should be properly offset.”

In a Washington Post article, two retired US Army Generals explain their position:

Military concerns about the fitness of our children are not new. When the National School Lunch Act was first passed in 1946, it was seen as a matter of national security. Many of our military leaders recognized that poor nutrition was a significant factor reducing the pool of qualified candidates for service.

Our country is facing another serious health crisis. Obesity rates threaten the overall health of America and the future strength of our military. We must act, as we did after World War II, to ensure that our children can one day defend our country, if need be.

Over the past month, 221 members of Congress have already sent a letter to Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Ca.) supporting President Obama’s request for an increase of $1 billion a year for the Child Nutrition Programs.

Thank you to the many of you who joined Second Harvest Food Bank of Santa Clara and San Mateo Counties and food banks throughout California in a postcard campaign sending the same message. This is a down payment toward achieving President Obama’s goal of ending childhood hunger by 2015.

We will keep you posted as things progress on the Child Nutrition Reauthorization Act.

Elaine's story: Pantry client turned volunteer

2010-05-26T14:03:00.000-07:00

Elaine at her volunteer station

As a client of Second Harvest Food Bank's Family Harvest program, Elaine shares the food she receives with her 14-year old son. When the opportunity arose to help out, she jumped at the chance and started volunteering at the Family Harvest distribution site in Pacifica.

“The Pacifica Resource Center has helped me so much that it just felt right to give back.”

“I’ve seen lots of families with well-standing jobs and I see the pain in their eyes when they come here. If I can help comfort them through this, then I feel good.” Elaine works the bread table during the Family Harvest distribution.

Recovering from drug and alcohol use, Elaine had been working as both a house cleaner and caterer to make ends meet. Unfortunately, she suffered a back injury while cleaning, and relapsed. During this difficult time and against the odds, Elaine found the strength to face the reality of her situation. The idea of asking for help was difficult, but as she says, “I had to bite the bullet. In my family, we were brought up not to ask, but the Resource Center was so wonderful. I love them. They made it easy.”

Elaine looks forward to the protein items such as chicken, cheese, and eggs. “We don’t always get it, but when we do, it’s so great. The milk is wonderful!” The fresh fruits and vegetables have allowed her to become more creative when cooking meals.

“Just knowing that Family Harvest is there. That the P.R.C. is there. Just knowing that they exist is a relief. I look forward to every month’s distribution because I know I can hold out ‘til then and if I was in a tough spot, I could go to the P.R.C. pantry.”

She knows it means a lot to the other families, too. She sees them waiting in line, looking stressed and nervous, and then leave in smiles. She sees these distributions as a time to share with her community. “Everyone gets involved. Even the kids! And everyone, you can tell, is just so thankful to get that food.”

Get Food | Volunteer | Donate

A young client shares a moment with a volunteer at the Pacifica distribution.

The Pacifica Resource Center is one of 316 non-profit agencies taking part in Second Harvest Food Bank's Food Assistance Program (FAP).

Second Harvest Food Bank of Santa Clara and San Mateo Counties Rated Among the Top 8% of US Charities

2010-05-17T09:40:00.000-07:00

For the 4th year in a row, Charity Navigator, America’s premier charity evaluator, has awarded Second Harvest Food Bank of Santa Clara and San Mateo Counties a 4-star rating (the highest available) for the organization’s sound fiscal management.

According to Ken Berger, President/CEO of Charity Navigator, "Only 8% of the charities we rate have received at least 4 consecutive 4-star evaluations, indicating that Second Harvest Food Bank consistently executes its mission in a fiscally responsible way and outperforms most charities in America. This exceptional designation from Charity Navigator differentiates Second Harvest Food Bank from its peers and demonstrates to the public it is worthy of their trust."

As the nonprofit sector continues to grow at an unprecedented pace, savvy donors are demanding more accountability, transparency, and quantifiable results from the charities they choose to support with their hard-earned dollars. In this competitive philanthropic marketplace, Charity Navigator highlights the work of efficient charities like Second Harvest Food Bank and provides donors with information needed to give them greater confidence in the charitable choices they make.

“We are incredibly proud to once again receive a 4-star rating from Charity Navigator,” said Kathy Jackson, CEO of Second Harvest. “We are mindful of the trust our supporters place in us when they make a donation and we honor that trust by using donated resources efficiently and effectively in the fight against hunger in Santa Clara and San Mateo Counties.”

Are there even options available for kids to make sensible food choices?

2010-05-13T18:58:00.000-07:00

Health and wellness enthusiast B-Boy Super Inlight reached out to D-Nick The Microphone Misfit to compose a song for the opening of Graffiti and Grub, a natural foods store on the Chicago's South Side. They use Hip Hop culture as a way of inspiring different types of people to eat healthy. B-Boy Super Inlight is part of the World famous Stick and Move Dance Crew representing real H.I.P.H.O.P. (Healthy Independent People Helping Other People).

With a chorus taken from the definition of the word healthy, B-Boy Super Inlight makes an appeal to viewers to stop eating junk food. Maybe we all need to hear that definition again. "Freedom from disease and abnormality" has a nice ring to it, don't you think? The song "Abnormality" is fun, there's some humor in there, and tells it like it is.

Here are a few excerpts:

"If I eat this, it'll put me in a junk mood."

"Eatin' healthy is the first step in disease prevention. It also cuts down on hypertension."

"You wouldn't pay your bills with counterfeit money, so why would you put something counterfeit in your tummy?"

The video ends with the guys heading into the fresh produce section of a grocery store to get some "real" food.

With videos like "Abnormality" and high-profile TV shows like Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution making the rounds, I feel really hopeful that the message is getting to both the parents and the kids. Still, my worry is still that even if the kids want to make the right choices, for many, they just don't have healthy options to choose from.

Every day, low-income people in our communities battle 2 main obstacles in the quest to eat food that will nourish their bodies:

Affordability: $1 can buy a large bag of white rolls, or, maybe 2 apples if you're lucky. ~~Forget about a salad.~~ I stand corrected - you can get a salad on something called a "dollar menu".
Location: Food Deserts are a reality. Without grocery stores, it doesn't matter if you can afford nutrient-dense food because it's just not there.

At the Food Bank, we're pushing hard to deliver healthy options into low-income areas suffering from lack of access. Staff nutritionists ensure clients receive balanced distributions and information on healthful eating.

Our summer fundraising campaign, Share Your Lunch, insures that families with children receive extra food during the summer while school is out, and also funds our Kids NOW weekend food assistance program.

Our goal is to provide healthy options so that kids from low-income families in our community can actually make a choice.

Do you think kids are getting the message about junk food? Do you have ideas to share? What are you doing with your family to give them the tools they need to make the right food decisions?

Summer is the Season of Childhood Hunger

2010-05-05T10:48:00.000-07:00

During the summer, children who normally receive free or reduced-price breakfast and lunch from their schools are at risk of going hungry. According to California Food Policy Advocates, there are 120,524 children in Santa Clara and San Mateo Counties who are eligible for the subsidized school meal program - that's 1 in 5 at risk of hunger.

The Share Your Lunch campaign is committed to collecting food and raising funds that will be used to feed children during the summer months when they do not receive free or reduced-price meals at school.

The Need
The Summer of 2010 will be one of the most difficult seasons for local families to endure. Second Harvest is partnering with the community to help stave off hunger for thousands of children who don't know where their next meal will come from.

The Goals
To meet the increased need, the Share Your Lunch campaign has a fundraising goal of $1 million and collection goal of 100,000 pounds of food. Reaching these goals will provide food to approximately 85,000 children each month this summer.

The Dates
Share Your Lunch officially begins on May 1st and will run through July 31st. Individuals and groups are encouraged to participate in the campaign during this period.

Learn More | Donate Now | Run A Drive

Win Tickets & Backstage Passes to See Tim McGraw!

2010-05-05T10:39:00.000-07:00

From May 3rd through May 22nd, KRTY Radio challenges you to collect as many canned goods to donate to Second Harvest Food Bank in conjunction with Second Harvest’s Share Your Lunch Campaign to help feed the children in our community.

Each can or non-perishable food item gets you closer to a pair of tickets and backstage passes for Tim McGraw!

Start collecting your cans and on Saturday, May 22nd between 12 Noon and 2 PM bring them to the KRTY booth at Safeway on Branham & Snell in San Jose.

The person who donates the most goods will be the winner… but everyone can feel great about making a difference.

Hunger Relief in the Form of California Almonds

2010-04-23T14:21:00.000-07:00

This morning, a truck pulled up at our warehouse with a donation that's about to have a huge impact on our children's programs. The hunger relief organization making the delivery, Give Back 2 God, was founded with the aim of providing nutritious almonds to food banks and disaster-relief groups.

The donation on the truck today was nine pallets of California almonds in 5.5oz bags - that's 99,000 servings!

Almonds are one of the world's healthiest foods, high in protein and Omega 3's, plus a host of essential vitamins and minerals. These packets will make a healthy, easy-to-eat and tasty addition to our Kids NOW bags and other children's snack programs.

Susan Takalo, Director of Programs and Services at Second Harvest, was thrilled to get the news. "We are excited about this unique donation of healthy snacks for children. What is so special is that they are both delicious and in kid-friendly sizes. With so many children experiencing peanut allergies this will allow the Food Bank to provide these protein-rich snacks to thousands of low-income children."

Give Back 2 God is a 501.3c non-profit that was founded by Mike Kooyman, of Madi K’s Almonds, and his childhood friend Scott Brooks, the head coach of the NBA Oklahoma City Thunder basketball team. They are currently distributing over 2 million servings of almonds throughout the country each month.

Stamp Out Hunger on Saturday, May 8th

2010-04-22T16:39:00.000-07:00

Get an e-mail reminder!

The nation’s largest annual food drive to “Stamp Out Hunger” will be conducted Saturday, May 8. On that day, U.S. Postal Service letter carriers will collect non-perishable donations from homes as they deliver mail along their routes.

The annual National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC) Food Drive — held in conjunction with the Postal Service — is the largest one-day food drive in the nation. The effort will help feed families in all 50 states.

“With the commitment and dedication of thousands of letter carriers, rural letter carriers, and postal and community volunteers, plus the involvement of our corporate partners, we will make a difference in helping to feed America’s hungry and surpass the 2009 record of 73.4 million pounds of food collected,” said PMG Jack Potter. “The generosity of our customers and the determination of our employees have never been stronger.”

Donations from this year’s event are expected to push the overall total since the annual drive began 18 years ago to more than 1 billion pounds. The total currently is 982.7 million pounds.

NALC President Fredric Rolando said that as successful as the food drive has been in the past, it must be better this year due to the struggling economy.

“Millions and millions of families are suffering — struggling to make ends meet and put food on the table,” said Rolando. “Food banks, pantries and shelters need our help more than ever this year. As families count on them for support, they’re counting on us and we will not back off on our commitment.”

More than 125 million postcards — designed for the first time by the Postal Service and co-sponsored by the Campbell Soup Company — will be mailed to customers to remind them of the drive.

Other co-sponsors of the drive are the United Way Worldwide and its local United Ways, the AFL-CIO; Valpak; and the National Rural Letter Carriers’ Association.

Visit the Stamp Out Hunger website for more information.

We're increasing access to fresh produce for our low-income neighbors.

2010-04-21T13:29:00.000-07:00

A volunteer bags fresh corn for a Family Harvest distribution.

If you're having trouble making ends meet, chances are, fresh produce is not going to make it to the table.

For so many of our low-income neighbors, including fresh fruits and vegetables in their daily diet is an unaffordable luxury. Chain grocery stores have been moving out of lower-income neighborhoods, also decreasing access to produce. Fortunately, Second Harvest's refrigerated Produce Mobile has rolled into some of our most isolated neighborhoods, driving fresh fruits and vegetables to families in need.

The mobile distribution sites give clients a free farmer's market shopping experience and help families establish life-long, healthy eating habits. By incorporating fresh fruits and vegetables into their daily diet on a regular basis, not just when they can afford them, their bodies can reap the nutritional benefits and make a lasting impact on their health. In addition, children grow up with a taste and desire for fresh foods!

Have you been incorporating more fresh produce into your family's diet? Please share your experience—triumphs as well as difficulties— in the comment field below!

Second Harvest Wins Victory Against Hunger Award for Innovative Anti-Hunger Initiatives

2010-04-20T11:49:00.000-07:00

For outstanding hunger-fighting efforts, Second Harvest Food Bank of Santa Clara and San Mateo Counties was recently selected as a recipient of the Victory Against Hunger Award by the Congressional Hunger Center, Victory Wholesale Group and Feeding America. The selection committee felt that our nomination demonstrated innovative anti-hunger initiatives to assist families and children in our community. The nomination was accompanied with a letter of support from United States Congressman Mike Honda.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has recently reported that 49 million people live in households at risk of hunger. Nearly 17 million of these people are children. The lifeline for these families and children in their daily battle against hunger and poverty are these Food Banks and the many others worthy members of the Feeding America network, stated Ed Cooney, Executive Director of the Congressional Hunger Centers. Established in 1993, the Congressional Hunger Center’s mission is to train and inspire leaders who work to end hunger, and advocate public policies that create a food secure world.

