Food Distribution in Oakland

volunteers prepping lunches

 

A Message from Mayor Barbara Lee: Standing Together Through Interruption of CalFresh Benefits

Dear Oakland Community,

I'm reaching out to you about a crisis threatening over 77,000 of our Oakland neighbors: federal suspension of CalFresh (SNAP) benefits that could strip 22,000 children and 16,000 seniors in Oakland of critical food assistance – taking $35 million in monthly food purchasing power from our community.

These numbers represent real families facing impossible choices.

I know what this means because I lived it. I raised my two children on food stamps. It wasn't a handout – it was a lifeline that kept food on our table when I was doing everything right but still struggling to make ends meet.

Here's what you need to know: We are working hard to not let anyone in Oakland go hungry.

OUR COORDINATED RESPONSE 

(as of October 31, 2025)

We are mobilizing resources from every direction to support our community: 

Alameda County Board of Supervisors: $16.5 million in emergency relief to bolster our food security network through the Alameda County Community Food Bank and partner organizations. 

Crankstart Foundation: $500,000 grant to the Alameda County Community Food Bank, St. Mary's Center, and EBALDC (East Bay Asian Local Development Corporation) to support food procurement and distribution. 

Rapid Response CBO Fund: $500,000 held at Pacific Ventures Foundation, seeded by Alameda County, Oakland Thrives, County Board of Education, and other funders. These funds will support smaller community-based organizations who need resources for procuring food and staffing up service and delivery. 

Over 370 community partners are coordinating food distributions across Alameda County to ensure no one goes hungry. 

IF YOU NEED FOOD ASSISTANCE

Primary Resource Hubs:

  • FoodNow.net – Alameda County Community Food Bank's live directory of all food pantries
  • Call (510) 635-3663 – Food Helpline, Monday-Friday, 9am-4pm (multiple languages available)
  • Dial 211 or visit Eden I&R 211 – Connect to food, housing, and emergency services
  • HOPE Collaborative Emergency Food List– Sign up for comprehensive Oakland food resource list with hours and locations (available in English and Spanish)

OAKLAND FOOD DISTRIBUTION SITES

East Oakland:

The East Oakland Collective – 7800 MacArthur Blvd.

  • Monday, Wednesday, Friday: Hot meals at 12pm
  • Tuesday, Thursday: Groceries and hot meals at 11am
  • Walk-ups only, register onsite
  • Contact: (510) 990-0775
  • Se habla español

Homies Empowerment FREEdom Store – 7631 MacArthur Blvd.

  • Tuesdays, 10am-4pm
  • Food pantry, toiletries, diapers, baby formula
  • Contact: (510) 542-9993

East Oakland Senior Center – 9255 Edes Ave.

  • Wednesday, 8-9am
  • Contact: (510) 615-5731

East Oakland Switchboard – 1909 73rd Ave.

  • Monday-Friday, 10am-4pm
  • No ID required, once per week
  • Contact: (510) 569-6369

Rainbow Rec Center – 5800 International Blvd.

  • Meal distribution (information coming)

West Oakland & Downtown:

St. Vincent de Paul Dining Room – 675 23rd Street

  • Tuesday-Saturday, 10:45am-12:45pm
  • Free hot lunch, pantry services
  • Contact: (510) 638-7600

HOPE Collaborative – 3427 San Pablo Ave. (at Sparc it Place)

  • 1st, 3rd, and sometimes 2nd Sundays, 2:30-5pm

Community Kitchens – 2270 Telegraph Ave.

  • Sunday-Thursday, 11am-2pm
  • Hot and Cold meal distribution. Food pantry items available

Telegraph Ministry Center – 5316 Telegraph Ave.

  • Wednesday: 9:30am-1:30pm & 5-7pm
  • Friday: 9:30am-11:30am
  • Contact: (510) 961-4385

Emeryville Citizens Assistance Program (ECAP) – 2628 San Pablo Ave., Oakland

  • Monday-Saturday, 12-4pm
  • Open to all regardless of residency
  • Contact: (510) 499-1263

North Oakland:

North Oakland Senior Center – Mercy Brown Bag – 5714 Martin Luther King Jr. Way

  • 2nd & 4th Thursdays monthly, 9-10am
  • For seniors 60+ with incomes under 235% of federal poverty line
  • Contact: (510) 269-9640

Downtown Oakland Senior Center – 200 Grand Ave.

  • Mercy Brown Bag: 3rd Monday monthly, 11am-12pm
    • For seniors 60+ with incomes under 235% of federal poverty line
    • Contact: (510) 269-9640
  • Spectrum Senior Meals: Monday-Thursday, 12-12:30pm

Church of Christ – 1300 E. 24th Street

  • Fridays (contact for times)
  • Low-income families
  • Contact: (510) 532-9434

School Meal Programs

Free meals for ALL youth 18 and under at multiple Oakland Unified School District sites (child does not need to be present). Visit district website or call schools for complete list. 

Restaurant Partner

Monster Pho – 360 40th St.  

  • Kids 12 & Under get a free meal, no purchase necessary
  • Show your SNAP card and have your children with you
  • Parents receive 25% discount

Understory Oakland – 3340 International Blvd.

