How to Access our Programs
Food Bank Distribution:
Food for People conducts direct distribution of food boxes during Wednesday and Friday afternoons at our facility at 307 W. 14th Street in Eureka. Our bi-weekly food distribution is open to individuals from any community in Humboldt County, although affiliation with your local pantry (if there is one) is preferred. Clients must call after 9:00 A.M. to schedule a brief intake meeting on the day of the distribution. We do not schedule appointments in advance. Appointments are available between 12:30 and 4:00 P.M.
At the intake appointment, a valid form of identification including birth dates is required for all members of the household for whom you are requesting food. Income eligibility guidelines apply, although the process is self-certification. Please note that demand is heavy towards the end of the month so it is important to call early in the day to make sure we can accommodate you.
Afterschool Snack Program:
This program is offered throughout the school year beginning October 1st at established sites County-wide. There is no application for this program; children show up at the designated site to receive a snack. Snacks are provided for children only (no parents).
Afterschool Snack Sites:
Arcata Community Center*
Bridgeville Community Center
Casterline Elementary, Blocksburg
John Ryan Youth Center, Eureka*
Boys & Girls Club of Humboldt County, Eureka
Boys & Girls Club Teen Center, Eureka
Salvation Army, Eureka
Loleta Boys & Girls Club, Loleta
Redway Elementary, Redway
Rio Dell Community Resource Center, Rio Dell
*To receive snacks from the John Ryan Youth Center or Arcata Community Center, Children must be enrolled at one of those Centers.
Contact person is Andy Nieto 707-445-3166 ex. 309.
Backpacks for Kids Program
If your child is enrolled in a school that participates in the Backpacks for Kids program, you can pick up an application form at your child’s elementary or middle school. Or contact Child Nutrition Programs Coordinator, Andy Nieto, at 707-445-3166 ex. 309. Qualifying children are enrolled by need and on a first-come, first-served basis.
Participating schools include:
Alice Birney Elementary
South Bay Elementary
Homeless Education Project
Manilla Community Center
Eagle Prairie Elementary, Rio Dell
Redway Elementary
South Fortuna Elementary
Fortuna Middle School
Blue Lake Elementary
Trinity Valley Elementary, Willow Creek
Children's Summer Lunch Program:
This program is offered June through August at established sites county-wide. The site list is revised each year so it is advisable to call in May or early June for a current list. Sack lunches are provided for children only (no parents).
Contact person is Andy Nieto 707-442-2276 ex. 309.
Gleaning Program
Donor farmers and volunteer gleaners work together to harvest fresh local produce for Food for People. Contact Katie Harbaugh at kharbaugh@foodforpeople.org to learn more about how you can help with or donate to gleaning activities at Food for People.
Community Food Drives
Food for People organizes multiple food drives during the year, including our Feed the Community Food Drive, Hunger Fighter Challenge and Holiday Spirit Food and Fund Drive. If you or your civic organization has an idea for a food drive, please contact Katie Harbaugh at kharbaugh@foodforpeople.org or 445-3166 ex. 312.
Food drive ideas for your club, civic organization or neighborhood:
· Peanut butter and jelly drive - Collect different kinds of peanut butter and jellies in plastic containers.
· Is Dinner Ready - Collect combinations of food that can be used to prepare a meal. Use your imagination to think of meal combinations: spaghetti noodles and Sauce or refried beans, taco shells, salsa and Mexican seasonings.
· Admission to Events - Students are asked to bring a canned good as their admission to a sporting event, dance, party or any school activity.
· Kids Snack Bag– 1) Decorate paper bags according to the holiday closest to the time they are doing the project ( i.e. Christmas, St. Patrick’s Day, etc.).
2) Fill each with the following food items: 100% juice pack, granola bar, cheese crackers, a box of raisins and/or a fruit cup, napkin, plastic spoon (if necessary) and a straw. 3) Add one of the following : a note/card to say “Hi”, a school supply ( i.e. pencil, eraser) or a joke/riddle the student made up.
· Plant a Row Program- Plant an extra row of vegetables in your home garden and donate the produce to Food for People.
· Food Drive and Field Trip- Have a food drive and deliver the food to the Food Bank and receive a “behind the scenes tour” of the warehouse. It’s amazing to see!
· Caring Year Round - Instead of having food drives once a year at the holidays, spread them out during the year. Have each school (inter or intra-district) sign up to adopt a different month for holding a food drive, with the result being that at least one food drive takes place each month. Signing up to pursue a food drive in one of these months should not preclude any school from holding other food drives throughout the year, but it will ensure that the flow of donations to the Food Bank will be more steady throughout the year.
Senior Brown Bag:
Application form is required and eligibility is based on income. Communities served include Arcata, Eureka, Blue Lake, Bridgeville, McKinleyville, Fortuna, Rio Dell, Trinidad, Hoopa, Weitchpec, Willow Creek, Orleans, Orick and Redway. Program is currently closed with a waiting list.
Contact person is Tyler Smith 707-445-3166 ex. 303.
Homebound Delivery:
Application is required and participants are accepted on a referral basis from local hospitals, discharge planners, home health workers, etc. Service is also limited to communities in which we have volunteers available to deliver food boxes.
Contact person is Tyler Smith 707-445-3166 ex. 303
Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP):
Age and income eligibility requirements apply. Applicants should be prepared to provide valid identification and proof of income. Please call for information specific to the application process. Seniors may be certified for up to one year, while children and pregnant/ postpartum women may be certified for a 6 month period.
Contact person is Tyler Smith 707-445-3166 ex. 303.
Work Readiness Program:
Participants are accepted on a referral basis only. Program is designed to prepare the individual for successful placement in the job market.
Community Education and Outreach Program:
Food for People’s hunger relief efforts include a focus on promoting access to state and federal nutrition assistance programs such as food stamps, WIC, the USDA commodity programs and the school nutrition programs that are designed to help low income households expand their resources for nutritious food. Our Food Stamp Access Outreach Project advocates for the elimination of bureaucratic barriers to food stamps for individuals, working families and seniors. Hands on training on program criteria and the application process are offered to interested individuals and professionals in the community. Community education materials and activities are also provided for children and adults of all ages to help provide insight into the tough decisions low income households face daily when trying to obtain adequate nutrition. Cooking and nutrition classes are scheduled on a regular basis at the food bank.
Please contact Deborah Waxman 707-445-3166 ex. 308 for more information.
Non-profit Food Network:
The Nonprofit Food Network allows local nonprofit organizations providing residential, rehabilitation, or afterschool programs to access food obtained through the Feeding America network (formerly America's Second Harvest) at a low, per pound cost. Food must be used by programs serving only low-income children and adults. There is a minimum monthly purchase amount and an annual fee for up to two sites. Process includes an application form and initial site review, followed by annual site monitorings.
Contact person is Anne Holcomb 707-445-3166 ex. 302.