Inspiring national speaker Nancy Amidei to hold free advocacy trainings

2010-04-02T15:22:00.000-07:00

Nancy Amidei

As part of our continued efforts to empower our community, we are pleased to announce free seminars for advocacy training. These seminars will be taught by a longtime ally of ours in the world of public policy, Nancy Amidei.

Ms. Amidei brings a wealth of personal experience to the trainings. She has been involved in social policy from both inside and outside government. She served as Director of the Food Research and Action Center (FRAC - a national anti-hunger group), and she also served in the Carter Administration in the Federal Department of Health, Education, and Welfare. She currently heads up the Civic Engagement Project, a group that offers advocacy training, speeches, and workshops for public policy change at a variety of levels of government. She is an inspiring speaker, and we are excited by this opportunity to benefit from her expertise.

This seminar will be offered three times:

April 19, 6:00-7:30 pm in San Carlos
Second Harvest facility
1051 Bing Street, San Carlos, CA 94070
Light dinner provided

April 20, 12:00-2:00 pm in San Jose
Second Harvest facility
750 Curtner Ave, San Jose, CA 95125
Lunch provided

April 20, 6:00-7:30 pm in San Jose
The Sobrato Center for Non-Profits
1400 Parkmoor Ave, San Jose, CA 95126
Light dinner provided

Goals of the seminar:

Describe how advocacy relates not just to lawmaking, but also to day-to-day experiences
Bring a human face to ongoing issues
Provide insight on successful advocacy strategies
Inform about public policy opportunities and constraints (i.e., when's the right time to push?)
Identify how to take action on hunger and nutrition issues

These seminars are available to all who wish to attend. Registration is on a first-come, first-served basis as space permits. REGISTER NOW

Olivera Egg Ranch and NuCal Foods donate over 100,000 eggs to Second Harvest

2010-03-31T15:08:00.000-07:00

Staff members Christina and Rosanna with Eddie Olivera

With spring blossoming all around, Second Harvest Food Bank welcomed two bountiful egg donations this week.

Today we received a donation of over 84,000 eggs from NuCal Foods, and yesterday Olivera Egg Ranch of San Jose dropped off over 34,000! That's 14 pallets of eggs that will go right out to all of our direct service programs that feed mostly seniors and families with children.

One of our staff nutritionists, Alan Roth, explained that eggs are considered highly nutritious and an excellent protein source, coveted by our clients.

Eggs are one of the most expensive items we buy, and with these donations from Olivera and NuCal, our purchasing department will be able to allocate the money saved towards other foods - and ultimately feed more people.

NuCal Drops off 10 pallets of eggs!

Hunger and Obesity - Understanding the Paradox

2010-03-18T08:07:00.000-07:00

Across the board, the waistline of America is growing. You can see it in every demographic, including those struggling with poverty.

Last month, the results of a national hunger study were released by Feeding America, and we highlighted local statistics on our blog. Around the same time, First Lady Michelle Obama and USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack announced their campaigns against the childhood obesity epidemic, which is tied to food insecurity and poverty. Comparing the overlapping demographics of those who are hungry and those at risk for obesity, people across the nation are starting to ask, "How is this possible? How can someone be hungry and obese at the same time?"

We think this is an excellent question, and hopefully the following will shed some light on the matter.

Many wonder how people in low-income families—often living below the poverty line—seem to be suffering from an excessive intake of calories while struggling to put food on the table. As Lynn Crocker, the Food Bank's director of marketing and communications, is often heard saying, "In America, we don't have famine. We have food insecurity and food insecurity means that a large portion of our population does not have consistent access to a steady supply of healthy, nutritious food."

To sum it up, calories are cheap while nutrient-dense food is not.

FRAC (the Food Research and Action Council) has, for years now, been leading the way in dispelling the debilitating stigma that surrounds this issue. Their research proves an invaluable resource when trying to understand "food insecurity."

One of the most disturbing points they make is how poverty and obesity is cyclical in nature. Discrimination in the fields of education and employment against those who are obese leads to households that are more likely to be poor and food insecure. This highlights the importance of Vilsack and Michelle Obama's focus in this arena.

Studies have shown that children participating in Child Nutrition programs are less likely to be or become obese than those in the same income populations who do not participate because of their access to a regular source of food at school.

On the topic of nutrition in schools, the PTA cited studies that "poor nutrition, even in non-overweight children, can affect brain development and performance in school. Children without proper nutrition may have a shorter attention span, more irritability, and more suspensions." Combined with this, obese children tend to have higher absenteeism rates, the cost of which is higher than just their education. Some public school districts lose millions of dollars in school funding each year to absenteeism. Participating in the School Nutrition Programs has been "shown to improve standardized test scores, improve attendance, decrease tardiness, and improve participation in class." The School Breakfast Program provides students with at least one fourth of the recommended levels for key nutrients, and the School Lunch Program provides one third.

At Second Harvest, we recognized that low-income families need additional food on weekends and so developed the Kids NOW program. Working in partnership with Boys and Girls Clubs in low-income neighborhoods, this program distributes nutritious, easy-to-prepare foods on Friday afternoons. The food helps bridge the gap between lunch on Friday and breakfast Monday morning while children are out of school.

Making sure children in the at-risk populations are receiving consistent, nutritious food will help end the epidemic of obesity caused by food insecurity.

Food insecurity often leads to binge eating in both adults and children, and when finances don't allow for healthy food choices, the menu will be low-cost, high-calorie, and nutrient poor. This diagram of a supermarket helps illustrate the point:

COST PER CALORIE
Fresh produce has the highest cost per calorie, while foods with a high-glycemic index, including bread, pasta, cereal and snacks, cost the least.

CALORIES PER 100 GRAMS
The snack and cereal aisles pack the most calories by weight. A family of four will fill up on these items faster than on what they can buy for the same amount in the produce section.

Describing the reasons behind the correlation between food insecurity and obesity, FRAC includes the "lack of fruit and vegetable consumption due to their higher per calorie cost, lack of availability in low-income areas, and the decreased cost per calorie of added sugar and fats."

FRAC encourages health, nutrition and food programs to recognize that obese clients "may be, or were at some time, food insecure." Programs that support low-income individuals and families must strategize and work within their area of expertise to help break this cycle. Providing adults with the education and support needed to make healthy eating choices for themselves and their families is a key component in this struggle.

Second Harvest is well aware of the struggle our low-income population faces to provide adequate nutrition to their families on ever-shrinking budgets. Over the years, we have made significant improvements to the quality of food we distribute, continually striving to provide the most nutrient-dense options when available. The California Association of Food Banks' "Farm to Families" program has helped immensely, and we are proud to be #1 on the list for distributing the highest number of pounds of produce last year in California. To address the issue of "food deserts" - areas without adequate food resources including grocery stores - we launched the Mobile Pantry. This program delivers food to identified, isolated communities such as Pescadero on the San Mateo Coast and the Santee neighborhood in San Jose. One of our newer programs, the Produce Mobile, is dedicated purely to fresh fruits and vegetables. Its specialized trailer with awnings and roll-up doors makes distribution in areas without facilities a snap. Our Share Your Lunch summer campaign raises funds to provide food to families during the months when children are not receiving meals through the school nutrition programs. The Food Bank continues to work on innovative ways to provide consistent, nourishing food to our clients.

Living in such an affluent area, in such an affluent nation, it can be hard to look around at all the swelling waistlines and see hunger. But when you change your perspective and look beyond the calorie, you begin to understand that the choices being made to fill a belly on a budget can have devastating consequences in the long run.

This post is just the tip of the iceberg, and we look forward to engaging our community in the discussion. Please feel free to leave your thoughts and questions below.

Backyard Produce Nourishes the Hungry

2010-03-17T12:01:00.000-07:00

We are thrilled that the California Department of Food and Agriculture has finally lifted most of their restrictions and we can once again accept donations of backyard produce. For several years, we have been under quarantine due to the northern California discovery of the light brown apple moth in 2007, a leaf-destroying pest native to Australia.

Fruits and vegetables grown in Santa Clara and San Mateo counties may be donated to the Food Bank without inspection as long as the produce is donated within the county it was grown. Gardeners cannot donate fruits and vegetables with small holes, leaf material, or signs of feeding damage caused by a caterpillar. This exemption from inspection only applies to fruits and vegetables, including leafy green vegetables.

With the year-round growing season we have here, our gardening community is in a position to have a major impact, and help close the hunger gap in Santa Clara and San Mateo counties. We already have seen countless boxes of backyard citrus fruits this winter, and hope that as your gardens are laid out this spring, you will keep the Food Bank in mind.

Learn how to donate fresh produce on our website.
Don’t have a garden? Check out the American Community Garden Association for info that will get your hands in the dirt!
Join Our New Flickr Group! We just set up a Flickr group for photos of your Edible Gardens! Please join and post your inspiring photos:
Fruit and Vegetable Gardens of the Bay Area
Get support and join a network of like-minded supporters!. Check out our blog post about the Plant A Row program.

Let’s nourish those in need with freshly grown fruits, vegetables and herbs from our own backyards!

Plant A Row for the Hungry provides support to local gardeners working to end hunger

2010-03-17T11:32:00.000-07:00

Second Harvest Food Bank is committed to providing foods that nourish to those in need. Fruits and vegetables fresh from the garden can have a profound impact on the health and well-being of our clients. If you are a gardener or produce more fruit than you and your family can eat, please familiarize yourself with our Backyard Donations page.

We would like to introduce you to the Plant A Row for the Hungry program, which although run outside the Food Bank, can provide support and a network of like-minded supporters to engage with. In addition, the local committees set up special harvest donation sites and coordinate delivery.

The program has been around since 1994, when Jeff Lowenfels, a garden columnist from Anchorage, Alaska, pitched the idea to the Garden Writers of America Association. He had been trying the idea out with moderate success for a few years in his hometown, but thought it was time for a national movement.

A few years later, Joan Jackson, garden columnist at the San Jose Mercury News at the time, got involved and really championed the cause. She encouraged local gardeners to sign a pledge to grow and donate fresh produce. Within the first year, readers had donated over 34,000 pounds of fruit, vegetables and herbs through the program.

According to Jackson, the program works so well because it’s “carried out in a way that requires no governmental funds and no big cuts or donations from businesses or organizations.” In essence, anyone with access to a plot of dirt can participate.

The Garden Writers Association has many resources available to encourage success. See the links below to find local campaigns or learn more about setting up a new Plant A Row campaign.

We lost our backyard produce Champion when Joan Jackson retired from the Mercury News, and will be relying on the local gardening community to spread the word. If you are passionate about ending hunger, gardening, and making a difference in your local community, please consider speaking out about the cause through your blog, social networks, gardening club or place or worship, etc. If you are interested in participating but don’t have a garden, the American Community Garden Association is a resource that can help you get your hands in the dirt.

Do you Flickr? Join Our New Flickr Group! We just set up a group for photos of your Edible Gardens! Please join and post your inspiring photos:
Fruit and Vegetable Gardens of the Bay Area

Nearly 2 Million Californians Lost Health Insurance During Recession

2010-03-16T14:48:00.000-07:00

Breaking news out of UCLA's Center for Health Policy Research: nearly one quarter of all Californians now lack health insurance.

According to the study released today, numbers have been rising across all sectors, and California's working adults were hit the hardest. To make matters worse, the cost of insurance skyrocketed with the unemployment rate.

As Gary Yates, CEO of the California Wellness Foundation, puts it, "Do they pay their rent or buy an individual policy? Few out of work Californians can afford to do both. As a result, many unemployed Californians may go without essential health coverage, increasing the health risk to themselves and their families and the costs of our emergency care system."

Between 2007 and 2009, the number of uninsured in California rose 25%. During the same time period, the Food Bank has witnessed a 45% increase in number of people served.

At the end of 2009, our fiscal year average was 236,560 people served per month, up from 163,184 in 2007. Many of the new faces were those whose unemployment benefits had run out and were seeking help for the first time in their lives.

There are many factors that lead up to the decision to seek food assistance, and at this point in history, the factors seem to be overpowering the safety-net. Day in and day out, we're providing nutritious food to people from all walks of life in Santa Clara and San Mateo counties who have been hit by this recession, and with your help, we'll continue to do it, despite whatever happens on Capitol Hill.

Easy ways to make a difference:

Report from the 2010 National Anti-Hunger Conference

2010-03-15T16:55:00.000-07:00

On March 7, our Senior Director of Programs and Services Cindy McCown, along with hundreds of other hunger advocates, converged on Washington D.C. for the 2010 National Anti-Hunger Policy Conference. Co-sponsored by the Food Research and Action Center (FRAC) and Feeding America, the conference provided three days of innovative training, networking and advocacy.

