SLO Food Bank
Coalition of San Luis Obispo County
Harvest Bag
The Harvest Bag Program has been going strong in San Luis Obispo County for thirty years! Started by a group of women in South County in 1979, Harvest Bag has a rich history of feeding people in need through a dedicated network of volunteers. In the early years, these tireless citizens gathered leftover produce from local farmers, even harvesting the food themselves when needed. They also solicited donations of food from local grocery stories and bakeries as well as contributions of food and funds from local residents.
The program grew over the years. The group acquired a warehouse in Oceano and several trucks. They established a Wednesday morning food giveaway at Soto Field in Arroyo Grande that continues to this day. There, dozens of volunteers pack several hundred bags of food for lines of people who show up each week. An additional several hundred bags are trucked to several additional communities. Volunteers also collect and deliver bags to people in need in North County.
Recognizing a shared mission, the Food Bank Coalition and Harvest Bag decided to merge in the mid 2000's. Harvest Bag continues to operate as one of the Food Bank's direct food distribution programs.
Program requirements are the same as for the USDA Commodities Program. Recipients need to bring proof of county residency and'self-certify' that household monthly income is at or below these levels:
* One person: $ 1,300/month
* Two people: $ 1,750/month
* Three people: $ 2,200/month
* Four people: $ 2,650/month
Click for a complete list of emergency food programs by community in which they operate.
If you'd like to find out more about how you or someone you know can get help immediately, call us in Paso Robles at 238-4664 or in Oceano at 481-4652.