Emergency Food Assistance Program

The Emergency Food Assistance Program (EFAP) is the largest supplemental food program that the Food Bank operates “to lead community efforts in the awareness and elimination of hunger in Monterey County.” United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) food commodities are distributed at 25 sites via tailgate distribution throughout Monterey County on a monthly basis, including our Salinas warehouse facility Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 1-3 PM. On average, the Food Bank for Monterey County currently serves 8,500 households per month through this program.

Food distributions usually occur in the parking lot of a local church or community building. Volunteers distribute the food bags containing canned goods such as tuna, fruit, vegetables, rice, beans, bread and other donated foods. These foods represent some of the highest quality food we distribute.

We have kept pace with the rising need for food assistance despite the record need due to the recession. is our largest direct distribution program and the most comprehensive source for emergency supplemental food throughout Monterey County. We distribute food at 25 sites from South County to Pajaro. In FY 2009-10, we distributed 2,610,238 pounds of food. This represents an increase of 625,000 pounds of food over FY 2008-09.

Food bags are packed at our warehouse entirely by volunteers. Volunteers also help at the distribution sites where they may serve as site captains or site assistants. Clearly, volunteers from the community are the lifeblood of EFAP. A total of 1,655 volunteers gave 7,796 hours at the Emergency Food Assistance sites per year. This was an increase of 34% over the previous year, reflecting our increased service level at our service sites.

Do you or someone you know need food? Click here.

To access a calendar of food distribution sites click here.