A number of food banks, soup kitchens for hot meals and free emergency food pantries in Oakland, California distribute groceries to individuals or families who are in some form of an emergency situation.
There are also meals, free bags of food, personal toiletries and household goods for low to moderate income families from food pantries near you.
Distribution centers can include churches, non-profit organizations, community action agencies, and many other local charities as well as non-profits.
Salvation Army Food Pantry
The Salvation Army is dedicated to eliminating food insecurity.
The Salvation Army operates free local food banks around Oakland, California from almost all of their local social service centers. The charity organization is involved in feeding millions of families each year, with a large percentage of those assisted being children as well as the elderly.
We have located 4 Salvation Army Food Pantry locations in Oakland, California which provides a wide array of services. We have partnered so you can also check your eligibility.
The Salvation Army - Social Services - Oakland: Booth Memorial Child Day Care Center
Services provided :
- Day Care
Appointments :
You can privately and easily book your appointment online for select services 24/7. For the full set of services, you can call (510) 535-5088 to book your appointment.
Address :
2794 Garden St, MAIL,
Oakland, CA 94601.
Get Directions
Hours Of Operations :
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Help Residents of Counties:
- Alameda
The Salvation Army - OAKLAND, CA: Adult Rehabilitation Center
Services provided :
- Adult Rehabilitation Center
- Rehabilitation
Appointments :
You can privately and easily book your appointment online for select services 24/7. For the full set of services, you can call (510) 451-4514 to book your appointment.
Address :
601 Webster St,
Oakland, CA 94607.
Get Directions
Hours Of Operations :
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Help Residents of Counties:
- Alameda
The Salvation Army - OAKLAND (Chinatown), CA: Corps Community Center
Services provided :
- Camping Activities
- Character Building Programs
- Christian Education
- Day Camp Activities
- Men's Ministries
- Nutrition Programs
- Senior Citizen Clubs
- Visitation Services
- Women's Ministries
- Worship Services - Children's / Teen
- Worship Services - Church
- Worship Services - Sunday School
- Worship Services - Young Adult
- Worship Services - Youth Ministries
Appointments :
You can privately and easily book your appointment online for select services 24/7. For the full set of services, you can call (510) 645-9710 to book your appointment.
Address :
379 12th St,
Oakland, CA 94607.
Get Directions
Hours Of Operations :
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Help Residents of Counties:
- Alameda
The Salvation Army Oakland Garden Center Corps
The Salvation Army Oakland Garden Center Corps helps cure hunger by offering access to free, fresh produce and canned goods. We provide valuable meal supplementation while helping those in need maintain their independence and dignity.
Documents needed:
• Proof of address
• Proof of income
• ID
Services provided :
- food pantry
Appointments :
You can privately and easily book your appointment online for select services 24/7. For the full set of services, you can call (510) 534-2303 to book your appointment.
Address :
2794 Garden St,
Oakland, CA 94601.
Get Directions
Hours Of Operations :
- Mon: 11:00 AM - 01:00 PM
- Tues: Closed
- Wed: 11:00 AM - 01:00 PM
- Thurs: Closed
- Fri: 11:00 AM - 01:00 PM
- Sat: Closed
- Sun: Closed
Help Residents of Counties:
- Alameda
Church Food Pantry
A number of churches around Oakland, California have food pantries for those in their neighborhoods who are in need of food items.
Churches operate with food donations gathered and deliver to the food pantry nearest you by individuals using food drives.
Some churches also deliver food items to elderly who are unable to drive to a nearest community food pantry. Please contact your local church directly.
We have located 3 Church Food Pantry locations in Oakland, California which provides a wide array of services. We have partnered so you can also check your eligibility.
St. Paul's Episcopal Church
Pantry of Hope Program provides groceries to families, seniors and others in the community who have access to cooking facilities but who have a difficult time affording wholesome nutritious food throughout the month.
Services provided :
- food pantry
Appointments :
You can privately and easily book your appointment online for select services 24/7. For the full set of services, you can call (510) 834-4314 to book your appointment.
Address :
114 Montecito Ave,
Oakland, CA 94610.
