Editor’s Note: This report comes from Second Harvest Food Bank and its food distribution partner agencies.
People suffering from the pandemic, its economic effects and the wildfires are finding help from an amazing team of support agencies delivering food to the needy.
Robin Spurlock
Here are some uplifting personal anecdotes from people at just some of our 100+ partner agencies working hard to deliver the Second Harvest.
Robin Spurlock, at Twin Lakes Church People’s Pantry in Aptos, shared reports from two individuals.
One said, “I just lost my job teaching, and am now supplementing my pantry with food from the church. Thanks to all the volunteers, we have wonderfully packed baskets.”
Another said, “I am a senior and on a fixed income. Being able to receive food from People’s Pantry every week is a huge blessing. Thank you for providing fresh produce and dry goods every week.”
Paul Machlis, pantry manager at Community Bridges Mountain Community Resources in Felton, said, “Second Harvest supplies about 98% of our food, so we have been completely dependent on its ability to provide food to us.
Agencies like ours (pantries, soup kitchens, etc.) are helpful to their communities on little or no money, as long as we have willing volunteers and some minimal supplies and space. In other words, money donated to the food bank makes use of community organizations and volunteers really effectively.”
He added, “Even with drive-through, our clients share how they are doing. One family last week (three adults, two children) got one stimulus check, no unemployment insurance, and none of the adults has a job.
They are extremely grateful for the food. Other people have said similar things — that without the pantry they would be having trouble feeding themselves.
Machlis also shared this story: “We had a woman who came regularly to our pantry for her family of four. Both she and her husband were out of work, the husband struggled with alcohol, and the teenage daughter was presenting problems.
Each week she thanked us for helping her keep the family afloat until things turned around. Which they did — both adults eventually found jobs, the daughter got through a bad stage, they kept the house — and one day she proudly arrived with a donation of $20 for the weekly pantry.
Food distribution by Second Harvest Food Bank at Mountain Community Resources in Felton.
They don’t need assistance these days, but when we see her around town, she always takes a moment to say that without Mountain Community Resources, they wouldn’t have made it.”
Ashley Bridges, director of Pajaro Valley Loaves & Fishes in Watsonville, shared comments from two people who came in.
One said, “I really like how you guys give fresh produce, rather than just canned items. You are so quick to hand out groceries.”
The other said, “Words don’t do justice to what your help and care have given me! May God bless you and your families for your service! Thank You!”
And a volunteer told Bridges, “I love volunteering at Loaves & Fishes. Everyone is so nice. When I’m here I feel like I am part of a family that really cares about each other.”
Al Richardson, director of food operations at Holy Cross Church in Santa Cruz, said, “We could not operate without Second Harvest. The food bank has provided the increase we need to serve our increase in population, which is more than four times as many people today. We have normally seen 300 (food recipients) now 1200+.”
He added, “Normally clients are people who hold down jobs but can’t afford it because of rent and cost of living. Totally different situation today for people who were self-sufficient, but can no longer do it. Huge increase is due to people being out of work. “
There are hundreds of similar stories from all around Santa Cruz County. We will capture more of those for future articles.