Thousands of children and adults in San Diego County live without regular access to nutritious food every day while according to the EPA, the second most effective strategy in the effort to reduce food waste is to feed hungry people. In Rethinking Hunger: Why Feeding Those in Need Must Focus on Nourishment by Joy Manning, the second in a series of thought leadership stories published by Edible Communities, a spotlight on hunger across North America reveals that "produce prescriptions improve overall wellbeing."
For the health and wellness of ourselves, community, and environment, we’ve gathered a list of hard-working San Diego nonprofit organizations making a difference to close the hunger and nutrition gaps across our region with food assistance. Share this list as a resource for anyone who may need help, and keep it handy to reference when you're looking for community organizations that need our continuous support.
There are lots of ways of helping all year round so let’s rise to the challenge.
2-1-1 San Diego
211sandiego.org/resources/food-assistance
Connects locals to programs that help them stay healthy and well-nourished.
Shares backyard produce with families in need.
Serves warm evening meals, sack lunches, food boxes, and other services.
Services strive to ensure that no one goes hungry and help guests attain self-sufficiency.
Provides emergency services, including food for families and meals for the homeless.
Food distribution center, meal prep and nutrition classes, and annual holiday events.
Providing food to low income and disadvantaged families since 1991.
my.neighbor.org/community-lunch-line
Lunch programs provide an average of 1 million meals each year.
A community leader in providing access to food and nutritious meals.
Relieves daily hunger and improves health and quality through food distribution programs and advocacy.
Food recovery and distribution of otherwise wasted food to agencies serving those in need.
Nutrition programs include emergency food assistance and hot morning meals for homeless and low-income community members.
rescue.org/united-states/san-diego-ca
Helps refugees reestablish their ties to the land, celebrate their heritage, and nourish themselves and their neighbors.
Home-delivered meals, a food pantry, and teen leadership development.
Innovative programs in workforce training, healthy food production, and social enterprise.
Catalyzes healthy food choices Food Smarts curricula, Eatfresh.org online tools, and training for staff.
Provides bags of food and toiletries to the working poor, unemployed, and homeless in the Ocean Beach and surrounding areas.
Provides nutrition services to individuals vulnerable to hunger due to HIV, cancer, or other critical illnesses.
Delivers nutritious meals to seniors seven days a week.
Works with community partners to serve hot, nutritious meals.
Reclaims and repurposes waste and promotes the health and well-being of all.
Strengthens communities through the development of beautiful, beneficial, and bountiful neighborhood food options.
The largest hunger-relief organization in San Diego County.
Leads coordinated action to end hunger, supported by research, education, and advocacy.
sdrescue.org/our-programs/partners-for-hunger-relief
Collects and distributes millions of pounds of nutritious food that would otherwise be wasted.
Neighbors helping neighbors committed to ensuring that no one in the community goes hungry.
serramesa.org/smcc/food-pantry
Providing food and basic necessities to those experiencing illness, unemployment, or other crises.
Volunteers over the age of 55 glean excess food and deliver the surplus to nonprofit food agencies.
Provides food and advocacy for the homeless and disabled in the coastal communities.
Meals for medically homebound people living with critical illnesses.
thecommunityfoodconnection.com
Serves over 800 local families every month.
Serves homeless, poor, and low income families and individuals.
basicneeds.ucsd.edu/triton-food-pantry
Provides a discreet service to UCSD students in need of food and builds a network of resources and awareness about food insecurity.
Nourishes and provides food for the homeless of San Diego.
Provides thousands of meals, and job skills and training to youth.
Have we missed any? Email info@ediblesandiego.com with updates.
Want to do more? Find the complete guide to San Diego County food-based nonprofit organizations at ediblesandiego.com.