The average food price has skyrocketed due to corona virus pandemic and recent events. The FAO Food Price Index has saw a fresh record high of nearly 160 points.
A shocking 60% price increase over the 2014-2016 base period shows that hunger is a public health issue of critical importance.
The most vulnerable demographic of society is taking the brunt of this economic pressure. Now more than ever, low-income families must rely on California Free Clinics, California Food Stamps, and food banks.
This guide will list helpful information about Food Bank in San Diego County, California and organizations that can help curb hunger, how you can use their services and where to find them.
What is a Food Bank?
Food banks are non-profit charitable organizations that assist financially vulnerable populations by distributing food. Their main objectives is to help low-income individual and families by providing food.
They will work through other 501(c)(3) non-profit organizations like food pantries and soup kitchens. Sometimes they distribute the food themselves via mobile pantry.
Food Bank in San Diego County, California serves as a single collection and distribution point for food donations. They operate much like a for-profit food distributor, but they do not use retailers. Instead, they may use church food banks, charities, and other non-profit food pantries to provide food to the people to fight hunger.
How the Food Bank Works?
- 1. Food is donated to a food bank.
- 2. Its stored in a big climate controlled warehouse.
- 3. Food Bank in San Diego County, California distributes food to various non-profits for distribution.
- 4. Food reaches to who are in need.
Who can use Food Banks?
Many Food Bank in San Diego County, California and food pantries are locally run, with others managed at the state or federal level. Qualification to receive nutrition assistance from food programs depends on the type.
There are different qualifying requirements, but many food banks have none. Just show up during their days and times of operation, and they will help if they are able.
Here are the tips while .
- It is highly advisable to call ahead before you arrive!
- Ask about any eligibility or documentation requirements they may have.
- If required, bring all required documents when you use their services.
Second Harvest Food Bank
Second Harvest Food Bank was the first one established in California in 1972 and is the second oldest in the US. It operates multiple distribution centers across the United States.
Impact of Second Harvest Food Bank is huge, It helps 85,000 Santa Cruz residents avoid missing meals and empty stomachs.
Second Harvest Food Bank in San Diego County, California is easing the burden of impossible choices for families between food, housing, medicine, and other necessities.
St. Mary's Food Bank
The St. Mary's Food Bank was a first local food bank ever established in the United States in 1967. The St. Mary's Food Bank mission is food security and hunger relief for all Americans.
The St. Mary's distributes millions of pounds of food to the hungry each year, It also operates its own food pantries to allow allow people to access food directly from their warehouses.
It also offer specialized after-school programs for kids and career training for adults.
Church Food Bank Food Bank in San Diego County, California
Church Food Bank Food Bank in San Diego County, California serve a hot, nutritious lunch 365 days a year, even in the face of terrible weather and ever-increasing demand.
Church Food Bank welcome anyone who is in need of a meal, regardless of the person's circumstance, with no questions asked. It also provide showers, laundry, mail, I.D. assistance and other essential services.
Journey Community Church - Food Bank
Three times each month Journey’s Food Bank provides food for 125+ families. In addition, the Food Bank provides food for homeless and/or struggling people that show up at Journey virtually every day. Finally, once each month, the Food Bank provide fresh fruits & vegetables and donated food from Olive Garden to more than 125 people at two, self-care senior facilities. Serve the needy. Bless and be blessed!
Services provided :
- Prepared Foods
- Fresh Produce
- After School Snacks
- Senior Meal Delivery
- Emergency Box
Appointments :
You can privately and easily book your appointment online for select services 24/7. For the full set of services, you can call (619) 464-4544 to book your appointment.
Address :
8363 Center Dr Ste 6C,
La Mesa, CA 91942.
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Hours Of Operations :
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Help Residents of Cities:
- La Mesa
Help Residents of Counties:
- San Diego
Samoa Independent Full Gospel Church Food Bank
We Distribute Free Food Every First and Last Friday of Every Month. Time: First Friday of the Month: 9 am until Food Runs Out (open to Lemongrove residents only); Last Friday of the Month: 9 am until Food Runs Out (open to EVERYONE!!!). First Come First Serve!!
Services provided :
- Prepared Foods
- Fresh Produce
- After School Snacks
- Senior Meal Delivery
- Emergency Box
Appointments :
You can privately and easily book your appointment online for select services 24/7. For the full set of services, you can call (619) 251-6834 to book your appointment.
Address :
2055 Skyline Dr,
Lemon Grove, CA 91945.
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Hours Of Operations :
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Help Residents of Cities:
- Lemon Grove
Help Residents of Counties:
- San Diego
Feeding America
John van Hengel, the founder of St. Mary's Food Bank, went on to create a national organization for food banks. The Feeding America organization is a leader in the nation's domestic hunger-relief efforts.
The Coronavirus epidemic put even more pressure on America's most vulnerable citizens. Feeding America has helped serve 6.6 billion meals to date.
The Feeding America have grown through donations and other charitable efforts to be able to deliver much-needed food via food rescue, hunger relief programs, and disaster response.
North County's Food Bank
This past year, North County's Food Bank worked with 112 Community Partner Agencies to distribute well over 1.94 million pounds of food. Food donated from grocers, farmers, and wholesalers, and through food drives conducted by schools, businesses, and churches provided over 1.5 million meals to over 243,338 individuals last year. Hunger has touched thousands of families impacted by job losses as a result of the economic downturn which began in 2008. Over the past 5-years, demand has remained at an all-time high for North County's Food Bank. With grant funding from the United States Department of Agriculture, NCCS conducted research on food insecurity in the region and created a plan for a Hunger Free North County.
