Feeding the Hungry
Our partners provide information, food and other services locally or countywide.
Partnering with 40+ agencies to address local hunger challenges
Hunger Relief Organizations
- 2-1-1 San Diego is a free, 24-hour confidential phone service and online database connecting you to food and many services
- San Diego Food Bank offers a map and directory of 100+ food distribution sites
- Feeding San Diego provides links to various food distribution options
- Meals on Wheels provides older Americans with nutritious meals and safety checks at little to no cost. Read a guide to learn how to sign up, what types of meals are offered, and more!
- Also, a Food Stamps for Seniors guide describes a meal program for low-income households to encourage healthy food choices.
- BrightSide Produce provides a service that increases the accessibility, availability, and affordability of fresh fruits and vegetables by serving as a produce distributor that reaches food insecure customers in underserved communities and university communities. Volunteers and staff stock food in neighborhood markets and liquor stores.
Partnering to Address Hunger
- Heaven’s Windows, based in East County, provides aid to families, seniors, migrants, homeless people, and children
- Seventh Day Adventist Community Service of El Cajon operates a weekly food pantry and accepts donations of food and beverages
- Mesa View Baptist Church distributes food Saturday mornings to the Poway community
- Jewish Family Service offers community food distributions throughout the county with fresh produce, canned/dried goods, groceries, and pet food (when available)
- Interfaith Community Services in N. County empowers people in need to stabilize and improve their lives through comprehensive programs, in partnership with diverse faith communities and people of compassion
- The mission of the Community Christian Service Agency, an ecumenical Christian agency comprised of more than 30 churches, is “to provide emergency services to individuals and families in need in San Diego County, including food, clothing, and referrals, and where practicable, counseling to assist in their transition to self-reliance.”
Learn More About Ways to Reduce Waste
- Reduce Food Waste at Home
- Reducing Food Waste – The County of San Diego explains: why it matters, who it helps, and how to do it.
- Shop at Farmers’ Markets
- Farmers’ Markets are certified by the County Agricultural Commissioner, ensuring the produce is being sold by the grower, is grown in California, and meets all California quality standards.
- Harvest and Deliver Your Crop
- Become a DIY gleaner. Here’s a list of food distributors that accept donations from individual residents.
- Join or Support a Community Garden
- The San Diego Community Garden Network helping neighborhoods create, support and grow community gardens.
- The Master Gardener Association of San Diego County provides a list of community gardens along with advice on forming and managing a community garden.
- Get Growing Advice from Experts. Master Gardener volunteers trained and supervised by the UC Cooperative Extension provide home gardening and pest control information FREE to the public.
Save Our Community’s Citrus
A tree disease is killing trees worldwide including So. California. Spread by an insect–the Asian citrus psyllid–there is no cure. Our volunteers are trained to look for the disease. We follow state guidelines for transporting citrus to reduce the spreading of the insect. Report suspicious pests and disease to the CA Dept. of Agriculture at 800-491-1899.