  • Pay-what-you-can meals (no one turned away for lack of funds)
  • Café: Tues-Fri 9am-2pm
  • Dinner: Wed-Fri 5-9pm
  • Brunch: Sat-Sun 11am-3pm

ALAMEDA COUNTY RESOURCES BY CITY

Alameda

Alameda Food Bank – 650 W Ranger Ave., Suite D

  • Drive-thru: Mon/Wed/Fri, 12-4pm
  • City residents only (ID and proof of address required)
  • Contact: (510) 523-5850

Berkeley & Albany

Berkeley Food Network – 1925 9th St., Berkeley

  • Mon-Thurs 10am-2pm; Mon & Wed 5-7pm; 1st & 3rd Saturdays 10am-12pm
  • Contact: (510) 616-5383

Fremont, Newark, Union City (Tri-City Area)

Tri-City Volunteers Food Bank – 37350 Joseph St., Fremont

  • Tues-Fri, 9:30am-3pm
  • Contact: (510) 793-4583

Centro de Servicios – 525 H St., Union City

  • Tues/Thurs 10am-12pm (food distribution)
  • Mon/Wed/Fri 11am-12pm & 1:30-4:30pm (food boxes)
  • Contact: (510) 489-4100

Union City Family Center – 725 Whipple Rd.

  • Mon-Fri, 8am-4:30pm
  • Contact: (510) 476-2770

Hayward

South Hayward Parish – 27287 Patrick Ave.

  • Mon 2-5pm; Tues/Thurs/Fri 1-4pm
  • Contact: (510) 785-3663

Hope 4 the Heart – 22035 Meekland Ave.

  • Tues & Thurs 1:30pm; 3rd Saturday 7:30am
  • Contact: (510) 689-9721

Eden United Church of Christ – 21455 Birch St.

  • 2nd & 4th Wednesdays, 1:30-4:30pm
  • Contact: (510) 582-9533

San Leandro

Davis Street Family Resource Center – 3081 Teagarden St.

  • Mon-Thurs, 10-5pm
  • Contact: (510) 346-4620

San Leandro Community Food Pantry – 14235 Bancroft Ave.

  • Thursdays, 6-8pm, Visit: slcfp.org

Livermore, Pleasanton, Dublin (Tri-Valley Area)

Tri-Valley Haven Food Pantry – 418 Junction Ave., Livermore

  • Mon-Fri, 1-4pm
  • Contact: (925) 449-1664

CityServe of the Tri-Valley – 5353 Sunol Blvd., Pleasanton

  • Free community lunch every Tuesday, 11am-12pm
  • Contact: (925) 222-2273

For a complete map and directory of all food pantries in Alameda County, visit FoodNow.net or contact your local Board of Supervisor's office.

IF YOU CAN HELP 

Ways to Help:

Donate

  1. Alameda County Community Food Bank: Visit their website or call (510) 635-3663
  2. Faith Leaders Initiative: Contact your local congregation to contribute
  3. Goal: If every congregation member who can afford it gives $100, we can bridge this gap

Volunteer

  1. Alameda County Community Food Bank: (510) 635-3663
  2. East Oakland Collective: Sign up at homiesempowerment.com
  3. Food distribution sites across the county need volunteers
  4. Berkeley Food Network: (510) 616-5383

Business & Restaurant Owners

  1. Offer free or pay-what-you-can meals
  2. Donate food supplies
  3. Partner with the Food Bank for distributions
  4. Fill out community aid submission form (check EBCCN resources)

Spread the Word

  1. Share food distribution information with neighbors
  2. Connect people to FoodNow.net and 211
  3. Help those without internet access find resources
  4. Sign up for and share the HOPE Collaborative Emergency Food Resource List

CRITICAL MESSAGE FOR IMMIGRANT FAMILIES

Oakland is a sanctuary city, and that means something.

  • When you come to a food distribution site, you are safe
  • No one will ask about your immigration status
  • No one will report you
  • Our police department does not cooperate with ICE
  • We are working with Alameda County to ensure every family, regardless of status, can access food and resources

Fear should never prevent you from feeding your children.

Our Promise

For every 1 meal the food bank provides, SNAP provided 9. We cannot replace the federal suspension of CalFresh benefits entirely, but we can and will surround our families with support from every direction.

I am working around the clock with county leadership, food banks, faith leaders, and community organizations to mobilize our entire food security network. Over 370 community partners are coordinating to ensure no one goes hungry.

This is Oakland's moment. We take care of our own.

Oakland has always been a city that rises to meet the moment. This is our moment.

In solidarity,

Barbara Lee
Mayor of Oakland
October 31, 2025

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

Find Food Now:

  • FoodNow.net – Complete Alameda County food pantry locator
  • Call 211 or visit Eden I&R 211 Resource Finder – Connect to emergency services
  • HOPE Collaborative – Sign up for Oakland Emergency Food Resource List (English/Spanish)
  • Supervisor Offices – Each Board of Supervisor has district-specific food resources listed on their websites

National Resources:

  • Little Free Pantry Map – Find "take what you need, give what you can" pantries at mapping.littlefreepantry.org
  • Too Good To Go – Find food for 50% off or less that would otherwise go to waste at toogoodtogo.com
  • For the most current food distribution information, visit FoodNow.net or call (510) 635-3663  
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