Food insecurity is obviously intensifying across the country for the cruelest reasons. It’s always been tough here, too, but there are actionable ways to help feed others in the Bay Area community right now.
Donate and volunteer
Help ease the pressure on local food banks and hunger-feeding orgs by donating money, which is often matched and/or boosts the amount of meals donated per dollar, and/or volunteering. In the Bay Area, consider giving or lending a hand to The City Eats, Project Open Hand, Community Kitchens, Food Not Bombs, and Food Runners.
You can also help out/check out food banks Alameda County Community Food Bank, Food Bank of Contra Costa & Solano County, Food Bank for Monterey County, Redwood Empire Food Bank, Sacramento Food Bank, San Francisco-Marin Food Bank, Second Harvest of the Greater Valley, and Second Harvest Food Bank Santa Cruz County.
San Francisco also has Martin de Porres House of Hospitality, a free restaurant that serves meals Mondays through Saturdays.
Organize a Meal Train
Meal Train helps organize schedules for multiple people to feed individuals or families. It’s often thought of for new parents or people who suddenly get sick, but can be useful for other scenarios. Recipients can share what type of food or meals will be most needed at the time.
Support businesses that are giving away food
A few Bay Area restaurants and other businesses are offering food for SNAP/CalFresh recipients during some or all of November. Their efforts have been highlighted in many outlets and on social media this week, which will likely result in them being slammed with people taking them up on the offers. Broke-Ass Stuart has some additional info on free food offers. Those in a position to patronize these businesses will really help them out, because none of them are wealthy. Where are the wealthier food businesses’ offers?
Five super delicious SF businesses offering SNAP recipients meals in November that would love more customers in general: Al Pastor Papi, Cheezy’s Artisan Pizza, Devil’s Teeth Baking Company, Tacos El Patron, Reem’s, and Whack Donuts. Eddie’s List on Instagram is adding more as they come in here.
