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last mo.

Second Harvest Launches Holiday Drive Targeting 5.5 Million Meals as SNAP Delays Spur Demand

The food bank estimates roughly $1 million a month is required to sustain expanded distributions until federal benefits resume.

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Overview

  • Second Harvest kicked off the campaign Nov. 6 in Aptos, setting a goal to reach 5.5 million meals by March.
  • The food bank typically serves about 70,000 county residents monthly but expects to assist more than 100,000 people this month due to delayed SNAP/CalFresh benefits.
  • Leaders say distributions have been expanded and mass distribution events are being planned to meet the surge in need.
  • Local partners have reported more than $1 million in pledged support, pending approvals, including $500,000 from the county, $250,000 from the County Office of Education, and $100,000 each from Watsonville, Santa Cruz, and the Community Foundation.
  • Roughly 33,000 local SNAP recipients have seen an interruption in about $6.5 million in monthly food purchasing power during the federal shutdown.