Cindy found herself inspired by the personal stories and conviction of the speakers, who included

Key Messages:

Hunger is a bi-partisan issue
Federal nutrition programs such as SNAP/Food Stamps, school based feeding, after school snacks, summer meals and WIC are critical to combating hunger in our communities.
We need a strong Child Nutrition Reauthorization Bill if we are to achieve the President’s goal of ending child hunger by 2015.
We need a significant level of increased funding in the Child Nutrition Reauthorization Bill – no less than the President’s request of one billion dollars per year over the next ten years to meet this need.

Meetings were held with representatives of Senators Boxer and Feinstein and Congress Members Anna Eshoo, Mike Honda, Zoe Lofgren, Jackie Speier and Jerry McNerney to apprise them of hunger issues impacting our local communities.

For a deeper dive into the issues, see the following links:

Yelp Love for the Food Bank!

2010-03-01T16:08:00.000-08:00

Yelp is definitely a force to be reckoned with these days. Seems like every time I look up a business, their Yelp page is right at the top of the search results, and difficult to ignore. That's why it puts a huge grin on my face to see our supporters writing about their positive experiences at Second Harvest Food Bank - some people have even posted pictures!

Photos uploaded to Yelp by Anya R.

In January, we had an all-staff meeting followed by a group food sort - just the kind our volunteers are used to. Many of us had never done this before, so I can commiserate with the Yelpers who say they were surprised by what a good workout we gave them. It was my job to put 4 cans of sliced pears (packed in juice—not syrup—I'm happy to report) into each food box as it came down the line. Not too long into it, I started looked at the people with the box-building job with envy! As they say, the grass is always greener... But honestly, there's something about hearing from the team leaders how many families we're feeding that gets the competitive spirit ramped up - my team boxed up 12,000 pounds that afternoon!

Volunteering can be hard work but it's FUN! Staff member Tometrius Paxton gets in the spirit.

Be an advocate for the work we do - Yelp about us!
We have two Yelp pages - and we'd love your review at the location where you volunteered or had your interaction with us. Don't forget, your review doesn't have to be about volunteering - any reason you support us is worthy of a post!

Yelp San Jose | Yelp San Carlos

Users like Flor D. have used Yelp Events to gather volunteer groups to better our community. Check out her recent Food Sort event to see how it works. (If you'd like to do this too, don't forget to set up your event with Volunteer Services before posting.) Thanks for your support, Flor!

I'll finish up with a quote from Anya R.:

It was so inspiring to see people of all ages too- coming together and working together for one cause- and that is to help out others because we can. There were students all the way to an old man with a walker! If he can volunteer- so can you!

The two hours were really organized and time just flew. It was nice to see people in such good moods willing to help. I am going to look into volunteering for Second Harvest directly and get more people to come join me.

Thank you, Yelpers!

Nutrition is a priority - locally and nationally!

2010-02-23T16:48:00.000-08:00

U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack and First Lady Michelle Obama know fresh produce is invaluable to good health, and are spreading the word. (See the slideshow of their recent shopping adventure in North Philadelphia on The Huffington Post.)

The support coming from the top to improve childhood nutrition is most welcome at Second Harvest. For several years now, we have put a lot of thought and effort into upgrading the nutritional density of food we distribute. A Nutritional Indexing System developed in-house has enabled us to tag incoming food with a number according to certain guidelines that have been established, and then these numbers are tracked over time.

Thanks to the Farm to Families program, a large percentage of our food poundage gets the highest ranking as fresh produce. At a recent Family Harvest distribution, I watched children in their school uniforms on the grass working their way through bags of fresh, sweet oranges, rinds piling up next to them as their parents picked up the rest of their food allotment. The kids' bright smiles and laughter said it all.

We believe we have a responsibility to those we serve in our community to provide quality, nutritious food that will enable parents to instill healthy eating habits in their children despite their current financial status. The little girl on our holiday food drive poster is standing next to a cart of the actual food that was going out on the day we showed up. Check out that produce!

Second Harvest is pleased that a number of our key priorities for the reauthorization of the Child Nutrition Act—including improved access to fill the gaps in food assistance and the development of innovative ways to reach hungry children during out-of-school times—are included in the Obama Administration's priorities. We look forward to working with the Administration and Congress in the coming months to make legislative changes that will move the nation forward in the crusade to end childhood hunger in America. Check out a full list of Secretary Vilsack's administration priorities on our main website.

In addition to Secretary Vilsack's work, First Lady Michelle Obama will also be positively impacting our efforts with her "Let's Move" campaign and the new foundation she heads up called "Partnership for a Healthier America".

From their website: "The Partnership for a Healthier America will serve as a partner to the First Lady’s Let’s Move Initiative by linking and mobilizing the private sector, foundations, thought leaders, media, and local communities to action and further the goals of curbing childhood obesity within a generation."

Our Senior Director of Programs and Services Cindy McCown will be in Washington DC next week for the 2010 National Anti-Hunger Policy Conference. Stay tuned for info and actions to come! Be sure to get the news: sign up for our email list here and help us end childhood hunger!

Further Info:

Learn about our Produce Mobile serving local food deserts and the Kids NOW program that sends food home with kids every Friday, filling the gap until they are back in school on Monday. These creative solutions to ending hunger are right in line with Vilsack's priority recomendations.
Do you know someone or a family who could use assistance? Check out our Outreach Flyers and Handouts page.

Recognizing Our San Carlos Volunteers!

2010-02-18T10:01:00.000-08:00

On February 12, 2010, Second Harvest hosted a party for volunteers and Partners in Need (PIN) members at our San Carlos location. This party let us show our appreciation for our volunteers, who are vital in our operations. Volunteers help us fill positions in the front office, warehouse office, and food sort room (including team leaders).

Nearly 50 guests were present, including Kris Sulpizio, Director of Volunteer Services and Kathy Jackson, our CEO. BJ's Restaurant in Foster City donated all the food. Gina Futrell and her daughter Heidi Lowery donated and gift-wrapped the majority of the prizes. All volunteers took home a gift.

Thank you, volunteers!

Learn about available volunteer opportunities

CEO Kathy Jackson and long-time volunteer Tom Maples

National Hunger Study Results Confirm Need For Food is Up in Santa Clara and San Mateo Counties

2010-02-03T13:31:00.000-08:00

A landmark research study just released by Feeding America captures the undeniable connection between the economic downturn and an increased need for emergency food assistance. The study depicts U.S. hunger through both a national and regional lens. Data was collected from February to June 2009 using interviews and agency surveys. The findings mirror what Second Harvest Food Bank of Santa Clara and San Mateo Counties has been seeing in our day-to-day operations.

Hunger is running rampant throughout our two-county service area. The Food Bank estimates that 1 in 4 people in its two-county service area are at risk for hunger. In the first six months of our fiscal year, we fed 17% more people than the same time period last year. This equates to serving an average of 236,560 people each month with a total of 17.5 million meals.

The unprecedented increase in requests for food assistance is primarily seen in programs that serve families with children, and 54% of surveyed households included at least one working adult. One third of those surveyed had to choose between buying food and paying for medicine or medical care.

"Over the next month, we plan to analyze the numbers and utilize them to create a more comprehensive profile of who is hungry in Santa Clara and San Mateo Counties and why. Moving forward, Second Harvest will use this information to grow food assistance programs and to support public policies that will reduce food insecurity in our two-county service area," said Cindy McCown, Senior Director of Programs and Services.

For more information, please see our press release, and stay tuned for the release of a fully localized report in March.

To find ways to help end hunger in Santa Clara and San Mateo counties, visit www.SHFB.org.

Our own Cindy McCown nominated for a CFPA Stampy Award - Vote today!

2010-01-20T08:41:00.000-08:00

Nominations for the 11th Annual Stampy Awards from across the state honor the efforts of individuals working to improve the Food Stamp Program in California. This year, our very own Cindy McCown has been nominated, along with Jim Beall, our hunger-fighting champion in the California State Assembly!

Vote Now through January 31, 2010.

We at Second Harvest Food Bank are deeply concerned because many of the people we serve are also participants or are eligible for crucial safety net programs such as Food Stamps.

Second Harvest supports initiatives that would increase participation in state and federal supplemental food programs. This will relieve strain on our resources, allowing us to concentrate on those in our community who do not qualify for those programs but still meet our income guidelines (approximately 200% of the Federal Poverty Line).

By voting, you are rewarding efforts to improve the program, as well as identifying actions and attitudes you want replicated. A popular segment of the CFPA Food Stamp Forum, the Stampy Award ceremony is an opportunity to celebrate and honor the achievements and contributions of our colleagues in improving the Food Stamp Program at the local, county, and state levels over the past year. It's a bit like the Golden Globes of the food stamp world! The winners will be announced at the 11th Annual Food Stamp Forum on Thursday, February 18, 2010 in Sacramento.

Our Nominees of Choice:

Cindy McCown
Senior Director of Programs and Services
Second Harvest Food Bank of Santa Clara and San Mateo Counties

Through Ms. McCown's dedication she helped to create a pilot project with Santa Clara County Social Service Office in 2006 that allows for all applicants that are assisted with Food Stamp applications by Food Bank staff to be able to have their appointments be held within 5 days. Approximately 80% of applicants assisted by the Food Bank are seen within 4 days by the SSA office. This is remarkable in a State where many applicants are not able to be seen for up to a month or more.

A second example of her work that has led to improving the collaboration between the Food Bank and the County is the funding received by both San Mateo and Santa Clara counties to support the Food Stamp outreach work of the Food Bank. San Mateo County has provided a 2 1/2 year contract for the work and Santa Clara County funding has been on-going and will be continued. In addition, she has most recently accepted a donation from Santa Clara County of an RV outfitted for community clinic and outreach work that will become a "Food Stamp Mobile" to station in isolated and "walking-community" high-need locations throughout San Mateo and Santa Clara Counties.

Without Cindy's persistence and vision the Food Bank would not be assisting with Food Stamp applications. During the First 5 months of FY 2009-2010 (July-November) the Food Bank assisted 696 households with Food Stamp applications.

Jim Beall
California State Assembly Member

Assembly Member Jim Beall (D-San Jose) has championed legislation to remove barriers to food stamps, remove asset barriers for applicants, and urged Congress to remove finger-imaging and the Obama adminstration to reduce paperwork in California's Food Stamp Program. He is the chairman of the Assembly Human Services Committee and serves as the chairman of the Select Committee on Alcohol and Drug Abuse, and the Select Committee on Foster Care.

Holiday Drive Poster Girl Visits Food Bank

2009-12-22T17:00:00.000-08:00

Our San Jose warehouse had a special visitor today. Four year old Ariana, her mother, and her six year old sister stopped by to meet CEO Kathy Jackson and tour the facility where food is sorted and boxes are packed for distribution to low-income families like hers.

Esperanza, Ariana's mom, receives food through the Food Bank's Family Harvest program. She also volunteers at the distribution site.

In keeping with our commitment to authentically portray our client-base through actual photos and real stories, we were thrilled when Esperanza was willing to allow us to photograph Ariana for posters, barrel wraps and other promotional materials for our 2009 Holiday Food and Fund Drive. The photoshoot took place at the location where Esperanza volunteers and picks up her monthly distribution and the food depicted is what was being given to all program participants that day.

Ariana enjoys attending preschool and in her free time likes to color. Her favorite food is pozole, a traditional Mexican stew in which many of the ingredients are made available to her mother thanks to the Family Harvest program.

Ariana takes a tight grip on the posters she was given today.

Symantec Funds Cost-Saving Hybrid Produce Mobile - The First of its Kind in the National Food Bank Network

2009-12-16T11:38:00.000-08:00

In the spring of 2009, the Food Bank was seeking to purchase an additional vehicle to meet the rising requests for fresh fruits and vegetables from our clients and partner agencies. Referred to as a Produce Mobile, this refrigerated tractor trailer operates like a farmer's market on wheels by bringing much needed produce to low-income communities.

We turned to Symantec, one of our large corporate champions, for help with the purchase of this high-cost capital item. Because of Symantec’s commitment to the environment, they encouraged the Food Bank to look into the possibility of purchasing a hybrid tractor trailer.

Thanks to Symantec’s guidance, the Food Bank did just that. While the cost of a refrigerated hybrid tractor trailer is much higher than a conventional one, the savings in fuel alone are expected to be close to 30% compared to conventional vehicles. All of those cash savings will be put back into the community in the form of food and programs that feed hungry people.

“For many years, Symantec has supported Second Harvest’s mission of feeding Silicon Valley’s hungry and our sponsorship of the hybrid Produce Mobile will ensure fresh produce is delivered to those in need,” said John W. Thomson, Chairman of the Board, Symantec. “I applaud Second Harvest for reinvesting the cash savings from the hybrid vehicle into additional food and programs to serve the community.”