Get Directions
Hours Of Operations :
- Mon: Closed
- Tues: Closed
- Wed: Closed
- Thurs: Closed
- Fri: Closed
- Sat: Closed
- Sun: Closed
Help Residents of Counties:
- Alameda
City Of Refuge United Church of Christ (UCC)
Word of Mouth Food Pantry provides food to families and individuals in need on the 4th Saturday of the month. Our set up is special. We do not give out bags of food, but instead allow our guests to "shop" as if they were in a grocery store. This gives the guests the opportunity the pick what they like, not what we think they should have.
We distribute all types of food. We have meats, canned goods, milk, soups, fresh vegetables, and juices. We also have gluten free and vegan items.
Services provided :
- food pantry
- clothing
- personal care items
Appointments :
You can privately and easily book your appointment online for select services 24/7. For the full set of services, you can call (510) 633-6316 to book your appointment.
Address :
8400 Enterprise Way,
Oakland, CA 94621.
Get Directions
Hours Of Operations :
- Mon: Closed
- Tues: Closed
- Wed: Closed
- Thurs: Closed
- Fri: Closed
- Sat: 11:00 AM - 02:00 PM
- Sun: Closed
Help Residents of Cities:
- Oakland
Lake Merritt United Methodist Church - Food Pantry
Are you in need of food assistance? The Food Pantry distributes food the 2nd and 4th Saturdays of the month, 9:30am - 12:00pm. You can find the food distribution on the Lakeshore side of the church building, at the bottom of the stairs. You qualify for the food distribution if you are low-income and in need of food assistance. The Lake Merritt UMC Food Pantry works under the auspices of the Alameda County Community Food Bank.
Services provided :
- food pantry
Appointments :
You can privately and easily book your appointment online for select services 24/7. For the full set of services, you can call (510) 465-4793 to book your appointment.
Address :
1330 Lakeshore Ave,
Oakland, CA 94606.
Get Directions
Hours Of Operations :
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Help Residents of Cities:
- Oakland
Help Residents of Counties:
- Alameda
Catholic Charities Food Pantry
Resources provided by the Catholic Charity organization focus on addressing food, holiday, and immigration needs.
Families of all religions, backgrounds, and cultures can contact Catholic Charity centers for help.
Catholic Charities in Oakland, California are open to families on a first-come, first-serve basis. The centers operate during normal business hours, and provide walk-ins with groceries, food boxes, and items to prepare a meal.
The food pantries are like grocery stores, allow clients the ability to choose the items they need from the groceries that are available on site.
First-time clients of the food pantry will need to apply, and this is done from a one-page application. An applicant will need to provide basic household member as well as demographic information.
We have located 1 Catholic Charities Food Pantry locations in Oakland, California which provides a wide array of services. We have partnered so you can also check your eligibility.
Oakland Catholic Worker
Every Thursday Oakland Catholic Worker has a food distribution for a diverse group of people in the community. We hand out bags or boxes of groceries to families and individuals each week. Most of the food comes from the Alameda County Community Food Bank, and usually includes lots of fresh produce, bread, and sometimes canned goods, rice, beans, or eggs.
Services provided :
- food pantry
Appointments :
You can privately and easily book your appointment online for select services 24/7. For the full set of services, you can call (510) 533-7375 to book your appointment.
Address :
4848 International Blvd,
Oakland, CA 94601.
Get Directions
Hours Of Operations :
- Mon: Closed
- Tues: Closed
- Wed: Closed
- Thurs: 11:00 AM - 12:30 PM
- Fri: Closed
- Sat: Closed
- Sun: Closed
Help Residents of Counties:
- Alameda
Helping Hands Food Pantry
Helping Hands is a faith-based 501(c)(3) food pantry operated around Oakland, California almost entirely by volunteers.
It provides a 7-day supply of groceries and personal care items free of charge to people in need, regardless of their religious beliefs.
Helping Hands is supported entirely by donations from individuals, service organizations, churches, and businesses in our community.
Find a local helping hands food pantry open near you.
We have located 0 Helping Hand Food Pantry locations in Oakland, California which provides a wide array of services. We have partnered so you can also check your eligibility.
Mobile Food Pantry
The mobile food pantry program distributes food directly to families in communities around Oakland, California in need during large-scale one-day distributions.
A typical mobile pantry serves 200-250 families distributing up to 10,000 pounds of food. This past year over 6.6 million pounds were distributed through this program.