Services provided :
- Prepared Foods
- Fresh Produce
- After School Snacks
- Senior Meal Delivery
- Emergency Box
Appointments :
You can privately and easily book your appointment online for select services 24/7. For the full set of services, you can call (760) 761-1140 to book your appointment.
Address :
680 Rancheros Dr Ste 100,
San Marcos, CA 92069.
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Help Residents of Cities:
- San Marcos
Help Residents of Counties:
- San Diego
Santee Food Bank
The Food Bank provides emergency food assistance to low and middle income residence of Santee. We provide a food pack to residents one time per month. We are an all volunteer organization with no paid salaries. Our highly committed staff disperses food from our location : every Wednesday and Friday and the first & third Saturday from 9-11 am. The Food Bank was established by some of the churches of Santee. Santee Food Bank is under auspices of The Santee Ministerial Council, which was established in 1983.
Services provided :
- Prepared Foods
- Fresh Produce
- After School Snacks
- Senior Meal Delivery
- Emergency Box
Appointments :
You can privately and easily book your appointment online for select services 24/7. For the full set of services, you can call (619) 448-4456 to book your appointment.
Address :
8824 Cottonwood Ave,
Santee, CA 92071.
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Hours Of Operations :
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Help Residents of Cities:
- Santee
Help Residents of Counties:
- San Diego
Alpine Food Bank
We provide emergency food assistance to individuals and families regardless of economic status. We make every effort to have food available at all times. However, food is given on a first come, first served, while supplies last basis. Open: Wednesday ONLY (While supplies last) 9:00a.m. – 2:00p.m. Please provide a picture I.D.
Services provided :
- Prepared Foods
- Fresh Produce
- After School Snacks
- Senior Meal Delivery
- Emergency Box
Appointments :
You can privately and easily book your appointment online for select services 24/7. For the full set of services, you can call (619) 445-5508 to book your appointment.
Address :
1920 Arnold Way,
Alpine, CA 91901.
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Hours Of Operations :
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Help Residents of Cities:
- Alpine
Help Residents of Counties:
- San Diego
Jacobs & Cushman San Diego Food Bank
The Jacobs & Cushman San Diego Food Bank is the largest hunger-relief organization in San Diego County. Last year, the Food Bank distributed nearly 20 million pounds of food, and the Food Bank served, on average, 320,000 people per month in San Diego County. The Food Bank receives food from the USDA, food manufacturers, food retailers, the agricultural sector, food drives, and through financial contributions that enable us to purchase protein-rich foods, fresh produce, and dry staple foods such as beans, oatmeal, and rice. We also benefit from the generosity of more than 28,000 volunteers annually that help to sort and distribute donated and purchased food products. The Food Bank works to acquire, store, organize, and distribute food through a network of 330 nonprofit partner organizations that include food pantries, soup kitchens, homeless and residential shelters, youth programs, senior centers, and low-income daycare centers in communities throughout San Diego County. The Food Bank also distributes food directly to those in need at over 150 distribution sites throughout the county. In 2010, the families of Joan and Irwin Jacobs and Stephen and Marjorie Cushman donated $1.76 million to pay off the Food Bank’s mortgage on our Miramar warehouse making the organization effectively debt free. To honor the generosity and long-term support of both families, the Food Bank was renamed the Jacobs & Cushman San Diego Food Bank.
Services provided :
- Prepared Foods
- Fresh Produce
- After School Snacks
- Senior Meal Delivery
- Emergency Box
Appointments :
You can privately and easily book your appointment online for select services 24/7. For the full set of services, you can call (858) 527-1419 to book your appointment.
Address :
9850 Distribution Ave,
San Diego, CA 92121.
Get Directions
Hours Of Operations :
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Help Residents of Cities:
- San Diego
Help Residents of Counties:
- San Diego
The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is a federally run program that helps obtain badly needed food for low-income people and families. SNAP program is also known as Food Stamp.
SNAP benefits in San Diego County supplied approximately 40 million Americans in 2018. It is the most extensive nutrition program administered by Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) and is a vital component of the social safety net for low-income Americans.
In 2017, roughly 9.2% of American households obtained SNAP benefits, with about 16.7% of all children living in homes benefiting.
The program had used paper "stamps" or coupons in the past – worth $1 (brown), $5 (blue), and $10 (green). These were bound into small booklets of various denominations, to be torn out individually and used in single-use exchanges.
Free Food Programs Summary
| Acronym | Name | For Moms & Kids | For Seniors | For Food Bank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SNAP | Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program | Yes | Yes | No |
| TEFAP | The Emergency Food Assistance Program | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| CSFP | The Commodity Supplemental Food Program | No | Yes | Yes |
| CACFP | The Child and Adult Care Food Program | Yes | Yes | No |
| NSLP | The National School Lunch Program | Yes | No | No |
| SBP | The School Breakfast Program | Yes | No | No |
| SFSP | The Summer Food Service Program | Yes | No | No |
| WIC | Women, Infants, and Children | Yes | No | No |
FAQ(Frequently Asked Questions)
1. What is the difference between a food bank and a food pantry?
Independent community food pantries are self-governing and usually distribute food to their clients on a once-a-month basis. A food bank is the storehouse for millions of pounds of food and other products that go out to the community. A food pantry functions as the arms that reach out to that community directly.
2. What kind of food is at a food Bank?
Specifically, San Diego County food banks often need items like:
- Peanut butter
- Canned soup
- Canned fruit
- Canned vegetables
- Pasta
- Canned beans
- Canned stew
- Canned fish
3. How do you qualify for San Diego County food bank assistance?
To qualify for food bank assistance you must provide:
- Current state-issued ID
- Social Security numbers of all household members
- Current electric bill to prove residence
- Bank Statement for income verification