Featured Stories
See how Second Harvest partnered with local organizations to support the community & provide food assistance during the Garden Grove incident.
Meet Jennifer Medina, Chief People and Culture Officer at Second Harvest, and learn how the her work makes this a great place to work for!
Meet Clarissa Green, Kids Cafe Program Specialist at Second Harvest, and learn how the her work supports children across Orange County.
All Stories
See how Second Harvest partnered with local organizations to support the community & provide food assistance during the Garden Grove incident.
Meet Jennifer Medina, Chief People and Culture Officer at Second Harvest, and learn how the her work makes this a great place to work for!
Meet Clarissa Green, Kids Cafe Program Specialist at Second Harvest, and learn how the her work supports children across Orange County.
Second Harvest recognized volunteers at its 2026 Volunteer Appreciation Luncheon, celebrating those helping fight food insecurity.
Meet Stephanie Harrington, who is part of our Donor Relations & Special Events team, and learn how she bring events like Walk to Feed OC to life.
Second Harvest joined 300+ food banks in D.C. for an advocacy trip to advance food access policies and share community voices with lawmakers.
Meet Bret Miyashiro, Volunteer Engagement Manager at Second Harvest.
Meet John Sackreiter, Second Harvest’s Director of Information and Technology, who joined the organization over a year ago.
Meet Rachel Parris, our Director of Sourcing at Second Harvest! Here she shares her insights on food sourcing, nutrition and collaboration.
Check out this Cauliflower Soup recipe from Knife Pleat’s Chef Tony Esnault! This dish is easy to prepare and full of flavor, and is perfect for cozy nights or casual winter meals.
Meet Jane Van Dyke, our Director of Human Resources who is retiring from Second Harvest after 16 years. Read more about her journey!
Meet Crystal Tosello, Director of Annual Campaign at Second Harvest. With over a decade of nonprofit experience, she builds partnerships that help provide nutritious food for families across Orange County.
Warm up your kitchen and your heart this season with our Caramelized Roasted Butternut Squash Recipe — simple, nourishing and made with local fall produce.
Meet Ellie Dinh, Director of Programs and Services at Second Harvest. Learn about her journey, leadership style and passion for feeding OC!
Michelin-star chef Tony Esnault of Knife Pleat was recently featured on Good Day LA cooking a delicious winter soup at Harvest Solutions Farm.
Meet Toyah Brooks, our Director of Operations at Second Harvest Food Bank! From overseeing operations to supporting our team, she works every day to help feed Orange County with care and dedication.
Meet Wayne Stickney, our Chief Development Officer. In this leadership spotlight, Wayne shares what inspires him, why he believes in feeding the line today, and how his love for learning and team spirit shape his work at Second Harvest.
As Chief Financial Officer of Second Harvest Food Bank, Joyce Foley has dedicated nearly four decades to serving the Orange County community. From her early days assisting the CEO to becoming a key leader, Joyce’s journey is a testament to dedication, compassion, and purpose-driven leadership.
At Second Harvest Food Bank of Orange County, we honor the legacy of Joseph “Joe” Schoeningh — a humble leader, devoted mentor, and tireless advocate for feeding those in need. From board member to CEO, Joe’s unwavering commitment shaped who we are today.
Each year, we proudly celebrate the incredible volunteers who power our mission at Second Harvest Food Bank — and at our 2025 Volunteer Award Luncheon, we honored some of the most inspiring among them; meet this year’s outstanding award winners.
Did you know storing vegetables properly can extend their shelf life and help you save money?
On September 19, one of our valued college pantry partners, Golden West College hosted the grand opening and ribbon cutting ceremony for the new location of its Basic Needs Center, The Stand.
As part of Hunger Action Month, for Senior Hunger Awareness Week (September 16-20), Second Harvest CEO Claudia Bonilla Keller sat down with partner organization Meals on Wheels OC’s President and CEO Holly Hagler.
September marks a significant milestone—10 years since the generosity of donors led to the opening of the first Mobile School Pantry. What began in 2014 with just 12 pantries has expanded to 76 pantries across 14 cities in Orange County.