Mobile food pantries usually visit churches, community centers, schools, shopping centers, and other convenient locations. They usually go to areas where there aren't grocery stores or other food pantries.
Mobile Food Pantry Schedule 2024
Unlike traditional food pantries where you go to them, mobile pantry trucks come to you. Food banks sometimes have an online mobile food pantry schedule.
Mobile food pantry scheduled to visit a community once a week or once a month. There may be last-minute cancellations or changes so recheck the mobile food pantry schedule before you plan to go.
We have located 0 Mobile Food Pantry locations in Oakland, Model.Content.StateName which provides a wide array of services. We have partnered so you can also check your eligibility.
St. Vincent de Paul Food Pantry
The St. Vincent de Paul food pantry operates around Oakland, California much like a grocery store where people in need can choose their own food. It helps to enhance their personal dignity and reduces waste due to unwanted food items.
It also helps them to be proactive in addressing any underlying health issues. This is our model of choice for food pantries in the future.
We have located 0 St. Vincent de Paul Food Pantry locations in Oakland, California which provides a wide array of services. We have partnered so you can also check your eligibility.
Food Pantry Delivery Program
Food Pantry Delivery Program delivers food and other products once a month at twenty points in around Oakland, California area. This makes it just a bit easier for some of more remote rural agencies to receive their products. About 70% of members take advantage of the Food Pantry Delivery Program.
Food Pantry
We have located 7 Food Pantry locations in Oakland, California which provides a wide array of services. We have partnered so you can also check your eligibility.
Oakland Food Pantry
Our Food Pantry offers clients a “client choice”, rather than the traditional already bagged concept. We allow our clients a unique shopping experience by allowing them to select what they like.
Food distribution begins promptly at 10 am until we run out of food. Please do not arrive before 9:30.
Services provided :
- food pantry
Appointments :
You can privately and easily book your appointment online for select services 24/7. For the full set of services, you can call (510) 361-4656 to book your appointment.
Address :
1666 7th St,
Oakland, CA 94607.
Get Directions
Hours Of Operations :
- Mon: Closed
- Tues: Closed
- Wed: Closed
- Thurs: Closed
- Fri: 01:00 PM - 02:00 PM EST
- Sat: Closed
- Sun: Closed
Help Residents of Cities:
- Oakland
Telegraph Ministry Center
Food Pantry program distributes food to people in need. The pantry is designed to assist individuals and families with emergency food. If you are or someone you know is in need of food, please visit us during our regular hours and we'll be happy to assist you.
Documents Required:
• Photo ID (such as a driver's license or state identification)
Services provided :
- emergency food
- food pantry
- food delivery
Appointments :
You can privately and easily book your appointment online for select services 24/7. For the full set of services, you can call (510) 658-4457 to book your appointment.
Address :
,
Oakland, CA 94609.
Get Directions
Hours Of Operations :
- Mon: 08:00 AM - 05:00 PM
- Tues: 08:00 AM - 05:00 PM
- Wed: 08:00 AM - 05:00 PM
- Thurs: 08:00 AM - 05:00 PM
- Fri: 08:00 AM - 05:00 PM
- Sat: Closed
- Sun: Closed
Help Residents of Counties:
- Alameda
HIV Education And Prevention Project Of Alameda County (HEPPAC)
Casa Segura is a safe space where our community of active users can access basic needs services without a lengthy intake process.
Casa Segura Drop-in Center program provides services such as shower, laundry, clothing, food pantry, minor crisis intervention counseling and referrals.
HIV/HCV Counseling, Testing, Referrals and Linkage services are available by appointment only Tuesdays – Fridays.
Services provided :
- food pantry
- clothing
- disease screening
- personal hygiene
- counseling
- navigating the system
Appointments :
You can privately and easily book your appointment online for select services 24/7. For the full set of services, you can call (510) 434-0307 to book your appointment.
Address :
,
Oakland, CA 94601.
Get Directions
Hours Of Operations :
- Mon: 08:00 AM - 05:00 PM
- Tues: 08:00 AM - 05:00 PM
- Wed: 08:00 AM - 05:00 PM
- Thurs: 08:00 AM - 05:00 PM
- Fri: 08:00 AM - 05:00 PM
- Sat: Closed
- Sun: Closed
Help Residents of Counties:
- Alameda
- Contra Costa
Mercy Brown Bag Program
In 1982, residents at the Mercy Retirement & Care Center saw seniors in their neighborhood going hungry and launched the Brown Bag Program to distribute bags of groceries to hungry seniors in Oakland, CA. Today, 500+ volunteers make sure other seniors can remain self-sufficient and independent in their own homes.
