From its beginnings in 1976 feeding the senior citizens of San Joaquin County to today, with 93 pantry sites across San Joaquin and Stanislaus counties, the Second Harvest Food Bank is truly ‘sharing the harvest’ to feed those in need.

Second Harvest Food Bank, based in Manteca, has a significant impact on food pantry and feeding programs across the area, providing more than 19.9 million pounds of food to seven counties.

“We are incredibly thankful for the unwavering support from our community. Second Harvest is able to continue our work each day thanks to the generosity we receive—not only through donations but also through the time people give as volunteers. Your contributions make a real difference in the lives of those we serve,” said Second Harvest CEO Jessica Vaughan.

According to Vaughan, Second Harvest has undergone significant changes over the last five years, particularly in response to the pandemic and the evolving landscape of hunger in the community. 

“We’ve seen tremendous growth in the amount of food we provide, and this expansion continues year over year. Our programs have also evolved to better meet community needs, such as our Fresh Food 4 Kids Program and school pantries,” said Vaughan.

“Our school site partners now have the flexibility to choose how they support their families. Many opt for onsite pantries that allow for continuous service throughout the month, while others prefer a bi-weekly model that provides food for several days at a time. Currently, we are distributing 19.6 million pounds of food annually to the community, nearing our highest distribution levels during the pandemic.”

As the cost of living continues to rise, the food bank is witnessing a larger influx of families seeking assistance. 

“Additionally, SB1383  opened new doors for partnerships as retailers and food providers are now required to redirect usable food instead of discarding it. This legislation has further strengthened our relationships with food donors and agency partners,” she said.

Second Harvest is currently piloting medical pantries in Stanislaus County. These pantries are strategically located on the campuses of medical facilities, placing food directly where it’s needed most. Neighbors who visit these pantries receive a prescription from their medical team, allowing them to access nutritious food without the need to go elsewhere—effectively removing barriers to access. 

“The feedback from this program has been overwhelmingly positive, with participants reporting improvements in their overall health and well-being,” said Vaughan.

Vaughan said that people may be surprised to learn about the food bank’s partnership with Amazon. 

“Over the past year, Amazon has played a crucial role in restructuring our home delivery program, enabling us to serve more people than ever before. While we managed the program on our own in the past, we couldn’t achieve the growth we envisioned. Thanks to Amazon’s logistics expertise and the use of their flex drivers, we’ve been able to expand the program to reach neighbors in both counties twice a month. Additionally, Amazon supports deliveries to some of our medical pantries in Stanislaus County, freeing up our vehicles for other deliveries and pickups throughout the week, reducing stress on our fleet,” she said.

The food bank’s greatest needs throughout the fall and winter are donations and volunteers. 

“The most impactful way to support our mission is through monetary donations, which help us keep our operations running smoothly and allow us to purchase essential food items for our community. During the holiday season, the number of people relying on us increases significantly, and we want to ensure we can continue meeting this growing need,” said Vaughan.

“In addition to donations, we face a strong demand for volunteers—not just for our own operations but also for our agency partners across San Joaquin and Stanislaus counties. Many of our agency partners are run by volunteers, and they could always use extra hands, especially during the holidays, but also throughout the year.”

To learn more about volunteering or donating, visit: https://localfoodbank.org