The Santa Paula Food Pantry

More Rescue food being delivered as the line develops in the background.

The last few weeks the number of people accepting packages of produce and other foods at the Food Pantry held by the First Presbyterian Church in Santa Paula has been declining.  Staff and volunteers who oversee the program believe the reduced numbers are due to the ICE raids which have been occurring in the local area.  People are afraid to gather for such events as the Food Share Program for fear of being questioned, or detained.

As one person told me, “People also aren't going to doctor's appointments or church. It is hard now to tell if someone is being kidnapped or if they are being arrested."

The Spirit of Santa Paula, in conjunction with the First Presbyterian Church and Food Share hold a Food Pantry every Wednesday from 4:30PM to 5:30PM at the First Presbyterian Church, 121 Davis Street, Santa Paula.   The table is open to everyone, and free food fills a distinct need in our community.  There is also another pantry at the Shelter-Harvard Navigation Center on Saturday afternoons between 2:30PM and 3:30PM, at 1498 E Harvard Blvd, Santa Paula. 

The announcement for the June 25th Food Pantry website said: “10,712 pounds of food had been rescued, which included fresh produce, yellow peppers, shishito peppers, onions, carrots, papaya, pineapple and melons.”  A good mix of fresh and healthy food.  

Because so few people are showing up to collect the food, improvisation is needed. Currently there is a group in Santa Paula picking up food and delivering it, since people are afraid to attend public gatherings.

The Food Rescue program comes from a grant given by CalRecyle, State of California.  With their two refrigerated vans, the team makes daily visits to various county wide food outlets including Amazon, Costco, Trader Joe’s, Sprouts and Albertsons.  The result is over one million pounds of food gathered annually, worth approximately $2.3 million, which is passed on to those in need in our community.