Saturday food distribution
Fresh produce from county growers, shelf-stable staples, and household basics handed out at the Fourth Street lot. Bring a bag or a box; we have extras if you don't.
How it works →
Food · Youth · Seniors · Emergency help
Help from neighbors, no paperwork required.
Saturday food distribution runs 8 to 11am, rain or shine, with no proof of income and no appointment. After-school programs, senior rides, and emergency family assistance serve Hollister, San Juan Bautista, Tres Pinos, Aromas, and Paicines.
Our neighbors
From families and volunteers.
“Nobody asked me to prove anything. They asked how many people were at home and handed me a box.”
“My son goes every afternoon and his reading changed in one school year. I work until six; that program is the reason I can.”
“I drive two seniors to Salinas twice a month. Easiest volunteering I've ever done.”
Programs
What we do every week.
Emergency assistance, job readiness workshops, and disaster response are all detailed on the programs page.
After-school youth program
Homework help, a hot snack, and a supervised place to be between the last bell and a parent's shift ending. Staffed by two coordinators and trained volunteer mentors.
How it works →Senior connection
Weekly check-in calls, grocery delivery, and volunteer rides to medical appointments in Hollister, Gilroy, and Salinas for seniors who can no longer drive.
How it works →
Where the money goes
Eighty-six cents of every dollar reaches a program.
Nine cents covers administration and five covers fundraising. Nothing goes to an outside fundraising firm, because there isn't one — the single annual fundraiser is a dinner cooked with food donated by county farms and restaurants.
Program counts and expenses are published every winter and presented in person at an open meeting each February, including what we got wrong.
Sample non-profit · 501(c)(3) illustrative EIN 00-0000000 · Financials posted annually
1,240
Households receiving food each month
86¢
Of every dollar going directly to programs
140+
Active volunteers across San Benito County
18 yrs
Serving Hollister and the surrounding towns
How it works
Ask, match, serve, publish.
1. Neighbors ask
People walk up on a Saturday, call, or get referred by a school or clinic. No income screening for food or youth programs.
2. We match need to program
A bilingual coordinator sorts out which program fits, and refers to county or regional services when the need is beyond our scope.
3. Volunteers do the work
Roughly 140 volunteers cover distribution, mentoring, driving, and packing. Paid staff exists to keep them organized, not to replace them.
4. We publish the numbers
Program counts, expenses, and the share of every dollar reaching programs are posted annually and presented at an open February meeting.
Ways to help
Six things that actually move the needle.
Each one is explained on the get-involved page, including background checks, time commitments, and what we truly need donated.
Community FAQ
Eligibility, donations, languages, and service area.
Who can receive help?
Anyone living in San Benito County. Food distribution and the youth program have no income screening at all, and emergency assistance is reviewed case by case with a published cap.
Do I need an appointment for the Hollister food pantry distribution?
No. Our Saturday distribution takes place from 8am to 11am at the Fourth Street lot in downtown Hollister. It is a walk-up service held rain or shine, and the only information we request is your household size.
Is this Hollister organization a registered 501(c)(3)?
Yes, we are a formal non-profit serving San Benito County. For transparency, our financials are shared annually at a public community meeting held each February in downtown Hollister.
How much of my donation stays within San Benito County programs?
86 cents of every dollar goes directly to our local programs, 9 cents covers administration, and 5 cents goes toward fundraising. We never pay outside fundraising firms, ensuring your gift helps our neighbors directly.
Do you serve towns outside Hollister?
Yes — San Juan Bautista, Tres Pinos, Aromas, and Paicines are all in the service area, and delivery routes reach homebound residents in each.
Are your programs available to Spanish speakers in San Benito County?
Absolutely. We have bilingual volunteers at every distribution event, case coordination is provided in Spanish, and our youth programs offer homework assistance in both languages.
What are the most urgent volunteer needs in the Hollister area?
Our Saturday morning distribution shift currently needs the most help, followed by student mentors and volunteer drivers for residents. Orientation is held for 1 hour on the first Wednesday of each month.
Saturdays, 8 — 11am
Come get help, or come help.
Walk up on Saturday morning at Fourth Street for food, or arrive at 7am to sort. Both doors are open, and neither needs an appointment.