This is a list of Food Resources around the Bay Area that don’t require screening, showing ID, or otherwise have a barrier to services (exceptions are noted within the description of the food resource). We have done our best to compile an up-to-date list of community-led resources. Where possible, we have included website or social media links.
If you find any of these locations to be permanently closed or moved, or would like to add another location to the list, please email us at bawshelp@gmail.com with the subject “Food Resources”.
Groceries, Freedges, & Pantries:
Below is a list of grocery distributions, food pantries/closets, and freedges throughout the Bay Area.
Pioneered in Davis, CA, Freedges (free refrigerators) are a great way for communities to practice mutual aid. These fridges are often on private property, stocked and maintained by community members, and have a small shelf-stable goods area like a pantry attached to them. Freedge.org has a comprehensive list of associated refrigerators as well as a map, and instructions on how to start a free access fridge in your community. You’ll find local, state-wide, nation-wide, and even global freedges listed on their site!
OAKLAND Freedges
59th and Vallejo
57th St and Genoa St
28th St and MLK Blvd (2727 MLK Blvd)
Helen and Peralta
10th St and Mandela
6th Ave and East 11th St
10th St and Oak
13th and Franklin
Fruitvale and E. 15th Ave
W. Grand Ave and San Pablo
E 27th Ave and Fruitvale
Bartlett and Deering
76th and MacArthur
4799 Shattuck (maintained by Omni Commons)
410 13th Street (maintained by Moments Co-Op)
FREEdom store
(http://www.homiesempowerment.com/freedom-store.html)
A community-run free grocery store offering fresh produce, groceries, and other essentials like diapers. First come, first serve, and is based on a numbered ticket system. Street parking available.
7637 MacArthur Blvd Oakland, CA, 94605
Hours: Wednesdays, 10:00 am -11:45 am, then again from 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm
Phone: 510-729-2072
Marin County freedges (https://marincommunityfridges.info/)
San Rafael
620 Del Ganado Road
(Fridge is located at the side of the building and drive-up accessible.)
22 Frances Street
160 N. San Pedro
San Anselmo
72 Kensington Road
(Refrigerator with pantry shelving)
Mill Valley
215 Shoreline Hwy (Pantry Only)
San Francisco Resources
The Tiny Free Farm Stand
415 Excelsior Ave
Booker T. Washington Service Center
Service to Soul is organized and staffed by seniors at the center and offers produce, bread, dry and canned goods to the community.
800 Presidio Ave, San Francisco, CA 94115
415-928-6596
Wednesday: 10 AM - 12PM
Thursday: 12 PM - 1PM
Friday: 1 PM - 3PM
Free Farm Stand
Sundays: 11.30 am - 2.30 pm
Parque Ninos Unidos 23rd st & Treat Ave
Lyon-Martin Community Health Center
(lyon-martin.org, @savelyonmartin)
1735 Mission Street
Mondays: 1:00pm – 5:00pm
Tuesdays: 8:30am – 7:00pm
Wednesdays: 10:30am – 7:00pm
Thursdays: 8:30am – 5:00pm
Fridays: 8:30am – 5:00pm
Community Fridge available in lobby/waiting room: no sign-up required, simply take what you need. Some food, snacks, and Ensure also available.
Grocery Boxes: Boxes of groceries provided on Thursdays during business hours. Must sign up through Lyon-Martin’s outreach team.
Prepared Meals: available during drop in Harm Reduction Service hours. (Tuesdays 5:30-7PM)
POtrero Hill Family Resource center
Food pantry with weekly food distribution on Tuesdays, 9:00 am- 5:00 pm.
The Potrero Hill Family Resource Center weekly pantry is located at 751 Missouri St. Drop-in services include free food.
The OMI Family Resource Center weekly pantry is located at 50 Broad St. Drop-in services include free food.
(415) 822-9404 for information on services provided. Phone calls are answered M-F 9 am- 5 pm.
Richmond District (SF) Neighborhood Center
To receive food from the pantry, please bring an ID and/or a piece of mail from the past three months showing your address within the 94121 or 94118 zip codes.
Registration for new participants takes place during the last 15 minutes of pantry hours; please arrive at that time to complete the registration form.
Monday 3:00 pm - 4:00 pm at 251 6th Ave; Pantry located on 7th Ave between Clement and California St
Tuesday 3:00 pm - 4:00 pm at 4545 Anza St; Pantry located on 36th Ave between Anza and Balboa St
Thursday 2.30 pm - 4:00 pm at 741 30th Ave
Friday 1:00 pm- 3:30 pm at 741 30th Ave
West bay conference center food pantry
1290 Fillmore St, San Francisco
(415) 749-6470
Opens 12:30pm on Thursdays
Prepared Meals
Below is a list of organizations and locations that distribute prepared meals for free. Service days are highlighted in bold.