The hybrid tractor trailer is not only transformational to Second Harvest Food Bank of Santa Clara and San Mateo Counties, but the first for the national Food Bank network as well.

“Feeding America is actively working to build a sustainability program for all of our 205 member food banks,” said Vicki Escarra, president and CEO of Feeding America, the nation’s largest domestic hunger-relief organization. “This hybrid tractor is a huge step forward. As we work to end hunger in our country, doing it in an environmentally sustainable manner is at the forefront of our minds.”

Second Harvest’s new Hybrid Produce Mobile is a 32’ tractor trailer with 10 refrigerated bays. It can hold 15,000 to 20,000 pounds of fresh produce at a temperature as low as 30 degrees. This new vehicle will allow the Food Bank to open 14 additional distribution sites this fiscal year resulting in an average of 20,902 individuals served each month through this program.

“We are very excited that Symantec had the foresight and commitment to step up and make this first of its kind investment,” said Kathy Jackson, CEO of Second Harvest Food Bank. “We hope this serves as a lightning rod moment for other individual and corporate supporters.”

Stay tuned for more announcements on ways the Food Bank is going green! Energy savings means more of our precious donated money can be used to close the Hunger Gap!

Unexpected Hunger: The Sinking Middle Class

2009-11-24T11:34:00.000-08:00

Please take a moment to read the following, sent to us by one of our neighbors in need. She signed it "Anonymous" - but we would like to reach out to her and let her know that we can help. Through our Food Connection hotline (1-800-984-3663), we are able to provide emergency food and refer them to other agencies that provide support beyond food to families just like hers. She is not alone, and we hope that by sharing her story, we will be able to collectively shed some of the perceived stigma attached to not having enough money to make ends meet.

Please do a blog post on the sinking middle class, of which I am a member. I have heard much of what is described as 'food insecurity' and not being able to afford not just any food but good healthy food. This is us- many times I don't eat the meat of whatever I make for dinner so my sons and husband can have enough, or there will be enough to add to another meal. Pop tarts are cheaper than fresh apples or other fruits for breakfast, but a young kid will eat this. There are other drinks cheaper than milk.

I feel guilty but I am afraid to even try to get help- that they will say "you have a mortgage, you have a car, you shouldn't be here, your problems aren't real" , but they are. I am constantly rationing my own food and have even sunken to grabbing a box of cereal out of a food donation bin when we ran out-when asked where it came from I lied and said I had forgotten it in the trunk of the car from a previous shopping trip. I wish we could buy more produce and fresh food.

Although my husband is still working- because of recent auto and dental emergencies we are strapped. Again, I feel if I try to go get help on my own (husband would probably be angry if he knew I did it) I will be looked at badly or put through the humiliating wringer of having to fill out lots of paperwork or be treated like I don't really deserve or need the help. I don't even want my younger son to have schoolmates come over for play dates because I feel like I should offer the visiting kid stuff and then there won't be enough for my own, which is awful.

The thinking for people like me is just what I fear - that they will say "you have a computer to even send this, you must be all right. You're just making this up, you don't really need help". For one, I only have to pay 10 bucks a month for the internet I have. I don't spend on clothes or other luxuries. My car is almost ten years old. Sure, we are not the worst off of the worst, but the recession and family emergencies have taken their toll. I used to donate to food banks, and now it is me who is hungry, who recognizes myself in these descriptions of food insecurity, who finds myself noticing people coming and going from restaurants and noticing what anyone at all is eating at any time because of my own hunger. I have to stop myself from pigging out at any event when there is free food, or stealing food out of the teacher's room at my kid's school when they have stuff lying out there, or even sneaking eating food in the grocery from the deli or bakery area.

I know I should be glad that we can even still afford to get cheap food, like pasta and pop tarts, but I wish I could get real healthy food for my family that they liked, and that there would be enough- and that I could go get help and not be made to feel ashamed or like I don't deserve the help. What makes being middle class hungry so horrible besides the experience itself, is having to hide and deny it, because others think you are doing ok, and the fear of the others who are ok trying to rope you into donating or even making food for the school or parties when you don't have enough for your own family- so you find yourself avoiding people.

Well thanks for providing a place to vent.

–Anonymous

Thank you for taking the time to read this. With knowledge comes understanding and compassion, and we need that in bunches right now!

Current and Upcoming Holiday Food Drives

2009-11-11T09:02:00.000-08:00

Support Second Harvest Food Bank by participating in the following Food Drives in your neighborhood this holiday season:

NOW through JANUARY 5:
Lucky, Food Maxx and Save Mart Holiday Food Drive
You can support the Food Bank while shopping at your local Lucky, Food Maxx or Save Mart store - simply drop non-perishable items to donate in our Food Bank barrels. All Save Mart and Lucky stores will have $10 and $20 bags of their pre-selected food items that you can buy and place in the barrels.

NOW through JANUARY 1:
ABC7 / Safeway Share your Holiday Food Drive
You can support the Food Bank while shopping at your local Safeway store - simply drop non-perishable items to donate in our Food Bank barrels.
Find a Safeway location near you

NOW through JANUARY 8:
CBS5 / Whole Foods Market
Food for Bay Area Families: Help provide food for families in need this holiday season - donate non-perishable items at your local Whole Foods Market. Look for our barrels at a Whole Foods location near you.
Find your nearest Whole Foods Market location

TUESDAY DECEMBER 8:
Whole Foods Market "5% Day"
Stock up on organic groceries, gourmet treats and superb buffet items while helping to feed those in need! All Bay Area Whole Foods Market stores will donate 5% of profits from their sales on Tuesday, December 8th to support Bay Area Food Banks.
Find your nearest Whole Foods Market location

NOVEMBER 21:
Scouting For Food
Scouts across the Bay Area will be collecting food on this one day food drive. The weekend before they will place door hangers on homes that they will return to on November 21. Simply put a bag of food out on your porch that morning for the scouts and they will deliver it to the Food Bank. If you do not receive a door hanger, you can still donate by bringing the food to your local Bay Area Food Bank or most LDS churches.

NOVEMBER 21, 8:30AM - 5:30PM:
NBC11 Bay Area/CVS Food Drive
Join CVS and NBC11 Bay Area for this single day drive to raise food for those in need! Stop by your local CVS and donate non-perishable food items to the Food Bank on the day of November 21st.
Find your local CVS pharmacy

What Matters to You?

2009-11-03T12:07:00.000-08:00

Do you remember receiving a gift that really mattered to you?

For me, the gift I received that really mattered was an invitation.

The gift arrived when I was just out of school. My wife and I were in our first year of marriage, in our first apartment, living far from either of our families. We didn’t have much money, or know a lot of people. Thanksgiving was just around the corner. We felt awkward asking any of our new friends to share the holiday with us, and even more awkward making a lavish dinner for only two people. So, our grand Thanksgiving plan was to spend a day huddled in our apartment with movies and takeout.

Everything changed when we got a call from a woman we knew who lived on the other end of the bay. She invited us to her place for the Big Meal. Even though we didn't know her that well, or know who else would be there, we decided to take our chances and accept.

It turned out that we spent a truly magnificent Thanksgiving Day cooking, swapping stories, laughing, and hanging out with the oddest collection of people. There was a long-lost uncle, with beard and VW van. There was a classmate and his girlfriend. There was a friend of a friend, absent the friend that connected him. There were the two radical economic activists who lived downstairs. There was a foreign exchange student from a nearby school no one else had attended. And there were my wife and myself.

Lucky for us, our friend didn't share our reluctance to invite almost total strangers to the table. We enjoyed a wonderful holiday, and started a deep and lasting friendship.

The best thing about this gift was that it made me want to share it with others. In the (many) intervening years, my wife and I have made a practice of inviting widely for Thanksgiving. And we’ve never had a disappointing day, or spent that time with movies and takeout.

One thing I love about my work at Second Harvest is that I'm able to be a small part of a big invitation – the invitation to those who are hungry to come and eat their fill. Because of those who are willing to share what's on their table, those who are hungry can have milk and bread without cost. These are the gifts that have the power to change lives.

I'd like to know what gift you have received, that really mattered to you. Was it a bicycle or a special toy? Was it a piece of clothing or a plane ticket? Was it a gift of love? Or opportunity? Or time? Was it a meal?

I invite you to share your story by commenting below. For each comment we receive, our CEO Kathy Jackson will donate $10 to the "Share Your Story" 2009 Holiday Food and Fund drive.

Sincerely,

Bran Scott
Annual Fund and Systems Manager
Second Harvest Food Bank

Food Bank Kicks off Holiday Drive

2009-10-22T17:31:00.000-07:00

Yesterday we kicked off the 2009 Holiday Food & Fund Drive with an event at our San Carlos Warehouse. Supervisor Carole Groom and John W. Thompson, Symantec Chairman of the Board (pictured above), drove home the importance of supporting the Food Bank and the significant role we play in the community.

This holiday season is critical. As we strive to feed more and more people in need, we are asking everyone to do what they can and to give a gift that matters – the gift of food.

Currently, more than two-thirds of callers to our Food Connection hotline are first time callers who have never before needed food assistance. Many of these people are recently-unemployed or had their work hours cut in the past year and are finding themselves unable to afford enough nutritious food for themselves and their families.

The goals for this year’s drive are to collect 10 million dollars and 1.9 million pounds of food. The drive runs through January 22nd.

To find out how you can help, visit www.SHFB.org.

Paper = Food

2009-10-05T16:05:00.000-07:00

You can help feed hungry people in Santa Clara and San Mateo Counties by buying paper. Each time you buy a case of Give Something Back (GSB) 30% or 100% post-consumer recycled paper, GSB Inc. and Boise Inc. will donate $1 to the Food Bank.

GSB was founded on a simple concept – sell office supplies and donate the profits to local non-profit organizations. Today GBS has become the largest independent office supply company in the western region and has given over $4 million back to impact our local communities.

Contact Give Something Back at support@givesomethingback.com or visit them on line at http://www.givesomethingback.com/ for more information.

Ending Childhood Hunger by 2015 Listening Session

2009-09-29T20:12:00.000-07:00

The public is invited to attend a listening session hosted by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) in response to the Obama Administration’s challenge to federal agencies to eliminate childhood hunger by 2015.

The listening session is being held at the Oakland Federal Building on Thursday, October 1st from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. There will be a lunch break from Noon – 1:00p.m. Attendees are asked to provide their own lunch.

During the session, FNS representatives will listen and gather recommendations for ending childhood hunger by 2015 from program cooperators, participants and partners at state and local levels, who provide unique yet necessary points of view that will help assist the Obama Administration as it considers potential changes to programs and their delivery. Our own Cindy McCown, Senior Director of Programs and Services at the Food Bank will be speaking on behalf of the California Association of Food Bank’s.

For more information, email wro-pa@fns.usda.gov or call (415) 705-1311.

If you are unable to attend, comments and recommendations can be emailed to the above address or faxed to: (415) 705-1364. Deadline for submissions is October 15, 2009.

Amici’s East Coast Pizzeria Menlo Park Opening Benefits Food Bank

2009-09-24T09:58:00.000-07:00

On Tuesday September 22nd, Amici's East Coast Pizzeria celebrated the opening of their Menlo Park location with a 'Charity Lunch' in support of the Food Bank.

Amici's staff were joined by 'celebrity servers' Brian Murphy, Paul McCaffrey and Dan Dibley, hosts of The Morning Show on KNBR-680, who showed off their restaurant skills and entertained customers.

The event was well supported by Menlo Park residents including Mayor Heyward Robinson, and Sports fans from around the Bay Area.

Lunch sales totaled $2,300, to which Amici's added a $1,000 tip on behalf of each of the 'celebrity servers' for a grand total of a $5,300 donation to Second Harvest Food Bank. This generous donation will provide 10,600 meals to people in need in our community.

Thanks to Amici’s and everyone who came out to enjoy a great lunch and support the Food Bank.

Photo is by Chris Gulker of http://www.inmenlo.com/. Pictures L-R are: Brian Murphy (KNBR), Heyward Robinson (Mayor of Menlo Park), Dan Dibley (KNBR), and Paul McCaffrey (KNBR).

Cheesecake Factory supports Hunger Action Month with special promotion

2009-09-10T15:02:00.000-07:00

On September 30th, bring two cans of soup to any local Cheesecake Factory and, on top of your food donation, they will donate 10% of your check to the Food Bank.

The Cheesecake Factory is a corporate partner of Feeding America’s Hunger Action Month. During the month of September, Feeding America’s nationwide network of 205 food banks are calling upon their communities to help end local hunger.

Chef Cat Cora to host Backyard "CCQ" in support of Second Harvest

2009-09-10T14:35:00.000-07:00

Head out to Macy's Valley Fair - 2801 Stevens Creek Blvd, San Jose on Saturday, October 3rd at 2:00pm where Macy's Culinary Council chef Cat Cora will host a Backyard "CCQ".

