Last updated: December 2025
Santa Cruz Local has compiled a list of where to find food assistance locally in the form of grocery distributions, free meals, community food pantries and other food resources. Call to check for holiday closures and schedule changes.
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Grocery distributions
Second Harvest Food Bank partners with dozens of organizations around Santa Cruz County to operate free food distributions. To find one near you, see Second Harvest’s map of distributions, call 831-662-0991 or email [email protected].
Other distributions not on the map include:
Santa Cruz Barrios Unidos
1817 Soquel Ave., Santa Cruz.
12-1:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays.
For details call (831) 457-8208.
The Salvation Army Santa Cruz Corp.
721 Laurel St., Santa Cruz.
9-11:30 a.m. Monday to Thursday
Drive-through food pantry Tuesday 9-11:30 a.m. See details or call (831) 426-8365.
The Volunteer Center’s Community Connections food distribution
300 Harvey West Blvd., Santa Cruz and 10 Carr St., Watsonville.
9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday to Thursday.
Also offers hygiene kits, period products and pet food.
See details, email [email protected] or call 831-425-8132.
Grey Bears
2710 Chanticleer Ave., Live Oak.
Santa Cruz County residents 55 and older are eligible for a low-cost weekly grocery bag distributed at locations across the county. Delivery available for people with disabilities age 50 or older. See details, call 831-479-1055 or email [email protected]. Grey Bears also offers free produce 11-11:30 a.m. and a cooked lunch at 11:30 a.m., Monday to Friday.
Cooked meals
St. Francis Soup Kitchen
205 Mora St., Santa Cruz.
Monday through Friday 12-1 p.m.
See details, email [email protected] or call 831-459-6712.
Grey Bears
2710 Chanticleer Ave., Live Oak.
Free food market 11-11:30 a.m. and meal served 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Monday to Friday. Priority for adults over age 55, but all are welcome.
See details, email [email protected] or call 831-479-1055.
Santa Cruz Bread & Roses
10-11:30 a.m. Tuesday, Thursday and Friday on Front Street across from Trader Joes in Downtown Santa Cruz, and 9 a.m. Sundays on Coral Street, Santa Cruz.
Meals, hygiene items and clothing. See details, email [email protected] or call 805-440-1298.
Food Not Bombs
12-3 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays.
Water and Front streets, Santa Cruz (next to Downtown Post Office).
See details, email [email protected] or call 800-884-1136.
Salvation Army Santa Cruz
721 Laurel St., Santa Cruz.
9-11:30 a.m. Monday to Thursday. Sack lunches offered alongside grocery distribution. See details or call (831) 426-8365.
Pajaro Valley Loaves and Fishes
150 Second St., Watsonville.
Lunch 12-1 p.m., food pantry 9-11:30 a.m. and 1-3 p.m.
Closed 1-3 p.m. Dec. 25.
See details, email [email protected], or call (831) 722-4144.
Salvation Army Watsonville Corp.
214 Union St., Watsonville.
Meals served 5-6 p.m. daily, open while supplies last.
Food distribution 10 a.m. to 12 p.m Tuesdays and Thursdays.
Email [email protected] or call (831) 724-3922 for more info.
Westview Presbyterian Church
Pajaro River Park, East Front St., Watsonville
Meals served 7:30-8:30 a.m. Monday to Friday.
Meals for Seniors, veterans and people with limited mobility
Santa Cruz Veteran’s Memorial Building
846 Front St., Santa Cruz
11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesdays.
Food pantry and donation closet for veterans, plus resources for health care, housing and other services.
Hot meals served at 12 p.m. Call 831-454-0478 to request pantry bag delivery.
Watsonville Veterans Memorial Hall
215 E Beach St., Watsonville
9 a.m. to 12 p.m. Tuesdays. Food pantry and donation closet for veterans.
Meals on Wheels
Hot meals are available Monday through Friday for adults 60 or older:
- 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Highlands Park Senior Center, 8500 Highway 9, Ben Lomond.
- 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at London Nelson Community Center, 301 Center St., Santa Cruz.
- 12 p.m. to 1 p.m. at Live Oak Senior Center, 1777 Capitola Road, Live Oak.
- 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Watsonville Senior Center, 114 E. Fifth St., Watsonville.
Delivery is offered to homebound adults age 60 or older, spouses of delivery program participants and disabled people living with a participant. Due to funding cuts, the delivery program may have a waitlist. See details or call 831-464-3180 ext. 100.
