Second Harvest of Silicon Valley: How to Get Food
Second Harvest of Silicon Valley does not publish who qualifies, so the pantry decides — here is what it does say, and who to ask.
- Proof of income
- Pantry decides
- Cost
- Free
- Hands out food
- Yes, directly
- Hours
- Published
- see “When is it open”
Do I have to prove my income to get food from Second Harvest of Silicon Valley?
Second Harvest of Silicon Valley does not publish a requirement either way. Each partner pantry sets its own, so ask the pantry before you go, or call 800-984-3663. Do not assume you are turned away: most pantries in the Feeding America network serve anyone who says they need help.
How do I actually get food from Second Harvest of Silicon Valley?
Use the Food Locator at shfb.org/get-food/. You choose whether you want fresh groceries or ready-to-eat meals and pick days and times that suit you, and it shows free food near you. If you are already a Second Harvest client there is a 'Check your schedule' link on that page. If you would rather talk to someone, call the Food Connection team on 1-800-984-3663, or use the 'Request a contact' form to ask them to call you back at a time you choose - available in English, Spanish, Vietnamese, Chinese and Tagalog. The site also helps you apply for CalFresh (the California name for SNAP), a free EBT card usable at most stores and some restaurants.
When is Second Harvest of Silicon Valley open?
The Food Locator at shfb.org/get-food/ lets you filter by the days and times that fit your schedule, and shows each site's hours. Check there or call 1-800-984-3663 before travelling.
Does Second Harvest of Silicon Valley cost anything?
Free. The Get Food page says the Food Locator finds 'free, nutritious food near you'.
What do I need to bring?
Not stated on the Second Harvest of Silicon Valley page we read. Bring an ID and something with your address if you have them, and bags or a box for the food — but do not stay home for lack of paperwork; most pantries take you anyway.
Where Second Harvest of Silicon Valley works
Santa Clara and San Mateo counties (Silicon Valley). Its own pages say nearly 500,000 people a month get food through Second Harvest, and that 1 in 6 neighbours in the region relies on it.
Worth knowing before you go
The Get Food page also lists programmes run by others: Meals on Wheels for homebound adults 60 and over (apply separately in San Mateo or Santa Clara County); senior meal programmes for adults 60 and over, sometimes open to spouses and carers (San Mateo 1-800-675-8437, Santa Clara 408-755-7680); and WIC for pregnant and postpartum women, infants and children up to age 5.
For more than this week
A pantry covers today. SNAP covers the month, and in California the application is the state's own. SNAP in California →
Other food banks in CA
Each one covers different counties, so if Second Harvest of Silicon Valley does not reach where you live, one of these probably does.
- Los Angeles Regional Food BankLos Angeles, CA
- Redwood Empire Food BankSanta Rosa, CA
- Feeding San DiegoSan Diego, CA
- Alameda County Community Food BankOakland, CA
- San Francisco-Marin Food BankSan Francisco, CA
- Second Harvest Food Bank of Orange CountyIrvine, CA
Read on shfb.org on Sep 9, 2026. We do not copy opening hours from other sites, because a wrong hour sends someone on a wasted trip. Last review Sep 9, 2026.
Checked by the PocketBoosters team against the official source. How we check this →
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