Why Personalized Gifts Create Lasting Memories
Overview: A more emotional, story‑driven blog that connects personalized gifts…
Our volunteer-led garden provides free, locally-grown produce to our neighbors in downtown Merced, fostering a sustainable food source and a stronger, healthier community through the power of local urban agriculture.
Welcome to Food Para Todos! Helping communities feed people, not landfills.
Every day, in communities worldwide, tons of fresh food go unsold or unused, ending up in landfills as waste. Whey?. It’s perfectly edible and good. California is leading the nation
Do you have food you do not need? Do you need food for your family? We can help.
Our volunteer-led garden provides free, locally-grown produce to our neighbors in downtown Merced, fostering a sustainable food source and a stronger, healthier community through the power of local urban agriculture.
Welcome to Food Para Todos! Helping communities feed people, not landfills.
Every day, in communities worldwide, tons of fresh food go unsold or unused, ending up in landfills as waste. Whey?. It’s perfectly edible and good. California is leading the nation
Do you have food you do not need? Do you need food for your family? We can help.
Our volunteer-led garden provides free, locally-grown produce to our neighbors in downtown Merced, fostering a sustainable food source and a stronger, healthier community through the power of local urban agriculture.
Welcome to Food Para Todos! Helping communities feed people, not landfills.
Every day, in communities worldwide, tons of fresh food go unsold or unused, ending up in landfills as waste. Whey?. It’s perfectly edible and good. California is leading the nation
Do you have food you do not need? Do you need food for your family? We can help.
Strategic Partners for Collective Impact
Working hand-in-hand with Merced County organizations to nourish and support our neighbors
- Visit Our Office
We are Community Initiatives for Collective Impact!
Food Para Todos is based at 936 West 18th Street, Merced, California 95340 , in a space many in the community know as the Yellow House. Our office is located inside a yellow house that has been converted into office space, and out front you’ll find the People’s Garden, a community space that reflects our commitment to connection, growth, and food access. Photos of the Yellow House and the People’s Garden can be featured here to help visitors recognize the location.
While this is an important home base for our team, it is not a client-facing food distribution site. This location is used for meetings, coordination, and other behind-the-scenes work that support our programs.
Food distributions take place at partner locations throughout the community. To find where food will be available, please check our distribution schedule.
Food Para Todos
Open House Event
Open House Event
11/18/2022
We would not be here if it were not for the early work of the People’s Garden (2018, 2019), the Pop-Up People’s Pantry (2020), the People’s Fridge (2020, 2021A, 2021B), and Project Grow (2018).
All of this prior effort was carried out through strong collaboration between community members and academic contributors — including students, staff, and faculty — especially from UC Merced and the Office of Sustainability.
All of this foundational work was made possible and sustained through the generous fiscal sponsorship of the United Way of Merced County.
TOGETHER WE CAN MAKE A COLLECTIVE IMPACT!
Our Work
How We Work
Food Para Todos is a Food Recovery Organization. We collect edible food from Food Generators (grocery stores, restaurants, farmers) that would otherwise go to waste and redistribute it to feed people in need.
Lila Watson
“If you have come here to help me, then you are wasting your time. But, if you have come here because your liberation is tied to mine, then let us work together.”
— Lila Watson
18th Street People’s Garden
The 18th Street People’s Garden, founded in 2018, is a community garden in downtown Merced led and maintained by local people of all ages and abilities. Through the work of passionate volunteers, the People’s Garden provides free produce to the community.
The People’s Garden is a place for enjoying and growing a sense of community.
Family and Nutrition Hubs (FaNHubs)
The Family and Nutrition Hubs (FaN Hubs) in Merced County was created to assist Family Childcare Providers, from our community, to become a place where the children in their care, their families, and their neighbors can find healthy food and resources. Our mission is to make these child care sites a community partner who will aid our goal to give children (ages 0-5) and their families access to healthy and nutritious food.
As part of our FaN Hub initiative, we partner with local child care providers throughout Merced County including in the cities of Merced, Atwater, and Winton.
Our Program's
Pop-Up Pantry : Serving Communities Across Merced County
Food Para Todos hosts Pop-Up Pantry distributions across Merced County, helping connect families and individuals with fresh food and essential items through community-based locations.
- Visit our updated [Distribution Schedule]
- Check back often for added locations and updates
- Stay connected on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok
Interested in Hosting a Pop up pantry with Food Para Todos?
If you have a church, business, apartment complex, or community space in Merced County, you may be able to partner with Food Para Todos to help bring fresh food directly into your neighborhood through a Pop-Up Pantry site.
Kids Education
Medical Care
Pure Water
Healthy Food
Kids Education
Medical Care
Pure Water
Healthy Food
Kids Education
Medical Care
Pure Water
Healthy Food
Kids Education
Medical Care
Pure Water
Healthy Food
What our community says
Hear from the families at the heart of our mission and the impact of our collective support across Merced County.
Happy People
100
+
Pop-up Pantry
Pop-Up Pantries become welcoming hubs of support, helping make food access more local, trusted, and reachable.
Serving Communities Across Merced County
Food Para Todos hosts Pop-Up Pantries in locations with clear need for food. Each Pop-Up Pantry receives and distributes fresh food and essential items through community-based locations.
- ● Visit our updated
- ● Check back often for added locations and updates
- ● Stay connected
Interested in Hosting a Pop-Up Pantry with Food Para Todos?
If you have a group (such as a church, business, apartment complex, or community space in Merced County), Food Para Todos wants to partner with you.
- ● Complete Our Pop-Up Pantry Host Interest Form
- ● Our team will reach out to discuss next steps
Stay Connected
Together, we can strengthen food access, support our neighbors, and build a community rooted in care and connection.
Join our email list to receive updates about:
- ● New distribution locations
- ● Volunteer opportunities
- ● Job openings
- ● Ways to give, including food, funds, or other support
- ● Community partnerships, services, and upcoming events
FAQ's
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Pop-Up Pantries: Bringing Food Where It’s Needed Most?
Food Para Todos partners with trusted community sites across Merced County to host Pop-Up Pantries that bring food directly into neighborhoods. These locations become welcoming hubs of support, helping make food access more local, trusted, and reachable.
Want to help support a Pop-Up Pantry? Reach out to Terika Smith at tsmith@ci4ci.org or 209-259-7739 to learn how you can get involved.
2. How can I donate food or support your program?
You can support our mission by donating food, volunteering, or making a financial contribution through our donation page. Every contribution helps us serve more families in need.
3. Who do you serve?
We serve individuals and families in Merced County who are experiencing food insecurity, including children, seniors, and underserved communities.
4. Where does the food come from?
We collect surplus food from local businesses, farms, and community partners, ensuring that quality food is not wasted but instead shared with those in need.
5. Interested in Hosting a Pop up pantry with Food Para Todos?
If you have a church, business, apartment complex, or community space in Merced County, you may be able to partner with Food Para Todos to help bring fresh food directly into your neighborhood through a Pop-Up Pantry site.
Our Latest Impact
Stories, News & Community Milestones
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Contact Us
Get Involved with Food Para Todos
- Meet Volunteer
Where Passion Meets Volunteer
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- UPCOMING EVENTS
Join Upcoming Events Replays & Webinars
Clean-Up Day
- January 24,2026
- London
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Hope Gala Fundraiser Event
Fundraiser Event
- January 26,2026
- London
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Community Clean-Up Day
Clean-Up Day
- January 24,2026
- London
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Hope Gala Fundraiser Event
Fundraiser Event
- January 26,2026
- London
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- News & Articles
Our Latest News & Articles
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The Ultimate Gift Guide for Husband / Wife / Partner
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