Two friends of Food for People have pledged $30,000 to match all donations made to the food bank’s Locally Delicious Farmers Fund during the month of September. This fund helps the food bank purchase from local farmers and through the North Coast Growers Association’s Harvest Hub.
One of the anonymous supporters of the challenge explained why they put up their pledge, “It touches our deepest concerns: To support our farmers so we have healthy local food, to support local families struggling with food insecurity and to support Food for People’s outreach to our greater local community.”
This is the second time that the community has supported Food for People’s local food purchases recently. After USDA funding that helped food banks buy from local farmers was cut in 2025, a challenge by an Arcata couple helped raise $180,000 for the Locally Delicious Farmers Fund.
“We’ve been part of the Locally Delicious program for a long time, since its inception,” said Melanie Cunningham of Shakefork Family Farm. “Farmers wear a lot of hats, and most of us have a real drive to get local food on every plate, to not have it just be for folks that can shop at the farmers markets. Food for People is an incredible partner in helping us reach those community members that really value what we grow and want to get access to it in a whole new way.”
Funds raised through the challenge will allow Food for People to purchase locally grown produce for children’s and senior nutrition programs, and their network of food pantries and mobile distribution at the end of this growing season and into next year. In 2024-25, the food bank purchased nearly 90,000 pounds of local produce through the program.
The challenge runs through the month of September or until the $30,000 goal is reached. Donations can be made by mail to Food for People, PO Box 4922, Eureka, CA 95502, or by giving online at: tinyurl.com/Food-for-People-
About Food For People
Food for People, the food bank for Humboldt County, distributed 2.4 million pounds of food last year, and its services reach more than 21,000 people monthly. Food for People’s 18 programs include a countywide network of emergency food pantries, food distribution programs for children, seniors and homebound individuals, nutrition education and outreach activities, local food recovery, gleaning and disaster relief, as well as many partnerships throughout the community. For more information, go to www.foodforpeople.org.