The programs offered by Food for People are intended to serve as a safety net for those whose circumstances have left them at risk of hunger and food insecurity. Our goal is to provide individuals and households with the emergency and supplemental food they need, while working to address the root causes of hunger in our county.
Food for People is designated as the Food Bank for Humboldt County and coordinates distribution of food countywide through a variety of hunger relief programs.
Food Pantries
Choice Pantry
We have secured an alternate location in Eureka for the Choice Pantry. The Eureka Choice Pantry is now open on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Fridays 10:30 am-3:30 pm (closed 12:30-1pm for lunch) at 1720 10th, Eureka (directly adjacent to the Cooper Gulch fields and the Eureka skate park). New phone number for only the Choice Pantry and volunteer services: (707) 407-0447. (You can still reach our other staff and other 17 programs at our main number.)
Pantry Network
Our Emergency Food Pantry Network provides food for 18 pantries and 3 congregate meal programs (soup kitchens) located throughout Humboldt County. Emergency Food pantries provide groceries to households monthly. If you're looking for help, please view the list/schedule on the Pantry Network webpage to find the pantry that's closest to you.
Senior & Homebound Programs
Looking for help?
Children's Programs
Backpacks for Kids
The Backpacks for Kids Program provides a backpack filled with kid-friendly food on Fridays during the school year for children who are considered at risk for hunger over the weekend.
Children's Summer Food Program
Our Children's Summer Food Program operates June through August.
Free Produce Markets
Food for People sponsors four locations of free farmers’ market-style produce distributions in Humboldt County during the summer months. We host a site in Eureka, and sponsor sites in Fortuna, Garberville, and Redway, to ensure that all of our neighbors have equitable access to the nutritious, seasonal fresh produce we all need for good health.
Mobile Produce Pantry
The Mobile Produce Pantry is a refrigerated truck full of fresh fruits and vegetables that we drive to specific locations across the county on a monthly schedule. We travel as far north as Orick, northeast to Willow Creek, Hoopa, Weitchpec, and Orleans, all the way south to Redway, and many spots in between to set up a free farm stand-style produce distribution. The fresh fruits and vegetables available from the Mobile Produce Pantry come from a variety of sources, including purchases from local farms.
Calfresh Outreach
CalFresh is a nutrition assistance program that helps households buy the food they need for good health. CalFresh dollars help stretch a tight food budget and help many folks afford to incorporate healthy foods like fruits and vegetables into their diets. This season, farmers’ markets in Eureka, Arcata, McKinleyville, Fortuna and Garberville will offer bonus dollars to CalFresh shoppers through Humboldt Market Match. Food for People also coordinates the Humboldt County CalFresh Task Force, which brings together County agencies and community partners working on CalFresh Outreach throughout Humboldt County, to stay current on local CalFresh information and processes, share information and support each other's work.
Nutrition Education
Our Nutrition Education Program teaches how to prepare healthy meals on a budget.
Food Drives
During the COVID-19 pandemic, we encourage the community to donate funds that we can utilize to purchase food at low, wholesale cost in bulk. We can stretch dollars quite far, for a large volume of food, when we purchase in this way. Donations can be made via our website or sent via mail.
Gleaning
Due to compilations stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic, gleaning donations are being accepted and arranged on a case by case basis. For more information please contact our Local Food Resources Coordinator Allison Kenney @email or (707)445-3166 ext. 312.
The Gleaning Program is one of two programs housed under our Local Food Resources Program. The Gleaning Program accesses and harvests fresh, local produce and meat from farms, orchards, ranches, and community members’ backyard gardens. We receive surplus fruits and vegetables from dozens of local farms, orchards, and ranches, some of which also plant or raise extra as their way of participating in the Plant a Row for the Hungry campaign. Volunteers help harvest a portion of the produce under the supervision of our Local Food Resources Coordinator.
Emergency Food and Disaster Program
Our Emergency Food and Disaster Program links Food for People with our local chapter of VOAD, Volunteer Organizations Active in Disaster. Should a disaster strike Humboldt County, Food for People would work with local groups to make food available to any community experiencing hardship.