Join us to sample some of Cat's favorite recipes. Feed your passion for gourmet cooking while showing your support for Second Harvest Food Bank of Santa Clara and San Mateo Counties.

Ticket price is $15. All proceeds from event will benefit Second Harvest Food Bank of Santa Clara and San Mateo Counties. Ticket transaction will be completed at Macy's prior to start of the event. Cash or check only. Please make check payable to "Second Harvest Food Bank of Santa Clara and San Mateo Counties". For more information, log onto macys.com/events.

2nd Annual Hunger Issues Forum for Santa Clara County

2009-09-10T14:26:00.000-07:00

The September 10th Hunger Issues Forum was organized by the Food Bank and was sponsored by Santa Clara University’s Food & Agribusiness Institute and SCU’s Leavey School of Business. Approximately 125 attendees gained a better understanding of how childhood hunger affects our economy while learning about public policy opportunities and how to take action on hunger issues.

Speakers included:

Dr. John Cook with the Boston Medical Center and the Boston University School of Medicine. Dr. Cook explained findings from his recently released report Child Food Insecurity: The Economic Impact on Our Nation.

Dr. Ed Cooney, CEO of the Congressional Hunger Center in Washington D.C. Dr. Cooney addressed how we can influence system changes to achieve President Obama's commitment to end domestic childhood hunger by 2015.

Dr. Drew Starbird, acting Dean of Santa Clara University's Leavey School of Business. Dr. Starbird explained what the unmet food needs look like for Santa Clara County residents.

Dr. Daniel Delgado, pediatrician at the Pediatric Healthy Lifestyles Center at the Santa Clara County Health and Hospital System. Dr. Delgado shared what is happening locally to improve children’s lifestyles.

Video of the presentations will be available soon.

The Carolee Hazard 93 Dollar Drive Totals Over $13K

2009-09-03T16:21:00.000-07:00

The Carolee Hazard 93 Dollar Drive (see blog post from August 26) has taken on a life of its own! As of today, more than $13,000 has been donated to the Food Bank. And the Facebook Page she set up has received comments from all over the world.

In addition, Trader Joe's in Menlo Park, the store where this amazing story began, donated over 250 pounds of food. Pictured are Carolee, her daughters and Jenni.

Lisa Fernandez of the Mercury News first covered the story and today, Carolee and Jenni graciously agreed to tell their story to a wider audience. Pictured is Carolee being interviewed by Maureen Naylor of KTVU/FOX2.

Carolee and Jenni delivering donation checks to the Food Bank's Tami Cardenas.

Los Gatos Art Association 2010 Calendar

2009-09-01T10:59:00.000-07:00

Buy now to support Second Harvest Food Bank!

Purchase the 2010 LGAA 14-month Calendar and adorn your home or office with images of award-winning local art. 100% of the proceeds from these great gifts will be donated to Second Harvest Food Bank of Santa Clara and San Mateo Counties to provide food for our neighbors in need.

Visit the LGAA website to learn more about the artists and use this order form (PDF) to request your calendar(s) now!

Exchange Cans of Soup for Cheesecake

2009-08-28T10:51:00.000-07:00

The Cheesecake Factory’s Drive Out Hunger 30-Day/30-Market Bus Tour hits our local area on Wednesday, September 2nd.

Come by the Cheesecake Factory Valley Fair (3041 Stevens Creek Blvd., Santa Clara, CA 95050) from 7:00-10:00am and and enjoy a slice of decadence. The first 500 guests who donate two cans of soup will receive a free slice of Stefanie’s Ultimate Red Velvet Cheesecake and all donors will receive a special gift to use on a future visit.

Never Underestimate the Power of an Act of Kindness.

2009-08-26T15:01:00.000-07:00

I love working at Second Harvest Food Bank. Every day, I witness caring citizens donating time, energy, food, and money to help feed people who they will most likely never meet.

Their generosity never fails to reaffirm my faith in the goodness of humanity.

Recently, I learned of an act of kindness that still brings tears to my eyes.

It started with Carolee Hazard helping out Jenni Ware, a stranger who was in front of her in the checkout line at the grocery store. When it came time for Ware to pay for her groceries, she discovered she had lost her wallet. Seeing that Ware was obviously in distress, Hazard paid for Ware’s groceries with her own credit card, asking Ware to send her a check when she found her wallet.

To find out how this amazing act of trust and kindness ultimately ended up benefitting Second Harvest, read this Mercury News story.

Zombies support the Food Bank

2009-08-19T10:20:00.000-07:00

On August 26, hundreds of people are expected to show up for Zombie-o-Rama in downtown San Jose. This year, event organizer Dan Vado of SLG publishing has set up a food drive to compliment the Zombie Crawl and film showing of "Shaun of the Dead".

A barrel will be set up at the movie site (Starlight Cinema) as well as at Zombie-O-Rama HQ (otherwise known as the SLG Art Boutiki).

"We're all looking for ways to make it through this very hard time, so the stuff that really resonates with people is about community," Vado says. "The first rule in a zombie apocalypse is to stick together, because that's the only way to survive."

I never thought I'd find myself in a position where I wanted to thank a pack of zombies... But wow, thanks guys!

More information available on the Zombie-O-Rama blog, at Zombieorama.com and in this Mercury News article.

Photo by Josie Lepe, Mercury News

Target volunteers help get fresh produce out to local families in need

2009-08-12T13:17:00.000-07:00

Recently, Target team members put their energies to good use by helping bag plums in our San Jose warehouse.

These hard working volunteers bagged a total of 4,263 pounds of the fresh fruit in just a few short hours.

Later that day, the plums were loaded onto a Food Bank truck for distribution to 162 low-income families in East San Jose who participate in the Food Bank’s Family Harvest program. Pears, watermelon, cantaloupe, bell peppers, corn-on-the-cob, celery, potatoes, onions, eggs, tortillas, pasta, rice, beans, peanut butter, bread, cereal, and whole chickens were also included in the distribution.

Store Team Leader Meredith Klausner said that Target employees are always very generous with their time. Their work at the Food Bank is a great example of how everyone pitches in to help people in need in their local community.

Kathy Jackson welcomed as new Food Bank CEO

2009-08-07T15:45:00.000-07:00

Kathy Jackson joins Second Harvest Food Bank of Santa Clara and San Mateo Counties as Chief Executive Officer

With experience in non-profit board management and more than 20 years in the financial services industry, Kathy has a proven track record of success in leading and growing large and small non-profit and for-profit organizations.

Prior to joining the Food Bank, Kathy served on the Board of Directors for the Foundation for the Future, acting as Annual Campaign Chair (2006 - 2007) and President (2007- 2009). In her roles, she led a 33-person Board in raising funds to support public Menlo-Atherton High School. Between 2006 and 2009, donations increased more than 100% while expenses grew less than 33%.

Prior to entering the non-profit world, Kathy managed various line businesses as a senior-level executive with finance-based corporations in the Bay Area, specifically Bank of America Leasing and Capital, GATX Capital Corporation and D’Accord Incorporated. She also served as Vice Chair of the Equipment Leasing and Finance Association, a trade association representing financial services companies and manufacturers in the $650 billion U.S. equipment finance sector.

Kathy has an MBA in Marketing, Finance and Accounting from the Kellogg Graduate School of Management at Northwestern University and is a Phi Beta Kappa graduate of Stanford University.

Contact Kathy Jackson

Take Action: Help Restore the Brown Bag Program for Seniors

2009-08-05T15:50:00.000-07:00

Second Harvest Food Bank of Santa Clara and San Mateo Counties and other food banks throughout California receive state funds for the Brown Bag Program for seniors.

During the recent State budget process Governor Schwarzenegger's made the bold move of doing a line-item veto of the Brown Bag Program. Basically, he removed the program from the State budget!

In fiscal year 2008/09, our Brown Bag Program provided groceries to over 10,800 senior households. This amounted to over 10,400,800 pounds of food for the elderly. Many of these low-income seniors are struggling, and the Brown Bag Program provides their primary source of food. They are being forced to choose between spending their money on rent, utilities, prescription medications, or food. For them, purchasing enough food to survive is a daily challenge. The Brown Bag Program provides a critical service to ensure that people have the basic necessity of life: nutrition.

The Impact
Brown Bag recipients are primarily women receiving SSI/SSP who, through a string of budget deals, have just seen their stipends cut. Additionally, the Brown Bag Program provides critical funding to food banks. Approximately $20,000 per provider may not seem like much to make a program operate and grow, but it is critical to smaller food banks.

Return on Investment
The Brown Bag Program makes efficient use of state funds. Every dollar invested by the state provides to seniors approximately $40 in food and services from the local community. The program is currently funded at $541,000, which means the program leverages over $21 million in food and services for seniors, all of which will be lost if the Governor's veto stands.

Take a few easy steps to help restore the Brown Bag Program:

Download, fill out and fax this flyer (pdf) to all the Assembly members and Senators in your service area, as well as the Assembly and Senate leadership. Fax numbers for all legislators and the leadership are listed on the second page of the flyer.

Spread the word. Email the flyer to your coworkers, friends, and other people who will want to take action.

Update and fax this sample letter from your organization to legislative leaders asking them to restore the Brown Bag Program.

Photo: One of Second Harvest's long-time Mountain View Brown Bag volunteers

Membership Fees for Distribution Agencies Waived in Step to Relieve Struggling Partners

2009-08-05T12:18:00.000-07:00

Second Harvest Food Bank of Santa Clara and San Mateo Counties becomes the first food bank in California to stop charging membership fees to their partner agencies

Up to now, Second Harvest's 325+ partner agencies have paid a small annual fee based on size. These fees helped cover costs such as warehousing and distribution. With the current economy, the Food Bank realized that many of their partner agencies were struggling financially, so the decision was made not to charge this fee. Staff at the Food Bank is looking for other ways to make up the money, totaling close to $134,000.

"Waiving the fees was a tough decision," said Cindy McCown, Senior Director of Programs and Services. "We budget for this income, but many of partner agencies are struggling to keep their doors open. Without them, we would not be able to get much-needed food out into the community."

The Food Bank's partner agencies are grateful for the help.

David Cox is Executive Director at St. Joseph’s Family Center in Gilroy. "Prior to this announcement, we would have assumed that the fees would have increased in these difficult economic times. We have always felt that the fees assessed were extremely reasonable and we were always glad to pay them. We will put the savings to good use as we continue our efforts to meet the ever-growing need of food assistance and healthy nutrition in south Santa Clara County."

Poncho Guevara is Executive Director of Sacred Heart Community Services in San Jose. "At a time where resources are stretched to the breaking point, Second Harvest has stepped up in so many ways. This latest example of leadership gives hope that we will not only weather this downturn, but together we will confront these unprecedented needs and emerge stronger."

Second Harvest is part of a network of 205 food banks nationwide working to end domestic hunger. Charging partner agency fees or a per pound fee based on the amount of food being provided is standard and is an important source of money for most food banks. On average, 18% of other food banks' income comes from these agency fees. Second Harvest has a long-standing commitment to strengthening the network of community agencies in Santa Clara and San Mateo Counties. This led to their important commitment, despite pressure on their own budget.

Volunteer Spotlight: Meet Joe Amato, age 93

2009-07-22T10:36:00.000-07:00

Meet Joe Amato. At age 93, Joe tells us Amato means “to be loved” in Italian. Indeed, Joe exemplifies his name. Joe’s been volunteering with us for over 7 years. His friend Mike (now “moved upstairs” as Joe says) brought him here because Mike believed volunteering at Second Harvest was fun, good exercise and a great way to help others.

Talking to Joe is like taking a step back in history; born May 16, 1916 at home on Alma Street, Joe speaks of a time when the air and water were so pure you could ride down Almaden Road on your bike and drink water right from the curbside!

Joe’s a firm believer that when your cycle is up, it’s up – so no need to fret. “Just stay busy, help others, eat healthy. “Kelp is great for you” he advises!

Joe says volunteering at Second Harvest is great because he’s got nice people to talk to, he gets his exercise and it’s a lot of fun. You know, his friend Mike was right. Thanks Mike, for helping us and for bringing us Joe.

- Kris Sulpizio, Director of Volunteer Services

Our Tuesday Warehouse Volunteers Get the Food Out!

2009-07-21T14:59:00.001-07:00

This morning I grabbed the camera and headed down to the San Jose warehouse to see what was going on. As it is my job to sit in front of a computer most of the day, it's really good to get out into the action once in a while.

Today, it was the Tuesday Warehouse Volunteers! This committed group really knows how to get the job done.

Loading up the Produce Mobile was no problem for them. The KidsNOW bags were filled with great ready-to-eat snacks. Our Family Harvest clients will have fresh corn, carrots, potatoes and spring onions to prepare meals with.

If you've ever been part of a food sort, you know how overwhelming the job can look at first. But with our Volunteer Coordinators plus the volunteer Team Leaders, you soon realize how it all comes together to feed our neighbors in need.

Today's morning group had volunteers from all walks of life. There were retirees working alongside high school students.

