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Food bank says demand surged after federal shutdown; county funds school-based distributions
Summary
2nd Harvest Food Bank told trustees mass distributions exceeded expectations and the agency ran out of food; the Santa Cruz County Office of Education has contracted $250,000 to support school-based food distribution and asked for ongoing community support.
Superintendent Dr. Sabah introduced Erica Padilla Chavez, chief executive officer of Second Harvest Food Bank, to brief the board on food-distribution work and federal impacts. Padilla Chavez said a county-coordinated mass distribution at the fairgrounds drew more cars than expected and the food bank "ran out of food," forcing partners to issue gift cards; she said the institution has shifted fundraising burdens to philanthropy when federal support changes.
Padilla Chavez described the food bank's financial model—historically more philanthropic revenue than government contracts—and appealed to the board and community to help with donations of shelf-stable food and funds. The COE has contracted $250,000 to support school-based food distribution and the county and other local partners have contributed additional funds. Trustees asked about preferred donations (Padilla Chavez listed rice, beans, pasta, pasta sauce, low-sugar cereal, tuna and peanut butter) and about coordination to use leftover school lunch food; staff said they would research food-safety and USDA rules before recommending an approach.
