Our Programs

How We Help

When people need food, they often face other challenges too—tight budgets, housing stress, or trouble accessing benefits. We focus on more than emergency food: we offer nutrition education, help with benefit sign-up (like CalFresh), and referrals to other local resources so families can get the support they need.

Our programs are designed to work together. Food plus education and referrals can help people move from short-term relief toward longer-term stability.

Food Distribution

Weekly Choice Pantry

At our main pantry, visitors choose their own food based on household size, dietary needs, and what they can use. You pick what works for your family instead of receiving a fixed box, which means less waste and food you’ll actually eat and prepare.

Mobile Pantry

Getting to our main pantry isn’t easy for everyone—some people don’t have a car, live far away, or have limited mobility. Our mobile pantry brings food to neighborhoods, senior housing, and areas with few grocery options. We use refrigerated trucks so we can offer fresh produce, dairy, and protein along with shelf-stable items at rotating sites across the area.

Schedule and locations are posted on our website and social media, and shared through partner agencies and flyers. No sign-up is required; you can just show up. Quantities are standard per visit, though we try to give more when we can for larger households.

Kids & Families

Weekend Backpack Program

Many kids eat breakfast and lunch at school but have little at home on weekends. We partner with local elementary schools to send students home on Fridays with easy, kid-friendly food—cereal, shelf-stable milk, fruit cups, granola bars, and similar items that don’t require cooking. Schools help identify families who could use the support; distribution is done in a low-key way so kids aren’t singled out.

Summer Food Support

When school is out, families have to cover more meals at home. During June, July, and August we offer extra food to households with school-age kids, with a focus on simple, nutritious options that work for busy families.

Nutrition Education

Nutrition Workshops

Having healthy food helps most when you know how to use it. We offer free workshops on meal planning, reading nutrition labels, cooking on a budget, and cooking with the kinds of foods we distribute. Content is developed with registered dietitians and follows standard nutrition guidelines (like MyPlate). Topics include food safety, batch cooking, cooking with beans and grains, and diabetes- or heart-healthy options. Workshops are offered in English and Spanish, with interpretation for other languages on request. Everyone gets recipe cards and handouts to take home.

Cooking Demos

Each month we hold cooking demos where you can watch and taste budget-friendly recipes made with ingredients you can get from our pantry. We focus on simple techniques and ways to use seasonal produce and pantry staples. You’ll get recipe cards with ingredients, steps, and cost info to try at home.

Benefits & Referrals

CalFresh (SNAP) Help

Our staff help you through the CalFresh application process—checking if you’re likely eligible, gathering documents, filling out forms, and following up on your application. We can also help with interviews, denials, or recertification. Come during walk-in hours (Tuesday and Thursday 10:00 AM–3:00 PM) or call to schedule an appointment. Help is free and available in multiple languages.

Other Community Resources

Need for food often goes along with other needs—housing, health care, jobs, or utilities. We keep a list of local programs and can point you to rental assistance, health insurance sign-up, job training, legal aid, counseling, and other services in the area.

Programs for Seniors

Senior Distribution Days

Older adults often have different needs—fixed incomes, health-related diets, or preference for easy-to-open and single-serving items. Once a month we hold distributions focused on seniors, with lower-sodium and diabetic-friendly options and easy-to-prepare foods. The events are also a chance to connect with other seniors and learn about resources like Medicare counseling and local senior programs.