PIN (Partners in Need) program volunteers, who receive bags of food after their volunteer service, were pitching in with gusto, knowing how appreciated their efforts are.

I'm honored to work alongside these dedicated volunteers! They showcase the community spirit that keeps our organization running.

Food Bank Recognizes Brown Bag Volunteers

2009-07-15T09:20:00.000-07:00

The Food Bank recently hosted a Brown Bag volunteer recognition party at Franklin Templeton Investment’s employee café. The space was generously donated by the company and provided a wonderful venue for the Food Bank to recognize the over 200 loyal volunteers that keep this vital program running.

The Brown Bag program provides weekly nutritious groceries to an average of 13,199 senior individuals (ages 60+) and disabled individuals (ages 55+) at 85 Santa Clara County and San Mateo County-based distribution sites.

BJ’s Restaurant at 2206 Bridgepoint Parkway in San Mateo provided the delicious food free of charge, the El Camino High Jazz combo entertained the crowd and Randy Silver donated his time and talents to capture pictures of the event.

In addition, the following merchants and Individuals provided raffle items and party supplies: AMICI’s East Cost Pizzeria, Bel Mateo Bowl, Costco Foster City, Emerald Hills Golf Course, Hobbe’s California Restaurants, The Honeybaked Ham Company, Marriot Hotels & Resort, Patxi’s Chicago Pizza, Sheraton Gateway San Francisco Airport Hotel, Starbucks Coffee Walnut St. Redwood City, Stella Alpina Osteria, Trader Joe’s San Carlos, Wegman’s Nursery, Redwood City, Barbara Gehlen, Victoria Mendiola. Thanks to everyone who helped make this event a success!

If you are interested in joining our stellar team of Brown Bag volunteers, please use the following links for more information in your county:

In the photo is our interim CEO, Keith Flagler, thanking the volunteers for their efforts.

Warehouse Space Needed

2009-07-15T08:15:00.000-07:00

The Food Bank is in need of 15,000+ square feet of warehouse space with at least one dock door. The space needs to be located in either Santa Clara or San Mateo Counties and will be used to store our food drive barrels, miscellaneous equipment and dry food. Since we are a non-profit, ideally, the space will be donated or made available at below market rate.

Requests for food have sky rocketed this past year. The Food Bank is currently serving an average of 207,000 people each month. This space is desperately needed to store the food and equipment used to continue to meet the increase requests for our services. Please contact Pat Ybarra at pybarra@shfoodbank.com.

Why Finger-Imaging is Bad News for Food Stamps

2009-07-10T12:34:00.000-07:00

Bad news from Sacramento: Governor Schwarzenegger wants to not only keep the finger-imaging requirement for food stamp applicants, but expand finger-imaging to those receiving In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS).

We at Second Harvest Food Bank are deeply concerned because many of the people we serve are also participants or are eligible for these crucial safety net programs.

Second Harvest supports initiatives that would increase participation in state and federal supplemental food programs. This will relieve strain on our resources, allowing us to concentrate on those in our community who do not qualify for those programs but still meet our income guidelines (approximately 200% of the Federal Poverty Line).

WHY THIS MATTERS:
IHSS provides in-home support to elderly, blind, and disabled Californians. This helps prevent them from having to be institutionalized, which is a far more costly alternative to the state than providing services for them in their own homes. Were finger-imaging implemented for this program, participation would assuredly drop, and many more of California’s most vulnerable population would end up in nursing homes.

It has been proven that finger-imaging is a major deterrent to participation in the programs it has been applied to, namely the Food Stamp Program. This program is the main federal nutrition program and it provides credit to low-income families and individuals to be redeemed for food at participating grocery stores.

Finger-imaging makes applicants feel like criminals. Ashamed and embarrassed, many don’t sign up for food stamps, even if they need them and qualify for them.

Furthermore, getting a fingerprint done requires another trip out to government agency offices, which for many of these families means missing work. The money and time lost, and the childcare arrangements during that trip can deter those in need from seeking assistance.

What is more, finger-imaging has not been cost-effective. It is meant to deter multiple-aid fraud, but its cost far outweighs the negligible amount of benefits stolen through fraud. In this economic climate, the governor wants to expand an ineffective system that costs the state more than $8 million a year!

Click on the following links for more information on the governor’s proposal and learn how Food Stamps BOOST our economy in the following articles:

Fingerprinting rule will deter those needing help
Editorial, The San Jose Mercury News

Fairy Tales, Fraud, and Food Stamps (PDF)
California Food Policy Advocates (CFPA.net):
Read this lighthearted one-pager on the Governor's serious finger printing expansion efforts. Call the Governor (916.445.2841) and urge him to accept the Legislature’s plan to save millions to by ending finger imaging for food stamps and to abandon his efforts to fingerprint blind, elderly, and disabled Californians receiving IHSS.

Boost in Food-Stamp Funding Percolates Through Economy
The Wall Street Journal

The stimulus that actually IS working
The Dave Ross Show

Ending the Cycle of Poverty: AB 433 brings us one step closer!

2009-07-10T09:32:00.000-07:00

AB 433 is now law!
No More Asset Test for Food Stamp Households with Children
A great victory has been achieved for families struggling to put food on the table. Food stamp households will now no longer be subject to an asset test, a crucial step to expanding participation in the Food Stamp Program, as well as helping people escape the cycle of poverty. No asset test means families can save up for things like a child’s college education or a retirement fund, without worrying that they will be cut off from Food Stamps.

Previously, assets were included in the calculation of a family’s income, which determines Food Stamp eligibility. This puts families in a very difficult situation of either trying to save for the future, or receiving food now.

This new requirement will be implemented at the county level, and counties can begin its implementation as early as July 1, 2009, but no later than January 1, 2010.

It is our understanding that San Mateo County will begin implementation on August 1, 2009.

More work is left to be done, however: The new rule applies only to households with children, excluding single adults or adults living together.

Download a more detailed flyer on this important change (PDF)
Find out more at California Food Policy Advocates

State Budget Committee Votes to Preserve CalWORKs

2009-06-18T09:55:00.000-07:00

Good News!

On June 11th, the Budget Conference Committee voted 6 to 1 to reject the Governor's proposal to eliminate CalWORKs. The committee's vote likely ends serious attempts to eliminate the program.

The committee had a long discussion about the other CalWORKs options put forth by the Administration and the Legislative Analyst Office (LAO). The committee seemed most interested in pursuing an LAO/CWDA proposal to exempt some families with small children from work requirements thus saving child care and transportation costs. The committee also seemed poised to support a proposal to expand subsidized employment opportunities for CalWORKs recipients using federal stimulus funds.

Taken from an article from the Western Center on Law and Poverty. View the entire article

Quotes on Hunger

2009-06-16T20:31:00.000-07:00

Our Advocacy intern, Natasha, found a wellspring of quotes on the issue of Hunger. I thought I'd share them with you and see if, in turn, you have some you would like to share with us. Please post your favorites to the comment section below and...

...may you be inspired!

There are genuinely sufficient resources in the world to ensure that no one, nowhere, at no time, should go hungry.
-- Ed Asner

Hungry people cannot be good at learning or producing anything, except perhaps violence.
-- Pearl Bailey

We are a country that prides itself on power and wealth, yet there are millions of children who go hungry every day. It is our responsibility, not only as a nation, but also as individuals, to get involved. So, next time you pass someone on the street who is in need, remember how lucky you are, and don't turn away.
-- Lesley Boone

The fact is that there is enough food in the world for everyone. But tragically, much of the world's food and land resources are tied up in producing beef and other livestock--food for the well off--while millions of children and adults suffer from malnutrition and starvation.
-- Dr.Walden Bello

The American fast food diet and the meat eating habits of the wealthy around the world support a world food system that diverts food resources from the hungry. A diet higher in whole grains and legumes and lower in beef and other meat is not just healthier for ourselves but also contributes to changing the world system that feeds some people and leaves others hungry.
-- Dr.Walden Bello

…the first essential component of social justice is adequate food for all mankind. Food is the moral right of all who are born into this world.
-- Norman Borlaug

If you desire peace, cultivate justice, but at the same time cultivate the fields to produce more bread; otherwise there will be no peace.
-- Norman Borlaug

One of the greatest feelings in the world is knowing that we as individuals can make a difference. Ending hunger in America is a goal that is literally within our grasp.
-- Jeff Bridges

35 million people in the U.S. are hungry or don't know where their next meal is coming from, and 13 million of them are children. If another country were doing this to our children, we'd be at war.
-- Jeff Bridges

Public charities, foodbanks and church pantries are doing more than ever before, but they can't keep up with the need. We can never end hunger only through the wonderful work of local charities. Like other Western democracies, we must end our national problem of hunger through national and political leadership. Charity is nice for some things, but not as a way to feed a nation. We don't protect our national security through charity, and we shouldn't protect our families and children that way either.
-- Jeff Bridges

Most of our citizenry believes that hunger only affects people who are lazy or people who are just looking for a handout, people who dont' want to work, but, sadly, that is not true. Over one-third of our hungry people are innocent children who are members of households that simply cannot provide enough food or proper nutrition. And to think of the elderly suffering from malnutrition is just too hard for most of us. Unlike Third World nations, in our country the problem is not having too little – it is about not caring enough! Write your elected representatives and promote support for the hungry.
-- Erin Brokovich

Many people think that hunger is unavoidable in any society, even a society that is blessed with great abundance. That is not true. The European community does not have widespread hunger. America, which leads the world in so many ways, can end childhood hunger within its borders.
-- Pierce Brosnan

"A hungry man can't see right or wrong. He just sees food."
-- Pearl S. Buck (1892-1973)

"Hunger makes a thief of any man."
-- Pearl S. Buck (1892-1973)

"There will never cease to be ferment in the world unless people are sure of their food."
-- Pearl S. Buck (1892-1973)

In this country that grows more food than any other nation on this earth, it is unthinkable that any child should go hungry.
-- Sela Ward, actress

The day hunger disappears, the world will see the greatest spiritual explosion humanity has ever seen.
-- Federico Garcia Lorca

Many thanks to Culture of Peace Initiative.

Cans for Kenny Chesney Contest with 95.3-KRTY

2009-06-05T13:57:00.000-07:00

Win tickets and backstage passes to see Kenny Chesney in concert on July 18th, and feed hungry kids in the process!

During the month of June, local radio station 95.3 KRTY is challenging listeners to participate in their Cans for Kenny food drive, benefitting Second Harvest Food Bank's Share Your Lunch campaign.

The person who donates the most cans between June 1 and June 22 will win a pair of tickets to the concert and backstage passes to meet him!

6/16 Update: $1 = 2 cans in this contest!

KRTY will announce a winner on Monday June 29TH during the KRTY morning show with Gary & Julie.

All food collected will be donated to Second Harvest Food Bank of Santa Clara and San Mateo Counties as part of their Share Your Lunch food and fund drive.

This annual campaign is aimed at feeding approximately 116,000* children in Santa Clara and San Mateo Counties who rely on school meals five days a week during the school year. When school lets out for the summer, these children often go without having three nutritious meals a day and struggling parents turn to the Food Bank for solutions.

*According to California Food Policy Advocates

For details and official contest rules:

Visit KRTY’s Cans For Kenny page on their website.

To learn more about our Share Your Lunch campaign and how YOU can make a difference in your community, visit www.ShareYourLunch.net.

Stopped in its Tracks: Important Step Forward for Food Stamps and CalWORKS Reform

2009-06-04T14:31:00.000-07:00

AB 1057, introduced by California Assembly member Jim Beall, Jr., was held in the Assembly fiscal committee, a victim of the state's budget crunch. The bill aims to simplify the Food Stamp and CalWORKS programs, thereby encouraging participation in these crucial social-safety net programs.

But this bill has found itself in the Assembly Appropriations Suspense file and is being held in committee. Some of reported reasons for shelving the bill stem from the current budget crisis. There are concerns, particularly among Republican officials, about the upfront costs to implementing the program, as well as the fact that the current budget proposal eliminates CalWORKS – a key program in the bill. The next likely opportunity for the bill to be debated won’t be until January of 2010 unless something in the budget can be worked out.

Thank you to all of those who have taken steps to support this legislation. The bill may be stalled for now, but we still need your help!

Join our email list to receive updates from the Food Bank on key issues such as this one.
Read the full article on our website

Further information about this legislation can be found at:

*Special thanks to Frances Chacon, Principal Consultant for Assembly member Jim Beall, Jr.

Crazy Legs Workshops for Youth – Free with food donation!

2009-04-13T14:50:00.000-07:00

Saturday, April 18th – Alum Rock Youth Center, San Jose

The Legendary BBoy Crazy Legs of Rock Steady Crew comes to East San Jose to donate his time with the youth and give back to the community. This event is in collaboration with fitness expert and Miss NPC California Figure Champion, Mona Liza "MO" Reyes to promote physical fitness through BBOYING (break dancing) and making healthier eating choices.

