The Mission of the East Santa Cruz County Community Food Bank (ESCCCFB) is to alleviate hunger for the residents of East Santa Cruz County by providing supplemental food bags, fresh produce, and emergency food for anyone in eastern Santa Cruz County experiencing food insecurity.
Our Vision: No one goes hungry in East Santa Cruz County.
The East Santa Cruz County Community Food Bank, Inc has served the food needs of clients from East Santa Cruz County, Arizona since August 1994. Our geographical coverage area is approximately 700 square miles, mostly rural lands and includes the towns of Patagonia, Sonoita, Elgin, Canelo, Rain Valley and Kino Springs. We are an all-volunteer organization located on the U. S./Mexican border near Nogales, AZ
We serve the elderly, disabled, single parent families, and low-income adults as well as anyone needing food who comes to our attention. We partner with the Senior Citizens of Patagonia, Patagonia Youth Enrichment Center and local churches and other not-for-profit service organizations.
In the spring of 2023, the ESCCC Food Bank moved to a new facility and with the new location came new and expanded services to improve access to healthy food for people across East Santa Cruz County. As we grew, so did our community of volunteers, donors, clients and partners. Originally serving only a limited number of families each month, today we provide hundreds of elderly, disabled, disadvantaged individuals and families with nutritious food.
ESCCC Food Bank Programs:
Supplemental Food Distribution
We distribute supplemental food bags using a drive-up, drive through system, once a month from our Patagonia, Arizona food bank location. Volunteer staff load groceries into clients’ vehicles. If one cannot travel to the Food Bank, one can contact us to arrange to receive food. Each bag we give out contains healthy, nutritious, nonperishable foods such as canned soup, peanut butter and jelly, pasta, beans, corn, chicken, pork, rice, cereal, as well as perishable foods including fresh eggs, hot dogs and tortillas.
Fresh Produce & Vegetables
During the produce harvest season in Mexico – typically November through June -we travel south every week to Nogales, AZ, to pick up ‘rescued’ produce from Borderlands Produce Rescue, a not-for-profit agency that aggregates unwanted and damaged produce. We provide fresh vegetables such as tomatoes, eggplant, zucchini, snap beans, watermelon, carrots, onions, potatoes, peppers, cucumbers, depending on seasonal availability at Borderlands. During the produce season we distribute nearly 30,000 pounds of fresh produce, cost free, to our community.
Emergency Food Distribution
An emergency food bag is available anytime. It can be picked up at the food bank or delivered upon request via phone, email or text. Emergency food is available in times of sudden hardship or crisis when immediate assistance can make all the difference. That's why the ESCCCFB offers an Emergency Food program aimed at providing rapid help to individuals and families in urgent need.
Distribution Schedule
Supplemental Food Bags:
Second Saturday of the month from 8:30 to 10:30 AM year-round at 772 Harshaw Avenue in Patagonia.
Fresh Produce and Vegetables:
Monday from 10:30 to 11:30 mid-November through May at the Senior Center in Patagonia.