If you are in need of food, you are not alone. Food insecurity is widespread among older adults. We are happy to provide nutritious groceries to our neighbors in Alameda County at one of our meal sites. Each meal site has different distribution days and times.
Services provided :
- food pantry
Appointments :
You can privately and easily book your appointment online for select services 24/7. For the full set of services, you can call (510) 534-8540ext to book your appointment.
Address :
3431 Foothill Blvd,
Oakland, CA 94601.
Get Directions
Hours Of Operations :
- Mon: 12:00 PM - 01:30 PM EST
- Tues: Closed
- Wed: Closed
- Thurs: Closed
- Fri: 11:00 AM - 01:30 PM EST
- Sat: Closed
- Sun: Closed
Help Residents of Counties:
- Alameda
Prescott-Joseph Center for Community Enhancement, Inc. (PJCCE)
West Oakland Food Pantry program provides free emergency food and other essential supplies to families in need living in West Oakland. We supply groceries for residents that do not have enough food because they lack the resources to purchase it. We serve everyone from low income families, single parents, senior citizens, unemployed individuals, disabled veterans, working poor, and anyone else that comes to the pantry that needs help. We serve everyone regardless of their race, color, or religion. The amount of food given depends on household size.
Clients must have a referral from Alameda County Community Food Bank to receive services from our pantry.
Services provided :
- food pantry
Appointments :
You can privately and easily book your appointment online for select services 24/7. For the full set of services, you can call (510) 835-8683 to book your appointment.
Address :
920 Peralta St,
Oakland, CA 94607.
Get Directions
Hours Of Operations :
- Mon: 09:00 AM - 12:00 PM
- Tues: Closed
- Wed: 09:00 AM - 12:00 PM
- Thurs: Closed
- Fri: 09:00 AM - 12:00 PM
- Sat: Closed
- Sun: Closed
Help Residents of Cities:
- Oakland
Project Open Hand Oakland
Project Open Hand is a nonprofit organization that provides meals with love to seniors and the critically ill. Every day, we prepare 2,500 nutritious meals and provide 200 bags of healthy groceries to help sustain our clients as they battle serious illnesses, isolation, or the health challenges of old age. We serve San Francisco and Alameda Counties, engaging more than 125 volunteers every day to nourish our community. Oakland Hours: Grocery Center & Meal Pick-up: 10:00 am – 2:00 pm, Monday – Friday; Client Services Department: Drop-in: 10:00 am – 2:00 pm, Monday – Friday, By phone: 9:00 am – 5:00 pm, Monday – Friday (you can also leave a message at anytime)
Services provided :
- food pantry
Appointments :
You can privately and easily book your appointment online for select services 24/7. For the full set of services, you can call (510) 622-0221 to book your appointment.
Address :
1921 San Pablo Ave,
Oakland, CA 94612.
Get Directions
Hours Of Operations :
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Help Residents of Cities:
- Oakland
Help Residents of Counties:
- Alameda
Alameda County Community Food Bank
Alameda County Community Food Bank has been in business since 1985 ... with a vision toward a day when we can go out of business. We are the hub of a vast collection and distribution network that provides food for 275 nonprofit agencies in Alameda County. In 2012, the Food Bank distributed 23.2 million pounds of food, 53% of it fresh fruits and vegetables. Since moving into our permanent facility near the Oakland Airport in 2005 and leading the national food bank movement for a ban on the distribution of carbonated beverages, the Food Bank has ramped up distribution of fresh fruits and vegetables by more than 1,000%.
Services provided :
- food pantry
Appointments :
You can privately and easily book your appointment online for select services 24/7. For the full set of services, you can call (510) 635-3663 to book your appointment.
Address :
7900 Edgewater Dr,
Oakland, CA 94621.
Get Directions
Hours Of Operations :
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Help Residents of Cities:
- Oakland
Help Residents of Counties:
- Alameda
Drive-thru Food Pantries
Since the start of the coronavirus, drive-thru food pantries have become the safest, most efficient way to provide food to our struggling neighbors.
