In San Diego County, 1 in 4 residents struggles with food insecurity, according to the San Diego Hunger Coalition. At CRC, our Food & Nutrition Center rescues thousands of pounds of surplus food each year, providing essential support to an average of 659 households each month (January – November 2024 data), including families, seniors, and individuals experiencing homelessness.
This vital work is made possible by the generosity of our food rescue and program partners, who donate food, personal care items and more to ensure no resource goes to waste.
How Food Rescue Works
- Donation: Food that would otherwise go to waste is donated by local food rescue partners, including grocery stores and organizations dedicated to alleviating food insecurity.
- Collection: Items are picked up by our truck or donated directly to our pantry.
- Sorting: Volunteers sort and stock the food at our pantry.
- Distribution: Households in need select food at our pantry.
This process ensures that food is not wasted but instead provides nourishment—and hope—to those who need it most.
Thank you to our 2024 Food & Nutrition Program Partners:
Fresh Rescue/Food Donation Partners:
- North County Food Bank (The Jacobs & Cushman San Diego Food Bank)
- Feeding San Diego
- ProduceGood
- Coastal Roots Farm
- Healthy Day Partners
- San Diego Hunger Coalition
- North County Food Policy Council
- Jimbo’s (Carlsbad)
- Target (Encinitas)
- Ralph’s (Encinitas)
- Trader Joe’s (Encinitas)
- Sprouts (Encinitas)
- Sprouts (Carlsbad)
- Gelson’s (Del Mar )
- Lazy Acres (Encinitas)
- Wild Fork (Encinitas)
- Smart and Final (Encinitas)
- Vons (Solana Beach)
- Vons (Carlsbad)
- GoPuff (Encinitas)
- Grocery Outlet (Encinitas)
Community Partners:
- One Safe Place
- San Diego Botanic Garden
- AutoNation Subaru Carlsbad
- St. Mark’s Church (Encinitas)
- San Dieguito United Methodist Church
- North County Neighborhood Food Project
- NAIOP (Commerical Real Estate Development Association)
- D.H. Charles Engineering, Inc.
- Junior League of San Diego
- National Charity League
- Carmel Valley Middle School
- San Diegueno Middle School
- San Dieguito High School District
