SMC Sends $2M To Support Second Harvest

SAN MATEO COUNTY, CA — The San Mateo County Board of Supervisors recently approved $2 million for Second Harvest of Silicon Valley, which will help the food bank provide 4 million nutritious meals to neighbors in need over the next year.

Second Harvest works with a network of local food pantries, schools, soup kitchens, senior centers and faith-based organizations to feed nearly 130,000 residents in San Mateo County every month.

County officials noted the price of groceries has skyrocketed nearly 30 percent since the beginning of 2020 in the Bay Area as costs for fuel, utilities and car insurance soared roughly 50 percent.

"Inflation has been very, very hard on our communities," said Tracy Weatherby, Second Harvest's president of strategy and advocacy. "What we are seeing now in terms of need is every bit as big as it was during the pandemic."

According to a recent survey by the food bank, nearly 60 percent of its clients said they had less than $100 in savings and nearly 65 percent were worried about the ability to pay their rent or mortgage.

State data shows the number of San Mateo County households relying on CalFresh benefits has risen 40 percent since 2020.

Second Harvest's work helps provide free groceries, fresh produce and prepared meals around the region, regularly working with partners at hundreds of sites, including at the San Mateo County Event Center, South San Francisco and Half Moon Bay. Information about how to find food, donate or volunteer to help is available on the food bank's website.