How to Find a Food Bank or Pantry Near You in the San Francisco Bay Area

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If you’re one of the 5.5 million Californians who use CalFresh — the state’s version of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, sometimes referred to as food stamps — you’ll have seen your November SNAP payments on your EBT card delayed due to the ongoing federal government shutdown, according to the state.

On Nov. 3, President Donald Trump’s administration said it would use the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s contingency fund to provide SNAP payments in November after all, having previously claimed that it could not tap this fund.

But the White House warned that payments would still only be half of people’s regular benefits, and that there could be lengthy delays before EBT cards are reloaded. And on Nov. 4, Trump again threatened to withhold SNAP payments entirely — before a judge ruled a second time that the White House must pay these benefits in full by Nov. 7.

On Nov. 6, Gov. Gavin Newsom’s office confirmed that some CalFresh recipients have begun to see benefits payments arrive in full onto their EBT cards, but it’s not yet clear how these funds will continue to roll out, especially since the Trump administration asked a federal appeals court on Nov. 7 to block the judge’s order.

Around the state, food banks are working to meet the needs of people who have already seen their access to food greatly reduced with the Thanksgiving holidays fast approaching.

Jump straight to:

• Where to find a food bank near you
• What to know about your first food bank visit
• Where to find other sources of free food during the shutdown

Hundreds of thousands of people on CalFresh live in the Bay Area, with the largest number of participants in Alameda County — and the Alameda County Community Food Bank has especially braced for a surge in usage.

ACCFB has already seen a 12% increase since July in people using their food distribution sites, said Elizabeth Gomez, the food bank’s vice president of impact. And the CalFresh delays “couldn’t come at a worse time,” she said. “This is November: It’s a time for family, for food, for togetherness.”

Many people on CalFresh are particularly relying on these funds to feed their families at the holidays, noted Gomez, “especially during the winter months when not only our food prices go up, but electricity bills go up.”

• Tell us: Will your family be affected by the CalFresh delays?

“There’s no other word that I can describe this as, but catastrophic,” said Gomez. “This is terrible for our communities and for people that rely on CalFresh benefits as a critical source.”

“Unfortunately, food insecurity is already at an all-time high in Silicon Valley and in the Bay Area in general,” said Leslie Bacho, CEO of Second Harvest of Silicon Valley. “It’s in fact higher than the national average, and that’s due to the incredibly high cost of living here.”

Bacho said the current situation mirrors the jump in demand she and her colleagues saw in 2023, when COVID-19 era emergency allotments were removed from SNAP benefits. “That’s really concerning, because we already are serving 1 in 6 of our neighbors,” she said.

“We’re back up to serving the same number of people we served at the height of the pandemic, about a half million people a month,” said Bacho.

Keep reading for where to find a food bank or food pantry near you at this time, as well as what staff want you to know about using a food bank if it’s your first time. You can also see our list of Bay Area restaurants offering free or discounted meals to families using CalFresh during the shutdown.

(And if you’d like to support your local food bank at this time, read our guide to how to effectively donate your time or your money right now.)

What to know about your first food bank visit

You’ll typically pick up food itself from a food pantry rather than a food bank

Although the two terms are often used interchangeably, a food bank is usually where food is stored in a warehouse, to be delivered to local food programs, which include food pantries.

But don’t worry too much about the difference, as food banks specialize in helping connect you to where to actually physically pick up the food itself, and will be clear with you about the best locations near you to do so.

Make the most of helplines and online “find food” tools

Many food banks have phone hotlines that can assist callers in finding food nearby. ACCFB’s helpline — 1-510-635-3663, open Mon-Fri 9 a.m.–4 p.m. — is available in multiple languages and promises to connect callers “to a source for groceries or a hot meal the same day you call us.” You can also search online using ACCFB’s FoodNow.net tool for food sources near you.

Second Harvest similarly has a Find Food online search tool, and you can call their Food Connection helpline at 1-800-984-3663 (or email foodconnection@shfb.org.)

Helplines like ACCFB and Second Harvest’s can help you find other sources of food nearby beyond the bigger food banks. “Definitely utilize the resources in the community, like our food pantries, if you can go,” said Maria Gutierrez, outreach associate at ACCFB.

Be aware of any guidelines or limits on how many times you can visit

Different food banks and pantries may have different rules on how often a person can pick up food, although some have no limits.

