We are a community health center that includes a food pantry serving the Orange County community of Costa Mesa and surrounding areas. The type of households we serve are young families, multi-generational families, veterans, households experiencing homelessness, and individuals. We love donations of fresh produce and healthy food items, vegetarian food items, individual serving packaged food, and dairy such as milk for families.
Additionally, toiletries kits are needed that includes but not limited to a pair of new socks, toothpaste, toothbrush, deodorant, and wipes. We have a clothing closet for our neighbors experiencing homelessness, where we are in need of donations of new pairs of socks (unisex), basic t-shirts (unisex), and basic sweatshirts or hoodies (unisex).
We are open Monday to Friday from 8am to 4:30pm. Donations can be dropped off any time during business hours at the Social Services building "Food Pantry" receiving doors.
ProducePedia
ProducePedia is a free resource that covers the types of fresh produce that can be delivered to food pantries. Each entry includes information on color, taste, and possible uses. People unfamiliar with the vegetable or fruit will learn how to use it, and those who are familiar with it still might learn a fun fact or two!
The Cooperative Extension sites have a wealth of information for any backyard gardener. Once you go to the site (each one if very different from the others) look for a link for “homes and gardens”, “landscape”, “consumer horticulture”, etc. to find information on improving your backyard garden. Neighboring state sites may offer information your own state’s site lacks.