Join Second Harvest of the Greater Valley as we work towards equitable food access for all. Empty Bowls will be a morning you won’t soon forget as we invite you to "Dream" with us about a world without hunger. Our one-of-a-kind event will include brunch, prepared by BESITOS Fine Cuisine, and a first hand look at our latest goal to help end hunger: Refrigerated Food Lockers.

For many that are in need of our services, getting to a pantry or a Mobile Fresh site is not possible due to barriers including work, transportation, and child care. Smart food lockers will allow community members to schedule a time most convenient to them to pick up an assortment of both fresh and shelf stable items.

Food banks across the country have begun to use these smart lockers as a way to extend their network service hours and reach more people experiencing food insecurity. Second Harvest aims to join the ranks of food banks utilizing this powerful food access tool. Each set of lockers will cost approximately $150,000, covering installation, proper fencing, and electrical work. While the cost is high, the resulting increase in food access makes the project more than worth it. The initial set of lockers for the pilot program will be housed in front of the Second Harvest offices. Our goal is to continue raising funding through grants to expand the program further into San Joaquin and Stanislaus Counties.