Food for People operates 23 pantries that assist 15% of the Humboldt County population. The majority of the people we serve are children, seniors, and persons with disabilities. Many are living on low, fixed incomes, such as Social Security, SSI, or Disability. Many are employed, or underemployed, and do not earn enough to make ends meet. Our food distribution programs are designed to meet the immediate needs of anyone who needs our help.

We facilitate the Humboldt County CalFresh Task Force, bringing together community organizations and County agencies serving CalFresh eligible households in Humboldt County. Together, we stay up to date on local CalFresh enrollment statistics, processes, and trainings, in addition to state and federal legislation that impacts the seniors, children, and families we serve. Learn more about specific CalFresh topics that we and CalFresh Outreach partners stay up to date on.

Our Work Readiness and Job Training program provides opportunities to gain work experience and learn specialized skills that lead to successful employment in our community, all while working alongside us toward our mission. Many program participants move on to exciting new careers in our community, thanks to the training, experience, and team of support they recieve while volunteering or completing a Work Experience placement with us.

In the event of a disaster, Food for People will take a leading role in the procurement, storage and distribution of food in affected areas around Humboldt County. Through partnership with other local nonprofit organizations, and at times with the assistance of the Humboldt County Office of Emergency Services (HCOES), Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), American Red Cross and Feeding America, Food for People will be responsible for obtaining and directing food resources countywide. Contact rsataua@foodforpeople.org for more information.

We are part of a vibrant local food system in Humboldt County, which has given to us in so many ways. Farms, orchards, ranches, and backyard gardeners donate fresh, and often organic, Humboldt grown foods to us and many local producers of specialty foods, such as bread, tortillas, cheese, milk, and more, donate to us throughout the year when they have surplus. In turn, we support our local food system with grant funding designated specifically for purchasing fresh foods from local farms and producers.

Our Nutrition Education program utilizes many opportunities for engagement with our program participants to promote healthy eating, provide recipe taste tests, and teach cooking skills that last a lifetime and generations. Our Nutrition Education program includes cooking videos and recipes with the goal of educating the community about cooking healthy meals on a tight budget, especially with fruits and vegetables.

Ending hunger is no small challenge. Food banks play a critical role, but we can’t do it alone. Fighting hunger is not only about providing emergency food to people in need – it also means taking action to address the root causes of hunger and poverty. Our Advocacy Program works with allies and legislators across the state and country as a voice for those who need our help.

We work with with local grocery, pharmacy and health food stores to divert foods to us that would otherwise go to waste. As part of our Local Store Food Recovery Program, Food for People’s driver travels to stores on a daily schedule to pick up excess food and deliver it to Food for People’s warehouse, where it is sorted and distributed through our Choice Pantry. This program brings in between 336,000 to half a million pounds of food to the food bank annually, saving local businesses up to $40,000 in annual waste fees. This also helps divert up to half a million pounds of waste each year from landfill.

Our Nonprofit Network program offers low-cost food resources to nonprofit agencies seeking to provide nutritious foods to their low-income program participants. Our goal, as resources allow, is to provide a selection of low cost snacks, meal items, fresh fruits and vegetables, and other items that would supplement an agency's food budget. In some instances, categories of food may be free of charge, which is currently the case for fresh produce. The foods we make available come to us in part through the Feeding America network, a nationwide network of food banks that helps coordinate large donations of food. Contact nlovell@foodforpeople.org for more information.