On August 11, Disney fans and VoluntEARS assembled 7,500 snack packs for families in need in Orange County. These will be distributed through Second Harvest’s Partner Network, thanks to the generous support of Disney VoluntEARS!
In June 2024, Second Harvest was the recipient of three different awards for our work in the Orange County community.
Second Harvest is providing a solution to the ever-present existence of senior food insecurity by rolling right up to the doorstep at senior communities throughout Orange County to provide free, nutritious food through a pair of walk-up, refrigerated “Park-It Markets” (PIMs) housed in trailers that allows residents to socialize and mingle as they select the products of their choice.
Michelin-star chef Tony Esnault of Knife Pleat was recently featured on Good Day LA cooking a delicious winter soup at Harvest Solutions Farm.
In November 2023, Goodwill of Orange County and Second Harvest Food Bank of Orange County celebrated the opening of The Good Market/El Buen Mercado, a permanent pantry at Goodwill’s Tierney Center for Veteran Services.
On September 25, Anaheim High School unveiled the opening of The Market, the school’s new food pantry. This is Second Harvest’s second high school pantry and seventh permanent school pantry in Orange County.
There’s more to pumpkins than carved Jack-o’-lanterns! Rich in vitamins, minerals and antioxidants, pumpkin is an incredibly nutritious food. Here’s why you should incorporate more of this nutritious, versatile type of winter squash into your diet.
Second Harvest Food Bank is celebrating National Watermelon Day on August 3rd with these no-cook, easy-to-prep recipes from Irvine-based Harvest Solutions Farm.
At Second Harvest we strive to provide nutritious food to our pantries and partners in order to reach those we serve as quickly and efficiently as possible.
At Second Harvest, we always strive to operate as sustainably as we can by ensuring that as much food as possible reaches those in need.
Second Harvest is saddened to learn of the passing of Mark Wetterau, Chairman & CEO of Golden State Foods and former Board Chair of Second Harvest.
We want to take a moment to spotlight three women who are leading the fight against food insecurity in Orange County.
Harvest Solutions Farm provides plenty of opportunities for caring neighbors like you to volunteer. In fact, volunteers are key to the success of the Farm
While we can’t believe how fast 2022 came and went, here we are with a fresh new year ahead of us. Perhaps one filled with the resolution to eat healthier – if so, how are you doing so far?
Forty years ago, what’s known today as Second Harvest Food Bank started with a simple principle: To feed the increasing number of people in Orange County who couldn’t access the food they needed.
As thousands of young adults bid farewell to summer and hello to the rigors of a new college year, they arrive prepared with books, binders and big goals for a successful year. Unfortunately, too many of them also arrive hungry.
“Starting at Second Harvest just before the pandemic and now having the honor of serving as CEO, I am so proud of how much our organization has accomplished in the relatively short time I’ve been here. It’s been amazing…
Did you realize that eating certain types of food can make you happier? Everyone knows that eating nutritious food can make you healthier, but it turns out that this same food directly impacts our brain structure, functions and mood.
March is National Nutrition Month, an annual awareness campaign that encourages us to learn about nutrition, develop healthy eating habits and discover the fun of being physically active. At Second Harvest Food Bank of Orange County, we strive to provide everyone in Orange County with the nutrition they need to grow and excel in life.
Last spring, here at Second Harvest we completely revamped our focus to proactively purchase fresh nutrition for those in need, ensuring a steady pipeline of protein, dairy, eggs, fruits and vegetables to our approximately 300 partner and program sites. All that fresh fare requires the right refrigeration, and we’ve created a cold chain ensuring peak freshness along the journey into the hands of those in need.
What keeps long-time volunteer Jill Wilson connected with Second Harvest? She knows her contributions matter and she feels a deep sense of commitment to helping ensure all are well fed for years to come.
The launch of the Harvest Solutions Farm and the ability to deliver our locally grown produce is a great way to help ensure all are well fed in Orange County.
The modest income of a commercial baker combined with the high cost of living in Orange County have put undue financial strain on his family. What started as challenging become unbearable once the pandemic hit.
Rosa is 70 years old and lives on a fixed income. Medical bills and the high cost of living in Orange County make it difficult for her to afford enough food. Adding to her challenges, once the pandemic hit Rosa was no longer able to go out to the pantries that offer food assistance.
