The Scotts Valley City Council on an unanimous vote directed staff to provide up to $10,000 from the city general fund to support local food assistance programs, splitting the money 50/50 between Second Harvest Food Bank of Santa Cruz County and Valley Churches United and directing staff to post resource information on the city website and organize a community food drive.

The action came after a presentation from a Second Harvest representative who described steep and partly permanent cuts to donations and federal program disruptions that have left food banks across Santa Cruz County scrambling to fill a multimillion‑dollar shortfall. "Our mission is simple: we're committed to building a thriving community where everyone has access to nutritious food and essential services," the presenter said, outlining a local picture in which Second Harvest supplied more than 700,000 pounds of food to Scotts Valley last year, a value the presenter said equated to about $1.3 million.

Why it matters: County and nonprofit leaders warned council members that interruptions and changes in SNAP/CalFresh benefits, plus a decline in donated food, are creating an immediate need for cash and coordinated distribution. City staff told the council Valley Churches United serves 873 households in the Scotts Valley service area (1,243 adults, 704 children, 322 seniors) and that CalFresh participation in the city limits is about 510 individuals. Those figures helped shape the council's decision to provide short‑term city funding alongside volunteer and community‑driven donation efforts.

Details of the council action: Council directed staff to provide up to $10,000 from the general fund, split equally between Second Harvest and Valley Churches United, and to coordinate a community food drive and post clear resource and volunteer information on the city website and social media. The motion passed unanimously. The council did not name a specific mover or seconder in the public minutes, and the record shows all council members present voting in favor.

What presenters and pantry operators said: Second Harvest emphasized that donated dollars stretch further than individual canned donations in the current environment. The presenter explained that food banks often outsource procurement and can buy bulk protein and staples more cheaply than retail prices, while donations require additional staff time to inventory and process.

Danny Reber, executive director of Valley Churches United, told the council, "there's people having to decide between buying food and paying their rent," and described urgent shortages of protein and soup and the need to buy food to meet demand. Paul McClellan of Gateway Church said his pantry serves about 65 families weekly and has limited storage, making cash or gift cards more immediately useful than bulk food donations in some cases.

Staff and logistics: City Manager Molly Legault and staff reported that the city can allocate up to $10,000 without affecting the next year's community grant commitments. Staff also agreed to coordinate logistics for a community food‑barrel drive and to post one consolidated resource page listing local pantries, distribution schedules, and volunteer sign‑ups so residents can both find help and offer support.

What remains uncertain: Second Harvest and local agencies warned that federal contingency funds are temporary and that longer‑term solutions require state or federal action. Second Harvest said emergency federal allocations do not restore the full prior benefit level and that formula changes could substantially reduce individual household payouts. Agency representatives encouraged the city and residents to focus on cash donations and volunteer support to maximize short‑term purchasing power and distribution speed.

Forward look: Council members urged immediate outreach and education to make residents aware of where to give and how to volunteer. The city will work with Second Harvest and Valley Churches United to schedule collection points and publicize volunteer opportunities and is expected to return to council with any recommended follow‑up if the countywide emergency response evolves.