St Vincent De Paul of Coastal San Mateo County

Addressing Food Insecurity and Hunger on the San Mateo Coast

For 90-plus years, St. Vincent de Paul of San Mateo County has brought care and compassion to those in need through our Safety-Net services. We serve the working poor, low-income income seniors, homeless, single parents, the unemployed and the disabled with rent and utilities assistance, food, clothing and household items. Our two Coastside Conferences operate regularly scheduled food distributions at our pantries in Half Moon Bay and Pescadero. 

Half Moon Bay Food Pantry  

SVdP's Pantry in Half Moon Bay located at Our Lady of the Pillar provides food to over 200 Coastside families each week. Twice weekly, on Monday afternoon and Saturday morning, we distribute fresh fruits and vegetables, non-perishables such as rice, beans, oatmeal and canned goods, and proteins including meat, milk, eggs and cheese. Our food pantry is set up in a farmer's market style, where neighbors are greeted and assisted in making a personalized selection of the items offered. Last year we distributed over 800,000 pounds of food in Half Moon Bay. 

Pescadero Food Distribution

SVdP's twice monthly food distribution at St. Anthony Mission in Pescadero provides food to over 120 farmworkers and their families each month. These families are extremely low income, and many have limited access to transportation. We distribute over 750 bags of groceries every month including fresh produce, non-perishables and milk, meats, eggs and cheese. It is a sad reality that many of the people who grow and harvest the food we eat cannot afford to feed themselves and their families. We also drive out to remote farms with families who cannot travel to the distribution site to deliver groceries in person.

How Your Donation Helps

Dramatically rising food prices have increased the number of families that come to us asking for food and we are stretched to meet the demand. We have to purchase more staples as well as meat, dairy and produce.

• $25 - provides cooking oil to five families
• $50 - provides a dozen eggs to eight families
• $100 - provides chicken to 15 families
• $250 - provides 29 families with a gallon of milk and a pound of butter