When business meets community: Ending hunger together

Second Harvest of Silicon Valley distributes nutritious food to nearly 500,000 people every month. It is a staggering number, but it reflects the economic reality of living in one of the most expensive regions in the country. Rent, health care, transportation and child care costs often leave little left for groceries, even for those working full time in multiple jobs.

The good news is that our region is also home to one of the most engaged and compassionate business communities anywhere. From large employers to small local firms, companies here understand that their success is tied to the health and stability of the people who live and work alongside them.

That understanding runs deep in our community. Since 1953, the San Mateo County Economic Development Association has brought together the business community to strengthen our local economy, support a vibrant workforce and invest in the region’s quality of life. SAMCEDA’s mission has always been rooted in partnership aligning business, government and community to tackle challenges and seize opportunities together.

Today, one of the most pressing challenges facing our community is hunger. And it is one the business community is uniquely positioned to help solve. When companies partner with organizations like Second Harvest, they do more than help provide food. They build stability, resilience and opportunity.

Business engagement can take many forms: corporate sponsorship support helps provide vital funding to sustain ongoing food distribution and outreach programs; employee engagement through giving campaigns like virtual food drives supported with corporate matching help amplify impact and awareness; employees can also engage in group volunteerism that helps build team spirit and purpose through direct service.   

For businesses, this kind of involvement is not just philanthropy, it is leadership. These partnerships bring corporate values to life, strengthen a company’s reputation as a committed community partner, boost employee morale and enable companies to make a tangible, measurable impact while deepening connections with the communities they serve.

Hunger impacts everything from classroom performance to workplace productivity. When individuals have reliable access to nutritious food, they are better able to focus, learn, work and contribute to the economy. Food security is, at its core, economic security and we believe it is a goal we all share.

For both of us, this issue is deeply personal. We have seen firsthand how food can change lives, especially how it can lift stress from a parent worried about feeding their children or providing a senior with the comfort of knowing they will have a meal tomorrow. We have also seen the ripple effect when local companies step up. Their leadership inspires others, strengthens community trust and demonstrates what it means to do well by doing good.

Second Harvest is more than a food bank. It is a movement powered by volunteers, donors and community partners who believe that no one in Silicon Valley should go hungry. But we cannot do it alone. The need continues to grow and meeting it requires the collective strength of the private, public and nonprofit sectors.

That is why we are calling on business leaders across San Mateo and Santa Clara counties to act now. Make food security part of your company’s community commitment this holiday season and beyond. Sponsor a food distribution event. Organize a volunteer shift. Launch a workplace giving campaign. Match employee donations. Every action matters.

Learn how your company can get involved at shfb.org.

For more than 70 years, SAMCEDA has championed the power of business to build strong, resilient communities. Today, that same spirit of partnership is needed to ensure that no one in Silicon Valley goes hungry.

Because when business meets community, we do not just fill plates we build futures. Together, we can ensure that Silicon Valley’s prosperity extends to every kitchen table.

Leslie Bacho is CEO of Second Harvest of Silicon Valley. Rosanne Foust is president and CEO of the San Mateo County Economic Development Association.