Resources

Now more than ever your dollars are making an incredible impact on our community — because of your support Second Harvest was able to double our output and impact compared to the levels we managed pre-pandemic. However, to keep up with the demand we are now responding to, our budget has also doubled. Your support means that:

• Second Harvest is now serving an average of about 500,000 people every month. Many of the clients we are now serving have indicated that this is the first time they’ve received help from a food bank. We make twice-monthly grocery deliveries to more than 5,300 of our most vulnerable homebound neighbors who are unable to leave their homes to get food.
• We operate over 130 drive-thru distributions so clients can get groceries in a safe, low-touch environment.
• Even at the elevated level of need we are responding to we are still focused on nutrition: we have aimed to keep our mix of groceries as close to 50% produce and 25% protein/dairy as possible throughout our emergency response.
• A typical client receives $250 worth of free groceries every month from a Second Harvest distribution.
• Every $1 donated helps provide enough food for two nutritious meals.
• 95% of contributions go to programs that provide food to our neighbors.
• For the fourteenth year in a row, Second Harvest has received Charity Navigator’s annual four-star rating for financial stability, accountability and transparency — exceeding industry standards.

Second Harvest is committed to ensuring that anyone who needs a healthy meal can get one. Virtual food drives are a great way to make an impact. And remember, every drive, no matter the size, makes a difference. Here are just a few ways drives help to build a hunger-free community:

• Virtual and traditional food drives created nearly 30 million meals last year.
• Every $1 donated to the food bank helps provide enough food for two nutritious meals.
• Drives help educate the community about food insecurity.

Learn more about Second Harvest’s impact.

Check out our building your drive page or use our virtual food drive checklist to help you stay on track.

• Promote your drive with one (or both) of these two posters you can customize with your drive information. Choose a poster featuring Kids or Adults.
• When you’re ready to share your virtual food drive, send an inspiring introduction email. You can also send an update with an eye-opening progress update and wrap up with a celebratory thank you.

Have questions about virtual food drives? Find your answers here.

If you still have questions about hosting virtual food drives, email us at drives@shfb.org or call us at 1-866-234-3663. We’re here to help!

Here are some tips and tools to help spread the word.

• Add these new Profile frames to your Facebook page
• Be sure to let everyone know where and how to make a gift to your drive on your social media pages.
• You can share your drive directly to Facebook and Twitter from your virtual food drive page.
• The more touchpoints and reminders you give, the more successful your drive will be, so share updates online and on your virtual food drive page.
• Be sure to follow us on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter and tag us in your posts.
• Need stats and figures to share? Check out our quick food bank facts.
• Looking for stories or quotes? Read all about our clients, their stories and the difference your support makes.
• Not on social media? We have emails to help you share your drive.
• Remember to thank your participants for their support.

Need more social media support? Our team is here to help. Email us at drives@shfb.org or call us at 1-866-234-3663.

Food is purchased by Second Harvest or donated by grocery stores, food manufacturers and distributors. This food, millions of pounds a month, is collected and sorted at one of our four warehouse locations. It is then distributed to our community through a network of nearly 400 partners across Santa Clara and San Mateo counties at over 900 sites.

Unlike most other food banks around the country, we don’t charge our partners a fee to receive the food. While this increases the amount of money we need to raise annually, we see it as another way to support our community. Many of our partners are small non-profits with limited budgets and fundraising capabilities. Through Second Harvest providing free food, they can focus their time and resources on their areas of expertise.

Learn more about how Second Harvest works.

Learn more about our partners.

The number of people who rely on Second Harvest for food every month has doubled to about 500,000 people per month on average. Families, students, seniors and children all rely on your support every month. Come meet our clients, read their stories and see the difference your support is making for so many of our neighbors in need.