Second Harvest Christmas Week Farmworker Food Distribution

Special on Dec. 21 for Farmworkers; Normal Friday Pick-up at Fairgrounds on Wednesday

After the harvest, the local fields are nearly empty and there’s little work available for those who pick a large portion of the nation’s produce. Today’s farmworker families stay in one area rather than following the harvest to Southern California.

While much of the community is feasting to celebrate the holidays, the people who work some of the country’s most productive land can go hungry.

This year, with COVID cases spreading fast in South County and shelter-in-place orders countywide, many more may be hungry.

The Christmas Project, an annual effort begun in 1978 by Gladys Anderson, seeks to bring some joy to the holiday for farmworker families.

Partners in this project are Cal Fire, the Salvation Army, Raley’s Food For Families, and Second Harvest Food Bank.

In past years, food boxes would be dropped off at homes of those in need but that’s not possible because of COVID-19.

On Monday, Dec. 21, firefighters and Second Harvest Santa Cruz staff will distribute food to about 200 farmworker families in local migrant farmworker camps. Families will receive a food box containing chicken, cereals, tuna, cooking oil, canned goods, and other staples, as well as a 30 lb. bag of fresh produce to help get them through the difficult season. This year’s food box will also have dental hygiene products.

Weekly Food Pickup Falls on Christmas

Because Christmas falls on Friday, the day when Second Harvest typically schedules its drive-through food distribution, the date will be moved up to Wednesday, Dec. 23, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds in Watsonville.

“This is a departure from our normal Friday distribution so that individuals and families in our community have access to the nutritious food they need for Christmas,” said Willy Elliott-McCrae, Second Harvest CEO.

Participating community members can expect fresh produce, pantry items and frozen meats, like chicken or pork, plus a very special holiday guest who hasn’t been seen much this season.

“We have a fantastic selection of foods right now, thanks to funds from FEMA and our generous community,” said Suzanne Willis, chief development officer, adding, “We expect to see Santa at this distribution.”

Second Harvest staff plans to do some team building at this distribution, which means the office in Watsonville will be closed on Wednesday while the staff are working together.

Community members are asked to not arrive before 9 a.m. to allow for set-up.

There will not be a food distribution on the two Friday holidays, Christmas and New Year’s Day, and the regular weekly distributions rotating between the Boardwalk and the Fairgrounds returns Jan. 8.

For more information, please contact Grace Galvan, Director of Agency Network Services at Second Harvest Food Bank Santa Cruz County: (831) 498-4117or at [email protected]

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2020 Christmas Project Route and Schedule – 12/21/20

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Founded in 1978 by Gladys Anderson, The Christmas Project, in response to the needs of many children in Santa Cruz County, including children served by Child Protective Services, provides toys, gifts, and food to needy children and parents mainly in the Migrant Labor Camps of Santa Cruz County. www.thechristmasprojectsc.com