By Tara Fatemi Walker
Second Harvest Food Bank’s Holiday Food & Fund Drive, which goes through Jan. 15, is a great example of how people’s contributions can make a significant impact on hungry Santa Cruz County individuals and families.
“We are grateful for everyone’s hard work and creativity as we collaborate to feed our community,” said Second Harvest CEO Erica Padilla-Chavez.
Twin Lakes Church, a major donor, inspired long-time member Shelly Hernandez to create her own fundraiser. About 10 years ago Hernandez was listening to Pastor René Schlaepfer talk about the drive.
Shelly Hernandez turned her passion for cooking to raising money for Second Harvest Food Bank. • Photo Credit: Michael Cinque
“I had this crazy brainstorm of an idea of what we could do as a family to support this,” Hernandez recalled. “Pastor Rene always asks, ‘What is your passion? What is your mission in life and how can it be used to encourage others?’ And then it just clicked. I love to cook.”
Hernandez started by hosting a small Christmas party at the family home with about 25 people: it’s now a large annual Open House and Food Drive with 80-90 attendees. It’s free, but participants make a financial or food donation for Second Harvest.
“Each year we are beyond blessed by the generosity of so many,” Hernandez said.
This year the event raised over $7,500, equal to 22,500 meals.
Because of the nonprofit’s relationships with partners including local farms and stores, each dollar becomes three nutritious meals for those in need.
Four years ago, Hernandez added a six-course spring dinner with advance ticket sales. The 2024 spring dinner raised $7,000.
“The events we host are never about our family, but what happens when we look beyond ourselves,” said Hernandez. “Each of us has something we love to do, that can be used to serve others. It is a blessing to live with a purpose and give back.”
Mary Doyle, owner of Park Avenue Fitness, is a lifelong Santa Cruz resident whose parents met at Watsonville High. Her ties to food banks go back to the 1980s when her uncle was executive director at an Alaska food bank. “There have always been Second Harvest barrels everywhere I’ve worked. I regularly donated food to these. When I opened Park Avenue Fitness, where our focus is bringing health to our county in the way of fitness, we started participating in the fund part of this drive!”
At first, she was intimidated by the drive’s large financial goals.
“There are all of these fabulous, giving, generous corporations we have in our county. And you start thinking, why am I even bothering? I am a drop. But let me tell you, as we know in this county, a drop can easily become a flood.”
Doyle understands that for Second Harvest, the biggest drops are the cash donations. Park Avenue Fitness’s main Food Bank fundraiser is a Health Fair and Raffle, and all monthly events (including fitness workshops) partially benefit Second Harvest. This effort funded 12,000 meals last year, nearly 14,000 meals so far this year.
“No matter how small or big your business is, I encourage you to get involved,” said Doyle.
Jazzercise Santa Cruz has donated to the drive for decades. Local franchise owner Robin Berkery, who took over the business in 2019, maintains this philanthropic tradition. On Thanksgiving Day, she offers a free team-taught workout at the Capitola Mall studio and asks attendees to make a monetary donation. Everything she collects goes to the Food Bank.
“Our amazing small but mighty Jazzercise community contributed $3,013 (9,039 meals) this time,” said Berkery.
Dignity Health Dominican Hospital has supported the Food Bank for 20-plus years.
“We have a shared mission to improve the health and quality of life for our residents,” said CEO and President Dr. Nanette Mickiewicz.
Every year, Dominican staff create gift baskets. “We started years ago with very small, themed baskets,” said Mickiewicz. “They have morphed into an absolute extravaganza. We compete within the hospital to have the best basket.”
Last year, the hospital raffled 20 baskets. Through those and other sponsorships, they funded 140,913 meals. They aim to meet or exceed that number this year.
A few other fundraisers: Sante Adairius Rustic Ales partnered with the Rio Theatre at a Mountainfilm on Tour screening last month. A portion of beer and ticket proceeds benefited Second Harvest. In November, Aptos High organized the 8th annual Empty Bowls fundraiser where ceramics students make bowls that attendees buy to take home after enjoying soup made by culinary students and listening to the choir. Associated Student Body and the National Art Honor Society helped run the event, and graphic design students created the poster and flyers.
Countless individuals and businesses — too many to mention here — have developed unique fundraisers and are contributing to this year’s drive with the mindset that every fundraiser and every dollar matters.
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The Holiday Food and Fund Drive’s goal is 4,750,000 meals or about $1,583,333. To find ideas for small fundraisers like used book and bake sales with your co-workers, see www.thefoodbank.org/holiday-food-fund-drive.