EAST BAY/ OAKLAND:
East Bay Food Not Bombs
Food Not Bombs is an all-volunteer movement founded in 1980 that recovers food that would otherwise be discarded, and shares free vegan and vegetarian meals with the hungry in over 1,000 cities in 65 countries in protest to war, poverty, and destruction of the environment. They are not a charity but a mutual aid coalition dedicated to taking nonviolent direct action.
Rain or shine, we serve hot food seven times a week in Oakland and Berkeley.
Monday – Sunday: People’s Park, Berkeley. 3pm.
Sundays: 14th and Jefferson, Oakland
Friday – Sunday note :
( In case of rain, we will serve outside of “Mad Monks” on Haste and Telegraph. )
Website: https://eastbayfoodnotbombs.org/
Instagram: @foodnotbombs.eastbay
Oakland Food Not Bombs
Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays: 486 44th street Oakland, CA
UNDERSTORY
A worker owned cafe in East Oakland that has V & GF offerings and has a rotating sliding scale dish on offer for the community.
Wednesday- Friday: Dinner 4-9 pm
3340 International Blvd, Oakland, CA
(UnderstoryOakland.com, @UnderstoryOakland)
San Francisco
Food Not Bombs:
Website: sffnb.org // Facebook
Wednesdays: 6:30 PM 16th and Mission BART Plaza
Fridays: 6:45 PM at 65 9th St. (between Mission and Market)
Fridays: 7PM Intersection of Hyde, Grove and Market Streets (by BART entrance).
Saturdays: 4:20 PM in Hemlock Alley (between Polk & Van Ness)
Lyon-Martin Community Health Center
Website: lyon-martin.org // @savelyonmartin
1735 Mission Street, San Francisco
Prepared Meals available at this site during drop in Harm Reduction Service hours.
Tuesdays 5:30-7PM
Martin de Porres House of Hospitality
Website: martindeporres.org
Monday - Saturday: FREE Restaurant serving lunch 12 pm -2 pm. Takeaway can be provided if you are able to bring your own container. Most meals are vegetarian and are often vegan.
225 Portrero Avenue, San Francisco
Phone: (415) 552-0240
The City Eats
Free hot meals first Saturdays of the month.
144 Taylor Street, San Francisco
Please see their calendar for exact times and additional dates/locations within SF
Glide
Monday - Sunday: Breakfast 7:30 am -9:30 am (7:30 am for ADA and seniors)
Lunch 11:30 am - 1 pm
Dinner 4:00 pm -5:00 pm
330 Ellis Street, San Francisco
PUNKS WITH LUNCH
Harm reduction supplies + Sack Lunches
West Oakland: Website / Instagram
Sacramento: Website / Instagram
Curry Without Worry (currently on Temporary Hiatus)
Tuesdays: Civic Center Plaza (next to the Simon Bolivar Statue)
https://www.currywithoutworry.org/
Further Food Resources:
The above list does not reflect all available food resources in the area. We gleaned the above information through web searches, personal experience, and community input to find services that we felt would best serve our broader community’s needs. Below are more websites that have listings that include organizations that cater to specific communities, require registration or residency verification, are faith-based, city, county, and state run food banks, etc.
Alameda County Food Bank
Monday -Friday: 9am-4pm
Call (510) 635-3663 for same-day groceries or hot meal
CalFresh application assistance available
Visit this site for assistance, or if you are unable to call
CityTeam
Online directory that provides a range of resources, including groceries and hot meals.
Available in San Francisco, Oakland, and San Jose.
SF-Marin Food Bank
Apply to receive groceries delivered to your home. The program has a first come, first serve basis. Available in English, Spanish, Chinese.
There is a food locator on this website that is available in multiple languages.
Offers assistance with CalFresh applications
FreeFood.Org
Hosts a list of both grocery and hot meal distributions. These resources are listed by county.
Mercy Brown Bag (Seniors, 60+)
Food distribution program that brings fresh food to low-income seniors twice a month, free of charge. Please call to see if you are eligible and to sign up.
Distribution locations and hours
Phone: (510) 269-9640
Email: info@mercybrownbag.org
Many California Certified Farmer’s Markets offer a matching program for benefits - if you receive food benefits, the benefits program can offer vouchers to be used at the Farmer’s Market for a variety of fresh and prepared goods.
Legal and Educational resources for protecting consumers’ health. Can help if you’ve been made ill by food borne illness from packaged food or food prepared at restaurants.