FREE Youth BBoy BGirl Workshop with the donation of (4) canned goods per participant to benefit Second Harvest Food Bank.

Workshop for Ages 9 - 13 yrs: 1 - 2:30pm

Workshop for Ages 14 - 17 yrs: 1 - 2:30pm

Visit their website for more information and to register.

Space is limited.

UPDATE! Share Your Lunch Campaign Video Challenge - extended!

2009-03-03T12:15:00.000-08:00

Challenge extended until March 31

Now is your chance to put your film-making skills to work and help the Food Bank at the same time. Watch this video to learn how:

REQUIREMENTS

Videos should:

Be 60 seconds or less
Communicate the message that childhood hunger is an important local issue that cannot be ignored.
Include at least one “call to action” (donate, volunteer, advocate, etc.)
Feel viral, memorable, and inspiring for all age groups
Include the Share Your Lunch URL (www.ShareYourLunch.net) and our phone number (1-866-234-3663) on the screen during the last five seconds

Video entries must be received no later than Wednesday, March 31, 2009. Submit your DVD entry to Share Your Lunch Video Contest, 750 Curtner Avenue, San Jose, CA 95125. All submissions become the property of Second Harvest food Bank and will not be returned.

Benefitting the Food Bank

2009-02-09T19:17:00.000-08:00

The holiday season may be over but the giving season never stops at the Food Bank. Most recently I received word that The Moorpark Hotel in San Jose, a Joie de Vivre Hotel, is donating to us $5.00 for every room booked through March 31st.

According to the Moorpark’s Sr. Sale Manager, Tina Walters, all the Joie de Vivre Hotels create local relationships with non-profit organizations like ours so they can give back to the community throughout the year.

Reservations can be made at www.moorparkhotel.com. Rooms booked through the website automatically qualify for the donation. The Food Bank gets $5.00 per night, per room, so feel free to reserve multiple nights!

Do enjoy good food and wine? Indulge yourself and help the Food Bank at the same time.

Vivace Ristorante located at 1910 Ralston Ave in Belmont will be donating to the Food Bank 5% of the gross sales from their series of wine dinners. The first of the series is being held on Monday, February 23rd at 6pm. The dinner includes a five course meal paired with wines from Hess Winery of Napa. Details can be found on their website at: www.vivacerestaurant.com. To make a reservation, email Mike Gunn at mike@vivacerestaurant.com.

Be sure to visit the events section on our website for more way to support the Food Bank and have fun in the process.

Nutrition Funding At Risk In Senate Economic Recovery Package--Urgent Action Needed

2009-02-06T15:59:00.000-08:00

A proposed amendment to the Senate version of the economic recovery package could put hunger relief programs on the chopping block. A group of moderate Democrats and conservative Senators, opposed to the rapidly rising price tag of the legislation, have offered an amendment that cuts most of the funding for nutrition programs such as Food Stamps/SNAP and the Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP) out of the legislation. Removing these programs from the recovery package could be devastating to low-income Americans and the food banks that serve them. They could vote as early as tonight!

Time is running out.

The Senate could be on the verge of voting on this amendment. It is up to the anti-hunger community to stand up for hungry Americans. And we need to act fast.

You can help by calling the Senate switchboard right now at 202-224-3121, and you will be connected to your Senators' office. If the switchboard is busy, follow the link and dial your Senators' office directly.

http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm

Tell your Senators to oppose any efforts to reduce the bill's planned investments in nutrition programs. Hungry Americans deserve an economic recovery package that at the very least includes the funding for nutrition assistance that was in the Committee bill.

The Senate could vote as early as Friday evening, so call your Senators now!!

Successful "Renewing America Together" community food sort

2009-01-20T10:28:00.000-08:00

In the spirit of national collaboration, President-elect Obama called upon all Americans to join forces for “Renewing America Together” — a national day of service in honor of Martin Luther King, Jr. At the invitation of the Presidential Inaugural Committee, Feeding America asked local Food Banks to consider hosting “events” to continue to support his campaign pledge to fight hunger in America and end childhood hunger by 2015.

This past Saturday, we hosted a special food sort at the San Jose facility that brought our community together to learn about and support our mission.

We started the morning off with an address from address from Assembly Member Jim Beall Jr., who shared his insights on the impacts of the California budget on low-income residents and made suggestions on how people could take action.

Mark Bregman, EVP and CTO, Symantec, addressed the crowd, encouraging them to become involved to support food security. He reminded them that they can be part of change within their community.

The food sort consisted of close to 100 volunteers bagging apples for distribution on Tuesday. After bagging, participants watched a new video about Second Harvest created by Intel volunteers, and then toured the facility, saw displays of what a typical Family Harvest Program participant family would receive, and saw maps of our service area.

Our guests had a great time. They ranged from about 14 years old into their 80’s. They were excited and energized. For many, this was the first time they had been to the Food Bank!

It is so exciting to see our community pull together with a renewed sense of commitment. Thank you to everyone who helped make our Day of Service so rewarding!

Pictured above is Assembly Member Jim Beall Jr. and Mark Bregman, EVP and CTO, Symantec. We were honored to have them speak at the event.

January eNewsletter - get inspired to make an impact in 2009!

2009-01-16T08:21:00.000-08:00

I wanted to let everyone know that we just sent out the latest edition of our monthly e-Newsletter. This publication typically features Food Bank updates and information about our upcoming campaigns, advocacy related information, volunteer highlights and community events.

As most of you know, 2008 was particularly challenging for the Food Bank, but it was inspiring to see how the community rallied to help fight local hunger and keep food on the tables of those in need. In the January issue, you will learn how to make 2009 our most impactful year to-date.

View the latest edition

Mobile Marketing Firm Supports Food Bank

2009-01-09T14:05:00.000-08:00

As our Holiday Food & Fund Drive wraps up, I continue to receive tid bits of information related to the many, many creative ways that community members used to promote the drive and/or solicit donations during the season.

Apptera, a mobile marketing firm in San Bruno, distributed an electronic holiday thank you card to their clients. The card was actually an interactive game where players assisted “Bobby” with locating his lost holiday wish list.

After helping Bobby with this task, participants were asked to select their favorite charity from a predetermined list, of which Second Harvest was a part.

I was happy to hear that Second Harvest was selected as the charity of choice by Apptera clients prompting the company to donate $1,000 to the Food Bank. Thanks to Apptera and everyone in our community for their support this holiday season!

Pictured in the photo from left to right: Henry Vogel, President and CEO and Randy Haldeman, CMO of Apptera along with their kids plus Rhys, the ‘voice of Bobby’.

Health-promoting programs benefitting Second Harvest Food Bank

2008-12-30T15:33:00.000-08:00

I am constantly amazed at the efforts folks in the community put forth on our behalf.

Most recently, I received word that two organizations, both focused on health, are sharing their profits with Second Harvest Food Bank and consequently, our community.

Pounds for Poverty is a health improvement and weight loss program founded upon the concepts of long-term health and sound personal decision-making. It also has an altruistic lean, encouraging participants to engage in hunger-alleviation efforts while solving their own over-eating.

When it comes to weight loss, there is no one diet and no one-size-fits-all exercise program - there are dozens of ways to improve your chance of success. Sign up for a Pounds for Poverty workshop and learn how to realize your weight loss goals. A portion of your registration fee will be donated to Second Harvest.

World Runners is an organization interested in the physical fitness of its members and the financial fitness of its beneficiaries. Pictured to the left, World Runners President Bob Lord presents the 2008 check to Crystal Ulrich of Second Harvest - equivalent to 2400 meals.

Building on the success of the first two events, the 3rd Annual New Year Run for a Healthy World will be better than ever. To be held on January 1, 2009, the run will once again take place at the scenic Baylands Athletic Center course in Palo Alto. Both the 10K and 5K courses run over Baylands levees and through the marshlands on mostly dirt roads and are USAT&F certified. Proceeds from this race benefit Second Harvest Food Bank and several world organizations.

Many thanks to these two organizations and all the others that enable us to fulfill our mission. Here’s to a healthy New Year!

In the spirit of gratitude

2008-12-23T17:00:00.000-08:00

Today I saw a food distribution where 2200 families received the makings of a wonderful holiday meal. Imagine seeing that many people, all from your local community, lined up and being efficiently helped by hundreds of volunteers. At this particular site, the turn-out was 20% higher than last year, but they were prepared. They were prepared because of people like you who volunteer and donate and advocate on behalf of the hungry.

We thank you wholeheartedly for caring enough to make a difference.

I thought I'd share some letters I saw this afternoon posted in our copy room here at the Food Bank. I found them very inspirational! It has been a very busy year for everyone who works here, and we are very grateful for your support. We could not do it without you!

They are short, but sweet. Happy Holidays to you and your families!

From a client:

Dear Sweet People at Second Harvest,
Thank you so much for the beautiful Christmas gifts. You made my Christmas so nice. Gee, three bags of great food and all kinds of things I can’t afford, yet need.
Almost all of my family has passed away, so Christmas is most often my dog Buddy and me. I am a 66-year-old, disabled widow, and have adjusted well to my new life. My dog and I live a happy and peaceful life.
Thank you, once again, for making this Christmas so special.

name withheld

From someone who works at one of our Partner Agencies:

I just wanted to take a moment to recognize the amazing, impacting, tireless, difficult, life-changing work that all of you do, day in and day out, to help feed those in need! Those of us at the community agencies have the gift of seeing the smiles that your hard work brings, and I feel it is important to express to you the impact of your service, which is nothing less than heroic!

It takes an army of people, making the difficult decisions in management, processing orders, packaging food, driving all around the valley, to feed the thousands of people each week. Thank you for your non-stop dedication and passion for your neighbors in need. I hope you all have a relaxing Christmas and New Year!

name withheld

Companies forego holiday parties in the spirit of giving

2008-12-18T09:20:00.000-08:00

Heading into this holiday season, I, along with my colleagues, had a grim feeling of unease. Requests for food assistance were at an all time high and donations from one of our largest constituencies, corporations, were coming in at 50% below their typical level. With more people to serve and less resources to pull from, conversations among the management staff at the Food Bank took on a hushed “what if” tone as we inched closer to 2009.

While we are no way in the clear (to date we are about 1/3 of the way towards out $8 million financial goal) I am delighted to have learned late last week of five Silicon Valley-based companies who opted for forgo their holiday parties and donate the money they would have spent to the Food Bank. The companies include: Cypress Semiconductor, Electric Power Research Institute, Monolithic Power Systems, Tessera Technologies and one that wishes to remain anonymous.

Rick Neely, CFO of Monolithic Power Systems said, “we did not feel right having a holiday celebration when others could barely put food on their tables and feed their families.”

This level of sacrifice and dedication to helping those in need is wonderful. I am happy to say the spirit of giving and sharing is alive and well in Santa Clara and San Mateo Counties.

If you or your company would like to support our mission of feeding those in need in our community, please contact our Donor Hotline at 1-866-234-3663 or click to Donate Online.

Inspired blogger supports the Food Bank

2008-12-16T09:43:00.000-08:00

Maura, at the blog One Ping Only, has been inspired by her company's Food Drive to hold a promotion where she will donate $1 to the Food Bank for every legit comment posted (capped at $500)!

From her post:

But when I think about how many people are going hungry in a country that has so, so much, it makes me queasy. I know there are parents out there every day having to decide between feeding their families and paying their bills, and people who really don't know where their next meal is coming from, neither of which is something I've ever had to face. The older I've gotten, the more I appreciate how my mother was able to balance what should have been a comfortable income against life circumstances and make sure that we were never without, and probably even had more than we should have. There are too many people, and that number grows every day now, knowing that they're not going to make that balance happen.

Please head on over and check out the post - and leave a comment while you're at it!

A Special Holiday Gift From Beau-coup.com

2008-12-15T09:46:00.000-08:00

Charity Promotion: December 15th - December 19th

Beau-coup specializes in unique wedding and party favors, gifts, and party supplies. This holiday season, they’re encouraging people to give and give back by partnering with Second Harvest Food Bank. For five days, beginning on Monday, December 15th, Beau-coup will donate $5 to the Food Bank for every order over $30 they receive. In addition to this, Beau-coup is also hosting a food drive at its corporate headquarters in Mountain View. Drive ends Friday, December 19th.

For more details, please visit www.beau-coup.com.

Food Bank takes home 2008 CalWORKs Community Partner Award

2008-12-10T15:56:00.000-08:00

On December 9th, Second Harvest was honored by the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors as the Santa Clara County Social Services CalWORKs Community Partner of the Year at the 2008 Client Achievement Awards. Cindy McCown, Senior Director of Programs and Services, accepted the award from Ken Yeager, Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors District 4.