“I know for most of the pantries that we refer clients to, they can go once or twice a month,” said Gutierrez.

Know about home delivery options

Some food banks, including ACCFB, will make home deliveries if you’re physically unable to get to the food bank location. ACCFB says it’s seeing a significant increase in home delivery requests right now, which  Alameda County Supervisor Nikki Fortunato Bas has attributed to fears many immigrants have about leaving their homes amid recent threats of an immigration crackdown.

Food delivery app DoorDash is also waiving delivery and service fees for SNAP recipients on one order from certain grocery stores. CalFresh users will need to link their EBT card to their DoorDash account to see the fees waived.

Don’t be deterred or feel you shouldn’t use a food bank 

“I would say to not be afraid to ask for resources,” said Gutierrez. “I know that there’s a lot of stigma around utilizing these resources.”

“Just go, take advantage of the resources that are available to you,” she advised. “Stay positive and in community.”

Gomez wants first-time visitors to food banks to know that staff and volunteers that work at food banks “are providing the assistance with love and empathy,” she said.

“There are a lot of people that have big hearts and are doing everything that we can to ensure that people don’t miss meals,” said Gomez.

Gomez also confirms that you won’t be asked about your documentation status in the U.S. when using ACCFB, and that you can request information via their hotline and the FoodNow.net tool anonymously.

You may see the California National Guard behind the scenes

Gov. Gavin Newsom has activated the California National Guard to support some food banks around the state during the federal government shutdown. This is similar to how the National Guard were used to assist California food banks in March 2020 at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, said Major General Matthew P. Beevers, adjutant general for the California National Guard. “The California Military Department, under the direction of the Governor’s Office, is proud to support food bank operations across the state,” said Beevers.

But food banks will have to request or agree to the state guard’s presence. And Assemblymember Alex Lee (D-San José), who chairs the state Legislature’s Human Services Committee with oversight of CalFresh policy, said that per Newsom’s office, the state guard “won’t be armed” when serving at food banks and will be more in behind-the-scenes logistical roles rather than being “civilian-facing.”

Lee said he also anticipated that the state guard would be “very few in numbers” at each food bank, because of the sheer number of organizations around the state needing help. And people there to use the food bank’s services “should not confuse [them] with federal troop deployment, federal agents, or ICE,” he said.

The California National Guard won’t be at every food bank, either. For example, Gomez confirms that right now, “ACCFB is not planning to utilize that resource.”

Where can I find a food bank or food pantry near me?

Remember, most food banks are not the actual site to get your meals, but rather a distributor to participating food pantries, organizations, nonprofits and churches.

Major food banks, like the SF-Marin Food Bank or the California Association of Food Banks, will likely have a tool online that can help you locate food resources near you. These maps or search engines can list locations ranging from large operations to small community fridges.

You can also:

• Use the California Association of Food Banks’ online tool, which lists all the major food banks in the state
• Call the state’s 211 hotline.

Once you find a spot, be sure to check out the food bank or pantry online before heading out. Note what hours they are open, and for how long. Some locations are open to anyone and to walk-ins, but some may require people to register for a spot beforehand or live in a specific zip code.

Here are just some of the food banks and pantries around the Bay Area:

San Francisco

• SF-Marin Food Bank does not directly provide food from its warehouse. Instead, it distributes food to participating pantries organizations and has a tool to locate food resources near you.
• CityTeam San Francisco also has a searchable database of places to find food and other types of support.
• St. Anthony’s Foundation at 121 Golden Gate Ave.
• Glide Memorial Church at 330 Ellis St.
• Mission Food Hub, located at 701 Alabama St., provides groceries on Fridays to registered residents living in zip code 94110.
• The Richmond Neighborhood Center, located in various spaces throughout the week, including George Peabody Elementary, Lafayette Elementary and The Richmond Neighborhood Center.

East Bay

• Alameda County Community Food Bank has a tool to find food resources in the area. You can also call 510-635-3663 for any emergencies.
• Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano has a searchable database. You can also call for help at 855-309-3663.
• Alameda Food Bank at 677 W. Ranger Ave. in Alameda.
• Loaves and Fishes of Contra Costa at 835 Ferry St. in Martinez.
• The American Legion Hall at 403 West Sixth St. in Antioch.
• The Redman-Pocahontas Hall at 1403 Main St. in Oakley.
• Saint Vincent de Paul at 1415 Simpson Court in Pittsburg.
• Trinity Center at 1888 Trinity Ave. in Walnut Creek.

