The Imperial Beach Neighborhood Center strives to provide food security to members of the community through monthly mass distribution, a weekly food pantry, ready to eat meals for homeless individuals, and other services.
Monthly Mass Food Distribution at the Neighborhood Center
Working with the San Diego Food Bank, the IB Neighborhood Center distributes free food to 200+ low-income individuals and families on the third Thursday of the month starting between 9:00 AM and 11:00 AM.
Weekly Neighborhood Food Pantry
(Monday through Thursday)
The Neighborhood Food Pantry is a newer, improved pantry, offering healthier food options, nutrition education, safe environment, cultural/dietary accommodations, and community connections. The Neighborhood Food Pantry has the goal of lessening the impact of food insecurity and obtaining basic necessities due to illness, unemployment, or other crisis to families, homeless people, older adults, and low-income families who live in the Imperial Beach area. Feeding San Diego is our Agency Partner providing staple items every week. Hours of operation are Monday through Thursday, 9:00 AM to 12:00
Food for the Housing Challenged
Every Saturday morning a warm breakfast and a Ready-to-eat sack lunches are provided to homeless individuals during the Center’s “Saturday Shower Program”.
Community Garden
The Center currently has seven (7) raised garden beds available for community members to grow vegetables. San Diego Co-Harvest has installed a sustainable home garden that will produce fresh food for The Neighborhood Food Pantry. Volunteers to help weed are always welcome. If you are interested in assisting with our Community Garden, please call the Center Office at 619-947-6057.
In 2023, the Urban Food Equity team at the Center for Community Health in the Altman Clinical and Translational Research Institute at University of California, San Diego conducted a case study: The Power of Community: Neighborhood Food Pantry Gets a Client-Centered Makeover, focusing on the Neighborhood Food Pantry.
To schedule a donation drop off or information, please call the Center Office at (619) 947-6057 or visit our website www.IBneighborhoodCenter.com
Pantry times are Monday - Thursday 9am - 12 pm however the center is open to donations from 9am-5pm, call to schedule a donation drop off or pick up outside of these hours,
Donations are accepted at the center Monday through Thursday from 9am to 12pm and Saturday 7-9am. To schedule a donation drop off or pick up outside these hours please call the Center Office at (619) 947-6057
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.