Who can visit a drive-thru pantry?
Drive-thru pantries are open for anyone who needs help getting food. There are no eligibility criteria. Visitors do not need to provide any identification or income statements.
Only two piece of information is asked
- You Zipcode, and
- Number of people in their family.
You dont need to take appointment. Drive-thru pantries are first-come, first served so plan to arrive early.
How do drive-thru pantries actually work?
There are lot of volunteers help at Drive-thru food pantries. While not all drive-thru pantries operate in the same way, here�s how most work:
Staff and volunteers direct visitors to the parking area.
Visitors pull up to the pantry in their car and are usually guided into a clearly marked queue. As people move through the pantry, staff will continue to move the cars forward to get everyone through as quickly and safely as possible.
Checkin.
You are required to fill some information for Pantry's recording keeping.
Food is loaded into the cars.
Pre-packed bags of food, usually full of shelf-stable items like pasta, canned fruit and peanut butter, as well as fresh produce and meats are loaded by volunteers into the trunk of the car.
Pet Food Pantry
One in four pet owners who give up their pets to a shelter say it is because they cannot afford to care for them. Pet Food Pantries are designed to fill the void in the nation�s current assistance programs that exclude the purchase of food and supplies for family pets.
The Pet Food Pantry provides free pet food, for 3 months or less, to pet owners who cannot afford to feed their pets in Oakland, California
Who are eligible for Pet Food Pantry
Pet Food Pantry helps people who are:
- All ages, races and marital status
- Unemployed or underemployed
- Retired, living on social security or other limited income
- Physically or mentally disabled
- Experiencing homelessness or housing instability
Tips for Visiting a Food Pantry
Show up early.
This is very important. This means you will be first in line and have a chance to get the items that are sought after and in limited quantities such as fresh produce, dairy and frozen food.
You don't usually need to show up hours ahead of time but coming at least an hour before is usually a good idea.
Remember all documentation.
Many food pantries require documentation to prove who you are, and in some cases, where you live.
This is to make sure people are not coming more than they are allowed or using fake names to do so. Call ahead of time to find out what documentation is needed.
It's just your photo ID and a piece of mail that verifies your address.
Use several food banks.
Using more than one food bank (when available) is smart because you may be able to get something at one that you may not get at another.
For instance, one may have a deal with a local gardener that gives them their extras. This may mean this food bank has more produce.
Eligible for other programs?
Ask your Department of Social Services office if you are eligible for other assistance programs to supplement your household’s food supply.
They can easily tell you if you can apply for WIC (Women and Infant Children), USDA Commodities or SNAP(Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) benefits.
Ask about extras.
If you have special needs for infants or special diets, the pantries may be able to assist you.
Many times, they can help with diapers, baby formula, baby food, personal hygiene products, and even special diet items like gluten free or sugar free foods.
Go on different days of the week.
Depending on the food pantry, they may be open only one or two days a week or they may be open all seven days. When you have a choice, going midweek is often best as it is less crowded.
Be polite to workers.
Nearly everyone at a food bank is a volunteer. Be polite to the workers there as they often deal with highly emotional situations.
FAQ(Frequently Asked Questions)
1. What is the difference between a food bank and a food pantry?
Independent community food pantries are self-governing and usually distribute food to their clients on a once-a-month basis. A food bank is the storehouse for millions of pounds of food and other products that go out to the community. A food pantry functions as the arms that reach out to that community directly.
2. What kind of food is at a food pantry?
Specifically, food banks often need items like:
- Peanut butter
- Canned soup
- Canned fruit
- Canned vegetables
- Pasta
- Canned beans
- Canned stew
- Canned fish
3. Who can go to food pantry?
At the majority of food pantries, eligibility is based on self-attested need. You do not need to have a referral, and income is not a factor to receive food.
4. What is the difference between a food pantry and a soup kitchen?
A food pantry provides three-day food packages to families that have a place to live, but not enough food. These packages are designed to provide nutritionally balanced meals. Soup kitchens serve individuals in need of a hot meal, the only meal of the day for many of them.
5. How does a food pantry work?
Food Banks acquire large donations of edible but unmarketable food from the food industry and distribute it to organizations that feed hungry people. Then they provide this food to family in a need.