North Bay

• St. Vincent de Paul Society of Marin County at 820 B St. in San Rafael.
• Community Action of Napa County Food Bank delivers to partnering food pantries listed on its website.
• Redwood Empire has a searchable map on its website. People can also text “FOOD” to 707-353-3882 to get a list of options in Sonoma County.
• Napa Food Pantry at 938 Kaiser Road in Napa.
• American Canyon Food Pantry at 240 Rio Del Mar in American Canyon. There is another branch located at 300 Napa Junction Road.
• Angwin Pantry at 1 Angwin Ave. in Angwin.
• North of Yountville Pantry at 1777 Main St. in St. Helena.
• Pope Valley Pantry at 5800 Pope Valley / Chiles Road in Pope Valley.
• Berryessa Pantry at 6004 Monticello Road in Lake Berryessa.
• Calistoga Pantry at 1435 North Oak St. in Calistoga.

South Bay

• Second Harvest of Silicon Valley maintains a searchable map tool to find food assistance in the area.
• Martha’s Kitchen at 749 Story Road in San José.
• San Benito County Food Programs has a list of locations specifically for seniors.
• The Emmanuel House Program at 405 N 4th St in San José.
• Mt. Olive at 605 Hamilton Ave. in Menlo Park.

Where else to find food assistance during the shutdown

Check if you’re eligible for food assistance through WIC 

The Women, Infants and Children Supplemental Nutrition Program (WIC) provides food assistance to lower-income families who have young children or are expecting a new child, including grandparents. Like CalFresh, it’s federally funded and income-based, and you can receive WIC benefits on top of your CalFresh benefits — but unlike CalFresh, the state has confirmed that November WIC payments won’t be affected during the shutdown.

See if you qualify for WIC.

Look for restaurants near you offering meals to CalFresh families

A growing number of Bay Area restaurants are offering free or discounted meals during the government shutdown to families using SNAP.

Get your existing EBT balance doubled at a farmer’s market

The Market Match program allows CalFresh users to show their EBT card at certain farmer’s markets and receive tokens for double their chosen dollar amount from the card to spend at the market. Use the Farmers’ Market Finder online tool to find Bay Area locations which accept Market Match.

Be aware you’ll need to have existing funds left on your EBT card ahead of the November CalFresh delay, and have a plan for how you’ll best store fresh produce to preserve it — like freezing it.

Look at your county’s own food access programs

Bay Area counties have some food assistance options that are separate from nonprofit food banks, although sometimes they work together. Your county may provide locations where you can pick up free food, or offer other ways of getting free or low-cost meals that include delivery:

Food assistance from the City and County of San Francisco:

• Free food locations offering both groceries and meals
• Options for having meals delivered to your home
• Locations where you can find a community meal
• Choosing Healthy Appetizing Meal Plan Solution for Seniors (CHAMPSS), a restaurant partnership that offers adults age 60 and older ways to eat subsidized meals at designated restaurants in San Francisco, with a suggested (optional) contribution of $5

Food assistance from Contra Costa County:

• A food assistance program that provides one member of lower-income households in the county a box of food every month
• The Community Produce Program that offers one member of each household one or two bags of fresh fruits and vegetables, twice a month (own bag is required)

Contra Costa County residents can call (855) 309-FOOD (3663) for more information.

Food assistance from Alameda County:

• FoodNow.net: A site managed with the Alameda County Community Food Bank that connects county residents to different food sources, including emergency groceries
• Map of food services and distribution locations in Alameda County
• General Assistance: Cash aid for certain residents of Alameda County

Food assistance from Marin County:

• Congregate meal options in Marin County
• Food pantry and distribution options in Marin County
• Home-delivered meals in Marin County

Food assistance from San Mateo County:

• Food assistance resources on offer within San Mateo

Food assistance from Napa County:

• A list of food services and distribution locations, including groceries, in Napa County (PDF)
• A list of Napa food pantries

Food assistance options in Solano County:

• Assistance available during the government shutdown, including food resources
• General Assistance: Cash aid for certain residents of Solano County

Food assistance options in Sonoma County:

• Meals and food service resources in Sonoma County

Food assistance options in Santa Clara County:

• Food resources, including delivery, for older adults in Santa Clara County

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KQED’s Nastia Voynovskaya and Amanda Hernandez contributed reporting to this story.