The partnership between the Food Bank and the County has always been cooperative. When the Welfare Reform Act hit in 1998, it required both agencies to work in a much stronger partnership. Together, they helped ensure food resources were in place before thousands of recipients were bumped off Welfare. To assist with this endeavor, the Food Connection Hotline was created with funding from the County. Not long after, The Safety Net Committee was set up to ensure that local human services organizations would work together to assist those living in poverty. With this history, the relationship between CalWORKs and the Food Bank was a natural one.

CalWORKs provides their clients with tools for a successful career and puts them on the path to self-sufficiency. Many of the clients find themselves both receiving food from and also putting in their volunteer hours at the Food Bank during their transition period.

One of our former volunteers, Pam Keo, was also an award recipient for the outstanding example she set. She is pictured to the left with Kristin Sulpizio, Director of Volunteer Services. There wasn't a dry eye in the house when we heard the story that took her from the brink of destruction to an eloquent, hard-working, caring mother of a rather feisty toddler who took over the stage!

In all, there were 11 client awards handed out, and each had their individual story read by one of the Supervisors. After all the depressing economic news that's been floating around, this was a time of inspiration and hope for the future. Employees and volunteers of Second Harvest get the energy to carry on through difficult times by seeing results like this. We can work together and make a difference—adding possibility and prospect to one real-life story at a time.

Photos by Poppy Pembroke

Volunteer Spotlight: Tony Nguyen of Cupertino High School

2008-12-10T15:14:00.000-08:00

Gifts come in all sorts of shapes and sizes. Enter Tony Nguyen, a senior at Cupertino High School. He came to volunteer last summer and spent an average of 10 hours per week throughout the summer months helping in many capacities. Knowing a little bit about the Food Bank, Tony wanted to give back. He helped with spreadsheets, capturing data, creating forms, updating collaterals and more.

When school started, Tony wanted to increase his efforts. One of our goals at the Food Bank has been to encourage youth volunteers take on leadership roles - and in this area, Tony fit the bill. With very little guidance, Tony created the Teen Ambassador Pilot Program, where youth volunteers assist staff with volunteer registration at food sorts and help educate other volunteers on hunger issues in our community.

He created a work schedule, sourced the people he needed through his school, and enrolled ten volunteers! All this was accomplished within a 6-week period. Tony even placed his experience on Facebook.

Because of Tony's enthusiasm, leadership and talents, this program launched successfully. The Food Bank will use this service model to grow youth programs in the future.

Learn more about volunteering at the Food Bank:

Visit our website or contact Kristin Sulpizio, Director of Volunteer Services.

Take Action! Senators Support Needed - Economic Recovery Package

2008-11-14T13:13:00.000-08:00

Next week, 60 Senators will be needed to prevent millions of people from losing their jobs, exhausting unemployment benefits, going without food, and becoming homeless. Read more information about essential components for an economic recovery package in Towards Shared Recovery.

Please contact our senators and encourage them to support the economic recovery package. The nutrition elements could have positive impacts on those we serve. Below you will see more details on how to take action and links to further information.

An overview of the nutrition component is as follows:

$10 Billion - Food Stamps
$450 Billion - Women, Infants and Children (WIC)
$30 Million - Commodity Supplemental Food Program
$165 Million - The Emergency Food Assistance Program - This is a program that provides food commodities to the Second Harvest Food Bank.

Call your Senators toll-free at 800-473-6711.

Congress will be in session during the week of November 17. Call anytime between now and November 19.

Here's what you need to do:

Call the toll-free number; you'll be connected to the Capitol Switchboard. Ask to speak to one of your Senators.

Find your senators here, upper right corner: http://www.senate.gov

Tell them: I'm a constituent, and want Senator _____to know that our state desperately needs an economic recovery package that includes help for people being hurt now,such as: food stamps,unemployment benefits,state aid to prevent health care and other cuts,jobs to allow energy efficient rebuilding, and help for people in danger of losing their homes. We need your vote for recovery that works - for our people and for the economy!

Then call back and ask to speak to our other Senator.

-----------------------------------------

If they fail to act, time will be lost that could have broad impacts. From now until January, people will face loss of all that is most basic: jobs, homes, food, health care. As always, people with the lowest incomes face the most serious threats. Failure to invest in rebuilding our infrastructure, preventing state cuts, creating needed jobs and preventing loss of homes will make the recession deeper and longer. Every week counts in getting our economy back on track.

Attention All Philanthropic Chess Enthusiasts!

2008-11-12T17:22:00.000-08:00

Combine your love of chess with support for the Food Bank! We are pleased to announce that Second Harvest Food Bank of Santa Clara and San Mateo Counties has been selected as the beneficiary of a chess tournament hosted by Chess USA and Chess-For-Charity.com!

Chess-For-Charity.com has found a way to leverage very small individual entrance fees from thousands of people into enormous cash prizes for the players/donors and also into significant contributions to Second Harvest Food Bank. Based on participation, the prize money can be more than 6 figures.

TO ENTER
The entry fee is $2.00. You don't need a PayPal account to pay for this; you can pay with your credit or debit card as well.

Click here to register at the site and optionally enter in the chess tournament.

First round pairing will be announced through the ChessForDollars.com website and via your email on or about 2008-11-25 12:07:27. Then you will have 7 days to use the on-line scheduler to agree on a start time with your opponent. This process will be repeated about every 7 days for each round until the winners are declared. Conveniently, you can pick a different start time for each round!

This tournament is also an attempt to set the Guinness World Record for most players in an on-line tournament. If you enter the tournament and make at least one move in the first round, we will notify you when you can download a personalized certificate attesting to your part in this achievement if the record is set.

Please visit the Chess USA Second Harvest Tournament site to learn more.

Community Support in the blogosphere!

2008-11-07T10:12:00.000-08:00

There are many ways to help the Food Bank turn its mission into a reality - from the assorted volunteer opportunities we have, to running or participating in a food and fund drive, gathering excess office supplies to donate, joining the Monthly Harvest Club... the list goes on. But a new trend is one we are really excited about. Blogging is a way to share thoughts and ideas not only with your immediate community, but also with the world!

By writing about why you support Second Harvest Food Bank on your blog, you can reach many, many more people than we ever could on our own. One person really CAN make a difference!

Please read Rokin' Robot Lobster's post here. Along with a cool video about not stopping with your vote (her boss is in it!) she talks about why she donates monthly to Second Harvest to support her local community.

Little Field of Greens also is spreading the word about the Food Bank on her blog, and although she's stumping for us during our busiest (and most crucial) time of the year, she remembered our most important adage - "People need to eat year 'round!"

And an oldie but goodie, Rainmaker Properties posted a great blog about us last August.

So thank you to the bloggers - calls for assistance are up 55% from last year, most of those are people seeking help for the first time. We truly value and appreciate your support. May your words inspire many!

Halloween Party to Benefit Second Harvest Food Bank

2008-10-23T15:50:00.000-07:00

Friday, October 31 - 8:30 pm
Zephyr at 2277 Alameda St., San Francisco
Hosted by Journey Productions and benefiting Second Harvest Food Bank of Santa Clara and San Mateo Counties, this night of fun will feature dance performances by Ronnie Reddick’s La Femme Panache & City Slam and an array of tasty hors d’oeuvres and liquid refreshments. This promises to be a night of musical enjoyment! Each ticket is $50 and includes all entertainment, food, and fun. And 10% of each ticket is being donated directly to Second Harvest Food Bank.

To purchase tickets for this party, click here.

For more information, view the flyer.

Hunger a Rising Concern Among Americans as Economy Falters

2008-10-21T15:50:00.000-07:00

Public Wants Issue Discussed in Campaign; Recent Polling Shows Need for Political Leadership on Hunger and Poverty

American families are increasingly worried about being able to afford enough food for their families and a substantial majority believes eliminating hunger should be a priority of the federal government and the next administration, according to a new review of recent public opinion research.

The review, commissioned by the Food Research and Action Center (FRAC) and conducted by Peter D. Hart Associates and McLaughlin & Associates, also concluded that Americans believe that the nation is not doing enough to combat hunger-related problems and that candidates for public office need to speak about solutions to hunger.

“As the economy continues its downward trend, concerns about hunger will only intensify,” said Jim Weill, president of the Food Research and Action Center. “This is an issue that candidates have not focused on, but one that needs to be part of the political debate for President, for Congress, for Governorships and for state legislatures. Voters deserve to hear exactly where candidates stand and their plans to address the problem.”

The review looked at the past eight years of public opinion research on nutrition, food insecurity, hunger and federal spending on domestic programs to combat these problems.

Download the summary of findings | Download the full report

Visit the Food Research and Action Center's website for more information: www.frac.org

2008 Holiday Food & Fund Drive Kicks Off For Second Harvest Food Bank of Santa Clara and San Mateo Counties

2008-10-13T10:00:00.000-07:00

Economic Climate Has Food Bank Concerned as They Strive to Meet Increasing Need

San Jose, CA – October 13, 2008 – Second Harvest Food Bank, the main source of food for nonprofit agencies serving the hungry in Santa Clara and San Mateo Counties, announced today the kick off of its 2008 Holiday Food & Fund Drive. This year’s goal to collect $8 million in financial donations and 1.7 million pounds in food donations reflects the highest ever for the organization.

“In these tough economic times, we are seeing an unprecedented number of people seeking food assistance – some for the very first time,” said Michelle Sklar, Senior Director of Development for Second Harvest Food Bank. “Now, more than ever, our services are needed to ensure that those being negatively affected by the economic downturn, layoffs and high food prices have access to the healthy food they need to feed themselves and their families. We are working hard to meet the rise in demand and need the public’s help to achieve our mission.”

Every year over 1,800 organizations participate in the annual drive making it one of the largest in the country. This year’s Food & Fund Drive is being co-chaired by John W. Thompson, Chairman and CEO of Symantec Corporation and Bill Watkins, CEO of Seagate. These high profile executives are taking time out of their busy schedules to support the drive because they are passionate about the work the Food Bank does.

“This holiday season is a critical time. No donation is too big or too small,” said Keith Flagler, CEO at Second Harvest. “We are asking everyone to give what they can. Because 96 cents of every dollar donated to the Food Bank is used to feed hungry people in our community, donors can be assured their contribution will be put to its intended use.”

The kick off celebration takes place:

Tuesday, October 14th
11:00 am – 1:00 pm
Second Harvest Food Bank’s San Carlos Distribution Center
1051 Bing Street, San Carlos

Event Highlights include:

Hors d'oeuvres prepared from food reflective of the items distributed to our clients
Welcome addresses from food drive chairs: John W. Thompson, Chairman and CEO of Symantec and Bill Watkins, CEO Seagate
Hunger Index Project: An Overview of Hunger in Santa Clara and San Mateo Counties - Presentation Cindy McCown, Senior Director of Programs and Services at Second Harvest
Voices of Hunger photo DVD – see hunger through the eyes of children
Warehouse Tours

Because of the high cost of living in Santa Clara and San Mateo Counties, people often have to choose between paying for housing, utilities, transportation, medical expenses and buying enough nutritious food to feed themselves and their families. Second Harvest Food Bank provides the people need to sustain their lives so they don’t have to make that choice. Last year alone, Second Harvest distributed 34.6 million pounds of food to 176,000 low-income individuals each month; 67% are families with children and 12% are seniors.

Bills signed by Governor Schwarzenegger to assist the hungry in California

2008-10-02T10:13:00.000-07:00

Governor Schwarzenegger signed three bills that will have positive impacts on people receiving public food benefits. They are:

AB 433 (Beall) Allows for “categorical” eligibility for Medi-Cal recipients to access Food Stamps without another application. It also renames the Food Stamp Program. Basically, reduces an application barrier.

Approx. 2 years ago our Food Bank and California Food Policy Advocates met with Assembly Member Jim Beall. We asked him to sponsor this legislation for us. Below is a communication from the Governor about this bill.

AB 2300 (Laird) Automatically allows enrollment for children into free school meal program if their family receives Medi-Cal benefits. Basically reduces application barrier.

AB 2726 (Leno) Allows for the healthy Purchase Pilot Program which will provide more fresh produce.

To the Members of the California State Assembly:

I am signing Assembly Bill 433 because I believe it is important to provide food and nutrition benefits to hungry families in our struggling economic times. In California, there are currently more than 2 million people that are eligible for federal food stamp benefits, but for many reasons, these individuals do not apply. This bill will help an additional 32,000 households receive federal food stamp benefits, avoid hunger and stimulate our economy through enhanced federal funds.

Food policy experts and the Department of Social Services have worked hard to design this bill to provide the greatest number of families with benefits at the lowest possible administrative cost. A $4.5 million investment will result in more than $110 million in federal food stamp benefits for California families and an increase of more than $2.5 million in state tax revenues.

In signing this bill, I am mindful of our state’s ongoing fiscal challenges. Therefore, I direct my Administration to fund this new program expansion with existing federal reimbursements that have already been received for the Food Stamp Nutrition and Education program. This will eliminate any potential General Fund impacts. For these reasons, I am pleased to sign this bill.

Sincerely,
Arnold Schwarzenegger