Not having access to food has been very difficult. College students shouldn’t have to worry about what they’re going to eat. They should be thinking about finishing assignments and studying for their exams.
Before the pandemic, most would think Stephen’s life was a good one. Comfortable even. Stephen and his wife were both working and the challenges of day-to-day life with two jobs and two daughters (2 years old and 5 years old) were easy enough to manage. Then COVID-19 arrived.
Trapped. That’s how many of us feel. We want to go somewhere. Anywhere really. Not being able to see family and friends can add an extra layer of gloom to the confinement created by this pandemic. For those with loved ones that are long distances away, the challenge of getting back together only adds another layer.
COVID-19 has put many in our community out of work. See what Second Harvest is doing to create a safety net for all who need food.
Jill Wilson decided to volunteer with Second Harvest in 2008 when she was in between jobs and looking for a way to apply her talents that could benefit the community. She arrived one day at Second Harvest’s former distribution center in Orange, ready to serve, and felt immediately connected to the mission.
Like Jill and Ian, other friends of the food bank may be looking for ways to connect meaningfully with Second Harvest to help those experiencing hunger in Orange County for years to come. One simple way to make a significant impact, while achieving peace of mind, is by creating a will or revocable living trust with our partner, FreeWill.
March is National Nutrition Month, an annual awareness campaign that encourages us to learn about nutrition, develop healthy eating habits and discover the fun of being physically active. At Second Harvest Food Bank of Orange County, we strive to provide everyone in Orange County with the nutrition they need to grow and excel in life.
Last spring, here at Second Harvest we completely revamped our focus to proactively purchase fresh nutrition for those in need, ensuring a steady pipeline of protein, dairy, eggs, fruits and vegetables to our approximately 300 partner and program sites. As a next step, we recently unveiled our new, 6,200-square-foot cold storage facility and two additional cold docks that establish a “cold chain” at our distribution center in Irvine. This gives us a total of 14,550 square feet of cold storage, which greatly enhances our ability to source and distribute more nutritious food.
Second Harvest continues to fight increasing food insecurity through our Pop-Up Drive Thru food distributions with the help of many amazing volunteers and it is no surprise that many of them are mothers. Jacqueline is one such volunteer and I wanted to learn more of her story.
here to volunteer representing other mothers…to give back to the community, to be a role model to my children. As a mother, as a woman, as a friend, as a wife…you have so many hats you have to put on and one of them is giving. When I go home my daughter asks me, “Mom what did you do today?” And I say, “I got to give back to people, people that really don’t have as much as we do.” Hopefully she sees me doing this and then as she gets older, she’ll want to give back just the same way.”
Pantry. Their style traditionally has always been very welcoming and focused on building relationships with those they serve. They would put out coffee and pastries and spend time talking with the families who would come early just to socialize.
One of Nancy’s key volunteers, Mary Kaye, also shared insights. Mary Kaye is an emergency room doctor who has been spending much of her spare time serving at the Saint Timothy pantry. She began volunteering pre-COVID by taking blood pressures on pantry days and translating for Spanish-speaking clients.. All the changes have her missing conversations and connecting with the families they serve.
can take your blood pressure soon,” and encouraging them.”
Whatever the situation that keeps students on campus and struggling to feed themselves, the Fresh Basic Needs Hub at UCI remains open to serve them, supported by food from Second Harvest. Student hunger is a serious challenge, made even worse by the pandemic, but Fresh, as it’s called, has the mission to provide for the basic needs of UCI students, allowing them to focus on academics.
Last week did not feel hopeful. Seeing the injustice of the past few days makes me cringe. It causes me to grieve when I see people treated unfairly or worse. But I’m choosing to move forward with hope. How can I have hope this week? Because I know Andrea and I see how she treats people who sometimes feel trapped. The team at Fresh, and all the other college pantries in Orange County serve as a lifeline for their students, providing for basic needs and offering a dignified experience for everyone who comes to them for help. Their service is a beacon of hope in the darkness.
redirected those emotions toward survival and humility. While it was a very difficult decision, Stephen and Kristina decided that in order to make it through this crisis, they would need to receive assistance the first time in their lives. This is what it means to be newly vulnerable.