Teen Kitchen Project
Meal delivery for people with certain illnesses or conditions, including dementia, cancer, diabetes and recent major surgery.
See details and application requirements. For more information, call 831-316-4540 ext. 1 or email [email protected].
UC Santa Cruz and Cabrillo students and employees
UC Santa Cruz
- Redwood Free Market at Rachel Carson College Café (formerly College 8 Café). See site for hours.
- Produce pop-ups offering free fruits and veggies, time and locations vary.
- Swipes for Slugs may provide free meal swipes for a short-term need.
- Cowell Coffee Shop near Cowell/Stevenson dining hall is a free student-run cafe. Open 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Monday to Friday.
- See more on-campus food resources.
Cabrillo College
- Food pantry at Room A140 on the Watsonville campus and Room 902 on Aptos campus. See site for hours.
Fresh Market with free produce twice-monthly at both campuses. See site for dates.
Neighborhood food pantries
Some residents have established neighborhood food pantries that are stocked by individuals and may not have food available at all times. A map shows locations of these pantries as of December 2025.
Pet food
Santa Cruz SPCA
1-3 p.m. Sundays at 2601 Chanticleer Ave. in Live Oak.
Distributions of food and other donated items. See details or call (831) 465-5000 for more information.
Salvation Army Santa Cruz Corps
721 Laurel St., Santa Cruz.
9-11:30 a.m. Tuesdays.
Grocery distribution that may also have pet food available. See details or call 831-426-8365 for more info.
Twin Lakes People’s Pantry
2701 Cabrillo College Drive, Aptos.
4-5:15 p.m. Wednesdays.
Grocery distribution that may also have pet food available. See details, call 831-465-3381 or email [email protected] for more info.
The Volunteer Center
300 Harvey West Blvd., Santa Cruz and 10 Carr St., Watsonville.
9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday to Thursday.
Grocery distribution that may also have pet food available. See details, email [email protected] or call 831-425-8132 for more info.
Peace of Mind Dog Rescue
615 Forest Ave., Pacific Grove.
Offers pet food and other supplies as available.
Also offers volunteer support and financial aid for urgent veterinary needs. See details or call (831) 718-9122 for more info.
SPCA Monterey Pet Food Bank
1002 Monterey-Salinas Highway, Salinas.
9:30-10:30 a.m. Saturdays.
Offers free pet food and litter, as available. See details or call (831) 373-2631 for more info.
Santa Cruz County Animal Shelter
Periodic clinics with free pet food, vaccinations and parasite treatment, plus distribution of donated food and other items.
Held in Santa Cruz, Watsonville and Felton. See details or call (831) 454-7200 for dates and locations.
Get Calfresh (Also known as SNAP, EBT or food stamps)
CalFresh provides monthly money for groceries to low-income applicants. Some recipients may also receive money that can be used at participating restaurants. See eligibility details.
Apply for benefits:
- In person Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. at 1020 Emeline Avenue, Building B, Santa Cruz, or 500 Westridge Drive, Watsonville.
- By phone Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at (888) 421-8080. You can also call to have an application mailed to you.
- Online at BenefitsCal. Help is available by web chat Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. – 4pm.
See details about eligibility requirements for immigrants. U.S. born children are eligible for benefits, even if parents do not have legal status. For more information, visit keepyourbenefits.org or text the word benefits to 650-376-8006.
Donate or volunteer
- Most of the organizations listed on this page accept volunteers and monetary donations, and many also accept donated food. You can also visit Second Harvest’s map of food distributions to find one to support near you.
- Second Harvest is seeking volunteers for emergency food distributions in response to the delay of SNAP benefits, and offers other ongoing volunteer opportunities. They can also coordinate group volunteering events.
- Grey Bears offers pickups of leftover food from businesses and can glean fruits and vegetables from gardens or farms. For more info or to schedule a pickup or gleaning, email [email protected] or call 831-479-1055.
Interactive and bilingual map for free food
See the map below for information on where to go for free cooked meals, food bank distributions, neighborhood food pantries, free pet food and other resources for veterans and seniors.
This map does not include dozens of grocery distributions supported by Second Harvest Food Bank Santa Cruz County. To find a distribution near you or request a delivery, visit thefoodbank.org, call 831-662-0991 or email [email protected].
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