Home / What is the Holiday Food & Fund Drive

About the Holiday Food & Fund Drive

What we do:

We uplift and support the work of the Second Harvest Food Bank (SHFB) of Santa Cruz, because they provide needed healthy meals to the members of our UCSC community. The SHFB partners with UCSC by:

  • Distributing food to the larger Santa Cruz community, where employees and students can drop in to get what they need.
  • Providing food to various non-transactional cafes and choice-based pantries around the campus.
    • In FY 2024, the SHFB distributed food to our student population via Slug Support & Family Student Housing. There were 5,908 individuals served within 4,108 households for a total of 87,504 pounds of food.
  • Helping students successfully navigate the CalFresh application process.
    • Historically, SHFB has helped our students successfully apply for CalFresh and keep UCSC’s approval rate above 75% year after year. As of FY 2024, UCSC is operating under a grant to process these internally. The SHFB stands ready to assist again if needed.
  • Partnering in research with the Blum Center on Poverty, Social Enterprise, and Participatory Governance.

How we do it:

Each winter, we organize and run the UCSC contribution to SHFB's Holiday Food & Fund Drive.

  • UCSC's efforts raise thousands of dollars each year.
  • For every $1,500 raised, SHFB can purchase enough food to feed a family of four people for a full year!
  • Let us know if you want to help organize, donate, or spread the word!

All year round, we have service volunteers who are willing to come into your department to:

  • Educate about the food needs of the UCSC community, and how SHFB helps.
  • Facilitate a volunteer experience for your team, where they will participate in food preparation or distribution.
  • Promote the Holiday Food & Fund Drive for when it comes around again.
  • Help individuals navigate the online giving process (won't be counted toward the HFFD).

 

Check out this video to learn more about Second Harvest Food Bank: