Local nonprofits told the Palo Alto Human Relations Commission on Dec. 11 that demand for food assistance is growing and that local programs are stretched thin.

Panelists from Avenidas, La Comida, the South Palo Alto Food Closet and Peninsula Healthcare Connection described a patchwork of services that together deliver thousands of meals and pantry items each year while relying heavily on volunteers and short-term grants. "We ended up being about 10,000 pounds of food," State Senator Becker said of a recent community drive that his office organized, a turnout he called a sign both of local generosity and of mounting need.

Christina Lugo, chief executive of Avenidas, said the senior services nonprofit has begun a recurring food drive and expanded grocery delivery and transportation programs to reach older adults who cannot shop. Jillian Halliburton, Avenidas' director of transportation and volunteer engagement, said the organization’s enhanced care management links clients to CalFresh and other benefits but that benefits alone often do not cover monthly food needs.

Yvonne Boxerman, a board member at the South Palo Alto Food Closet, said the pantry serves registered Palo Alto residents by appointment and currently manages a wait list; "we operate almost exclusively with volunteer help," she said, estimating about 200 households (roughly 300–400 individuals) receive regular service. Deborah Grant, executive director at La Comida, said her program prepares fresh hot lunches five days a week and serves more than 72,000 meals annually; she described an urgent need for staff time, volunteer help and transportation resources.

Drew Navarro of Peninsula Healthcare Connection described the Downtown Food Closet as a "low-barrier" pantry integrated with clinical outreach, noting recent additions such as flu clinics, Medi‑Cal and CalFresh enrollment help, and plans for regular glucose and blood-pressure monitoring. He said the pantry tries to offer trauma‑informed, dignified service and stressed the need for multilingual volunteers — especially Mandarin and Spanish speakers — to meet changing client demographics.

Panelists warned that regional donations and food‑bank support have become less predictable. Several speakers said Second Harvest’s reduced funding has forced providers to purchase food through a discounted marketplace, increasing cash needs. Nonprofits asked commissioners to help amplify volunteer recruitment, support fundraising and consider recurring coordination among agencies.

For practical needs, La Comida described operating an aging 2004 Ford Econoline van used for food collection and delivery and asked for help replacing it. Several commissioners recommended outreach to local faith communities and school groups, and panelists encouraged residents to consider group volunteer days, shelf-stable donations, gift cards and language-capable volunteers.

The commission did not take formal action on funding during the meeting but agreed to continue convening nonprofits and to revisit food-security topics during its work-plan retreat in January.