It’s easy for households facing food insecurity to fall through the cracks, but various programs in Marin are aware of those struggles and ready to help. The 2024 readers’ choice Best of the County winner is the San Francisco-Marin Food Bank (pictured above). For the rest of the Marin Magazine‘s Best of Marin County Food Insecurity Nonprofit picks see below.
Our 2024 Philanthropy category sponsor is Skin Suite Marin. View the rest of the Philanthropy category here.
We’ve broken it down by region: Central and Northern Marin.
Central | Northern
Central Marin
ExtraFood
Kentfield
ExtraFood is fighting hunger, food waste and climate change. They work with food donors to rescue fresh food and then turn around to deliver it right into the hands of the people who need it most. They’re always taking new volunteers, so if you share their mission and have some spare time, consider lending them a hand.
907 Sir Francis Drake Blvd, Kentfield, 415.997.9830
Community Action Marin
San Rafael
Despite the general affluence of Marin County, many don’t have reliable access to fresh produce, and Community Action Marin is putting up social safety nets to help deal with this struggle. From their production farms to their Central Kitchen, they create replicable and scalable models for sustainable community food.
555 Northgate Dr, Ste 201, San Rafael, 415.526.7500
San Francisco–Marin Food Bank
San Rafael
Every week, the San Francisco-Marin Food Bank provides groceries to over 53,000 households, with over a million meals distributed weekly. They’re more than aware that since the pandemic, the already high levels of food insecurity in the Bay Area has substantially increased, and they are dedicated to ending that hunger, one household at a time.
2550 Kerner Blvd, San Rafael, 415.282.1900
St. Vincent de Paul Society
San Rafael
St. Vincent de Paul believes in the dignity of all people. Their mission is to provide compassionate, individualized assistance to help our most vulnerable neighbors obtain nutritious food, affordable housing, and a voice in our community. One of their core services is providing nutritious meals in Marin’s only free dining room.
820 B Street, San Rafael, 415.454.3303
Northern Marin
North Marin Community Services
Novato
Every Tuesday, North Marin Community Services opens up their weekly food pantry to Novato residents, providing healthy food including produce, dairy and protein. Their main focus is on their Childcare Healthy Food Program, ensuring that children in low-income families have reliable access to lunches and snacks.
1907 Novato Blvd, Novato, 415.892.1643
Best of the County Philanthropy Sponsor
Skin Suite Marin
Skin Suite Marin is the premier natural beauty and wellness destination in Southern Marin. Thena Holmen, RN has specialized in Aesthetic Nursing for over three decade and is known in the county for her emphasis on natural-looking beauty.
Skin Suite Marin offers the most advanced technology being the leading provider of the Fotona4D® non-invasive laser. Combined with the Hydrafacial, PRX Peel, fillers and Botox, Thena can help you achieve the best version of you with little discomfort and no down time.
What cause(s) have touched you?
When my eyes were opened to the reality of human trafficking, I felt an obligation to spread awareness and become involved to help every child to have hope and a future. I support an organization called Operation Rescue that fights against human exploitation and sex trafficking.
Why is philanthropy/humanitarianism important to you?
I believe beauty is more than skin deep.
Skin Suite Marin | Mill Valley | 415.881.6001 | skinsuitemarin.com