Silicon Valley’s Low Unemployment Hides a Cost-of-living Crisis Silicon Valley's seemingly low unemployment rate masks a significant cost-of-living crisis, with nearly one-third of households struggling to meet basic needs.

Meals on Wheels provides free meal delivery to homebound adults aged 60 and older. To apply in San Mateo County, click here. To apply in Santa Clara County, click here. Senior Meal Programs provide free or discounted meals to adults 60 and older.

Due to the prohibitively expensive cost of living in Silicon Valley and the economic downturn caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, Second Harvest is now serving an average of about 500,000 people every month.

CalFresh and Second Harvest can help you put healthy food on the table. CalFresh EBT cards can be used to buy groceries and fresh produce at participating stores and farmers’ markets in San Mateo and Santa Clara counties.

While our canned food drive program has ended, and we no longer have collection barrels available, Second Harvest is accepting donations of unexpired, nonperishable food at our Cypress, Bing and Curtner warehouses Monday through Friday from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

The face of hunger is more familiar than you think. When you donate to Second Harvest once or monthly, you're helping deliver a meal to anyone who needs one. And 95 percent of contributions go to client programs. Learn more about how to donate money or host a fundraiser.

Volunteers power our work. You can make an immediate difference in your community. Right now, an average of about 500,000 people a month rely on us for access to nutritious food, and we need your help.

Use the volunteer calendar below to select a date, time and location that works for you. Need court-ordered community service hours? Before registering and starting your volunteer service, you must apply for pre-approval.. Questions?

Second Harvest is committed to doing whatever it takes to end hunger in our community. That means distributing nutritious food to nearly every neighborhood in Silicon Valley, leveraging every available food resource, and collaborating with organizations and people who share our belief that hunger is unacceptable.

4001 North First Street, San Jose, CA 95134 Google Maps. Phone: 408-266-8866 Fax: 408-266-9042 Regular Office Hours: Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. * Mailing address for donations.