FOOD SOURCES
Food sources include local grocery stores and supermarket chains, food manufacturers and distributors, the government, restaurants, food industry trade shows, local farmers, gleaning efforts, food drives and private individuals.

FOOD RESCUE
Food Rescue arranges for pick-up of prepared food from restaurants, caterers, hotels and amusement parks and delivers to member charities in a specially equipped vehicle.

GROCERY RESCUE
Second Harvest Food Bank of Orange County has a program that partners with local grocers called Grocery Rescue. This program has been in place for approximately eighteen months. Our partner grocery stores currently include Albertsons, Ralphs, Food 4 Less, Sam’s Club, Fresh N Easy, and Gelsons. These stores take food approaching its sell-by date and donate it for distribution to our member charities. During May 2009 alone, 111,000 pounds of nutritious food were distributed through the Grocery Rescue program, and our distribution has been steadily increasing as we continue to bring on new grocery store chains. An important consideration when distributing food of this nature is ensuring safe handling.  Each of our member charities and staff involved in the Grocery Rescue program are required to attend and receive certification from a course in safe food handling provided by Second Harvest Food Bank in partnership with Orange County Heath Care Agency.  When the food is picked up by Second Harvest,  its temperature is recorded and undergoes a visual inspection by our trained drivers. The Drivers then transport the food in refrigerated trucks right to the agencies door. These agencies may freeze the food for storage or thaw it for more immediate use. It is of utmost importance to Second Harvest Food Bank and our grocery partners that all of the food being distributed to those in need be entirely safe and as fresh as possible.

ORANGE COUNTY HARVEST
Acquires approximately 300,000 pounds of fresh produce through the harvesting of donor fields, with the help of students, children, families, corporate employees and individual volunteers. Fresh produce from the fields is then distributed to our neighbors in need.

BULK PURCHASE
The Food Bank purchases large quantities of staple foods that are in high demand but rarely donated. Items like pinto beans, rice, tuna fish, peanut butter and dry milk are made available to agencies at product cost. On average, the Food Bank's member charities save 30 to 40 percent on these products compared to discount retailers.

KIDS CAFE
In response to the growing concern of childhood hunger, the Food Bank has established a Kids Cafe Program. The program provides after-school snacks and summer meals as well as nutrition education activities to underprivileged children in Orange County.

More information about childhood hunger and Kids Cafe.

SENIORS
More than 2,700 seniors on low and fixed incomes rely on two bags of groceries twice each month. The Brown Bag program is coordinated by senior volunteers at 27 locations around the county.

MOBILE PANTRY
The Food Bank operates a Mobile Pantry truck that delivers 5,000 pounds of fruit, vegetables and dry goods directly to the needy. This program provides an opportunity for the Food Bank to partner with its member agencies and distribute more fresh produce to the hungry without the worry of transportation and storage by the agency.

GOVERNMENT
The Food Bank coordinates both The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA) program for Orange County. Through these programs, the Food Bank distributes USDA commodities and other food products under administrative contracts with state and federal authorities.