“The reason we started the program was because we found out there were kids going home over the weekend without food to eat. They come back Monday morning hungry and not ready to learn, sleeping on their desks and having some discipline problems. We want to make sure people do not have to make choices of food or utilities,
or food or medical bills.” 
~Robert Bush


The California Restaurant Meals Program

The California Restaurant Meals Program is for CalFresh participants that are elderly, (who are 60+), and/or homeless or disabled.  Hot, prepared food can be bought at certain restaurants with a CalFresh, (food stamps), card.

For a list of participating restaurants in Alameda County, go to: http://www.alamedasocialservices.org/public/services/food_assistance/particpatingRestaurants.pdf

For a list of participating restaurants in San Francisco County, go to: http://www.sfhsa.org/156.htm


The Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP)

Picture
The Commodity Supplemental Food
Program provides supplemental food support to low income pregnant and breastfeeding mothers, up to a year postpartum for mothers of various incomes, infants, children ages 6 and under and seniors who are age 60 and up.

(NOTE: Women and children that are eligible for CSFP cannot also be in the WIC program.  Participants can only be enrolled in one of these programs.)

Greg Heilner, Manager
Food Distribution Program
California State Department of Education
1430 N Street, Suite 1500
Sacramento, CA 95814
(916) 323-7175


Hunger Hotline

Picture
Alameda Food Bank
1 (800) 870-FOOD  ext. 3663

For those in need of emergency food, call the Hunger Hotline for an EFB referral.  Those who qualify can receive a 3 day food supply.


Meals on Wheels Association of America (MOWAA)

Picture
Meals on Wheels is an organization that is dedicated to ending senior hunger.  MOWAA delivers food to sick and immobile senior citizens.

https://www.mealsonwheelsamerica.org/


Project Open Hand

Picture
Project Open Hand delivers meals
to homebound San Francisco and Alameda County residents.  Are you 59 years old or younger, seriously ill and cannot cook or shop for yourself? Call
Project Open Hand for meal assistance.

Contact the Client Services Hotline...
in San Francisco  (800) 551-6325
in Alameda County  (510) 622-0221 

https://www.openhand.org/get-meals


National School Lunch Program (NSLP)

Picture
Free school meals, and meals at a reduced cost, are available for children from poor or low-income families.  Please contact your child's school if you are eligible and apply for school meal assistance.  (The school breakfast and lunch program is through USDA, the United States Department of Agriculture.)          

http://www.fns.usda.gov/cnd/FRP/frp.process.htm


St. Mary's Center

St. Mary's Center
925 Brockhurst Street (near San Pablo Ave)
Oakland, CA 94608
(510) 923-9600

St. Mary's Center assists seniors, families and preschoolers that are low-income Oakland and West Oakland residents .  In addition to shelter, St. Mary's Center provides meals and groceries.  There is also an outdoor space that has garden beds.  The harvest from the garden is shared with St. Mary's Center clients.


Summer Food Service Program (USDA)

Picture
During the school year, many children rely on eating free or reduced  breakfasts and lunches at school.   Without access to these meals, the summer can be a difficult time for some children.  Are you, or someone you  know, looking for a local summer food program?

Call the National Hunger Hotline:
(866) 3-HUNGRY  or 1-877-8-HAMBRE
or
Oaklanders’ Assistance Center
(510) 444-CITY

Link to Summer Food Service sites in the Oakland area:
http://www2.oaklandnet.com/oakca1/groups/dhs/documents/
marketingmaterial/oak036733.pdf


Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)

Picture
(877) 847-FOOD

SNAP is a nationwide nutrition program that gives people or families, with no or low income, financial assistance for food.  (SNAP is the federal version of CalFresh in California.)

http://www.fns.usda.gov/snap/

For information on CalFresh, call the Alameda County Community Food Bank:
(800) 870-3663


Women, Infants and Children (WIC)

Picture
WIC is a nationwide service that helps provide supplemental healthy food, teaches nutrition awareness and facilitates other social service needs to and for  low-income pregnant, breastfeeding and non-breastfeeding postpartum mothers.  Infants and children 5 and under, who are without adequate nutrition, are eligible for WIC as well. 

(800) 852-5770 

http://www.fns.usda.gov/wic/