The following is an ongoing list of free and affordable food resources in the Berkeley and Albany area for food insecure individuals. For most accurate hours, please refer to the links.
Note: Graphics do not necessarily represent available food products.
Last updated: July 27, 2021
For students and staff
UC Berkeley Basic Needs Center Food Pantry
The BNC Food Pantry is an emergency food relief supply offering free food products and produce to staff and students with a Cal ID.
Location: MLK Student Union
Hours: varied, see Instagram for more details.
IG: @ucbfoodpantry, Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ucberkeleyfoodpantry
University Village Bear Pantry
Bear Pantry offers food items to University Village residents, who can visit once per week. They also offer diapers and other baby products for those with young children.
Location: 1050 Monroe St., Albany
Hours: Mon/Fri 12-4, Tues/Thurs 4-8, Sat 9-12
CalFresh is a program providing grocery funds to those in need, especially those experiencing changes in income due to COVID-19. Eligible students may receive up to $194 for purchasing groceries.
IG: @calfreshhealthyliving
UCB’s Financial Aid Office Food Assistance Program
The Food Assistance Program is an application-based program that supports students awaiting CalFresh benefits or are ineligible for CalFresh benefits.
For the community
The Berkeley Food Pantry is a non-profit serving the Berkeley and Albany community. They provide grocery packages for food-insecure individuals and families.
Location: 1600 Sacramento St., Berkeley
Hours: Mon/Wed/Fri by appointment
IG: @bfp1969
The permanent Berkeley Food Network location serves Albany and Berkeley residents in need. They offer food products and fresh grocery bundles.
Location: 1925 Ninth St., Berkeley.
Hours: Mon-Thurs 10-2, Mon/Wed 5-7, Sat 10-12
IG: @berkeleyfoodnetwork
Berkeley Food Network (Mobile Pantry)
An extension of the Berkeley Food Network, this mobile pantry is located at the Berkeley Technical Academy in South Berkeley.
Location: 2701 Martin Luther King Jr Way, Berkeley
Hours: 2nd & 4th Tues 2-4
Berkeley Food Network (School Pantry)
The Berkeley Food Network offers fresh produce and non-perishable food to the families of BUSD students and staff, free of charge, and without collecting information about individuals or households.
Location: BUSD School Sites
Hours: 2nd & 4th Fri 7:30-11:30
Alameda County Community Food Bank
Alameda County Community Food Bank can provide same-day food assistance by connecting callers to one of their many food resource partners. They also offer assistance in accessing CalFresh services.
Emergency Food Helpline: 1-800-870-3663
Helpline hours: Mon-Fri, 9-4
IG: @accfb
Berkeley Food & Housing Project
In addition to providing temporary shelter for those in need, BFHP provides free, to-go meals at their Dwight Way location every day of the week. Their free meals always include a vegetarian option.
Location: 2140 Dwight Way, Berkeley
Hours: Mon-Fri, 3-4
IG: @berkeleyfoodandhousingproject
Mercy Brown Bag Program
They distribute nutritious food to seniors in Alameda County twice a month. They also have a mobile grocery truck to improve accessibility to seniors who want to shop for their food free of charge.
Location: 3431 Foothill Blvd, Oakland, CA 94601
Hours: Mon-Fri 7am-4pm
Website: https://mercybrownbag.org/
Telegraph Ministry Center
The Telegraph Ministry Center provides a variety of healthy food for those in need. In addition, they provide clothing free of charge.
Location: 5316 Telegraph Ave Oakland, CA 94609
Hours: Wednesdays and Fridays from 10 AM to 2 PM and Wednsesday eveings from 6 PM to 7:30 PM.
Project Open Hand Oakland
Project Open Hand serves the communities in San Francisco and Oakland. They distribute 2500 nutritious meals a day and aim to help those who are sick and with disabilities.
Address: 1921 San Pablo Ave Oakland, CA 94612
Hours: 10am – 2 pm, Monday – Friday
Website: https://www.openhand.org/about-us/locations/project-open-hand-oakland
Loaves and Fishes: Newman Hall
Loaves and Fishes is an outreach ministry of Newman Hall-Holy Spirit Parish providing direct service to the needy and homeless in the Berkeley-Oakland area.
Address: 2700 Dwight Way Berkeley, CA 94704
Hours: 1st Monday, 4pm-7pm
Mother’s Kitchen
Mother’s Kitchen provides free meals in partnership with local outreach groups serving communities in Berkeley (and more) providing more than 145,000 meals for the homeless and hungry each year.
Address: 1802 Fairview St Berkeley, CA 94703
Hours: 4th Thursday
Website: Mother’s Kitchen Bay Area | amma.org
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