Category: Programs

Reflections On Being in Service to the Community

February 26, 2026

Ending hunger takes more than food. It takes trusted partners who know their communities and show up for them week after week. For Black History Month, we’re spotlighting three partners whose service to their neighbors is also a reflection of the Food Bank’s mission and commitment to the leadership of our partners in providing community-led solutions to hunger. 

Shanell Williams, Rafiki Coalition for Health and Wellness 

In partnership with the Food Bank, Rafiki Coalition for Health and Wellness recently opened a Community Market at Umoja Health Access Point in Bayview Hunters Point. Resembling neighborhood grocery stores, Community Markets let participants choose the proteins, produce, and culturally relevant foods they bring home, and are open multiple days each week. The program centers on respect for participants and the power of choice. It also connects them to behavioral health, wellness, and other supportive services that address the root causes of hunger, all under one roof. 

For Shanell Williams, Rafiki’s executive director, food is an entry point for overall well-being. “To really be healthy, it’s not just one domain,” she says. “It’s making sure that folks have access to mental wellness, complementary medicine, supports for chronic health conditions. And food is a big part of that.” 

Bayview Hunters Point has long been a food desert, and Shanell sees Community Markets as a direct response to that history. “What we love about the community food market is that it’s open access, low barrier, and it’s also about dignity,” she says. “Just because folks are needing to access services doesn’t mean we lose that piece around dignity.” 

Shanell grew up in the Fillmore, San Francisco’s historic Black neighborhood known as the Harlem of the West. Her community-focused leadership journey includes community organizing serving eight years on the San Francisco Community College Board and a decade at UCSF as the Director of Community Engagement and Partnerships at the school’s California Preterm Birth Initiative program. At Rafiki, she hires from the community and builds career pipelines for the people who do the work alongside her. She calls them “PhD doers,” honoring their lived expertise. “It’s really for me about community empowerment,” she says. 

Chester Williams, Community Living Campaign 

Shanell’s work connects people to food and services in one place. Chester Williams brings both directly to people’s doors. 

Every week, the Community Living Campaign (CLC) helps get bags of fresh groceries to roughly 140 elderly neighbors who can’t get to a pantry on their own. The Food Bank supplies the fresh produce and groceries. Meals on Wheels San Francisco provides the operational space. And Chester’s team of volunteers packs the bags and delivers them door to door.  As Bayview food coordinator for CLC, Chester has spent more than a decade coordinating home-delivered groceries for seniors across Bayview, Visitacion Valley, Parkmerced and Lakeview.   

Chester grew up in the Fillmore. He’s Catholic, raised in a tradition of service and commitment to the common good at St. Dominic’s and Sacred Heart. That foundation carried him from teaching elementary school to directing a community technology lab to His delivery routes today reach seniors who speak Cantonese, Mandarin, Spanish and other languages. For Chester, making sure every participant feels understood and cared for is the whole point. “I grew up with that feeling of you need to help others no matter who,” he says. “After a while, it’s not even a job anymore. You just automatically put that in.”  

Veronica Shepard, San Francisco African American Faith-Based Coalition 

Chester serves individuals one door at a time. Veronica Shepard mobilizes entire congregations. 

When Veronica and a colleague conducted food security screenings at Black churches across San Francisco, the results were stark: congregants were going hungry, and their pastors had no idea. “These pastors learned their own congregants were hungry and they were blown away by the results,” Veronica says. “Food is relative to everything. You can be unhoused, but you still got to have food.” 

That discovery united faith leaders across the city. In 2016, Veronica formed the San Francisco African American Faith-Based Coalition, bringing pastors, ministers and leaders from across denominations together around the urgency of food insecurity. The coalition impacts some of the city’s most vulnerable populations (Black/African American, Pacific Islanders, Latinx, Black and Middle Eastern Muslims) which have been   partnered with the Food Bank for the past six years. 

Each December, the coalition produces Feeding 5,000, a holiday food distribution that has brought food to more than 22,700 households since the pandemic. But the work continues year-round. “Hunger is not just a holiday event,” Veronica says. “Hunger is every day.” 

Veronica is a native San Franciscan and grew up in the Bayview Hunters Point Neighborhood during the civil rights movement, and she carries that history with her. 

 “I know there’s strength in numbers,” she says. “Just like then, we’re working to make justice happen today.” She reflects on Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s speech to the Medical Committee for Human Rights, in which he stated, “injustice in health is the most shocking and the most inhuman.” 

Veronica emphasizes that hunger is merely a symptom of a much deeper ailment.  

“If we don’t address the root cause of hunger, which is poverty,” she explains, “we are failing to confront the structural injustice that keeps our community in a cycle of need. Without addressing the underlying poverty, the cycle of inequity remains unbroken.” 

Looking Ahead 

The Food Bank works with 265 community partners across San Francisco and Marin to end hunger. The works of Shanell, Chester and Veronica reflect what that partnership looks like when antihunger efforts are led by those who know their community best. We are grateful to walk and work alongside them. 

Listening, Connecting, Supporting: Meet the Peer Navigators at Western Addition Community Market

January 22, 2026

Peter helps participants connect with housing assistance and other city resources.

Peter and Annette have been married for 37 years. Their biggest piece of advice? 

Listening. 

“Listening,” says Annette, “is key.” 

It’s also one of the keys to the couple’s success as Peer Navigators at the Western Addition Community Market, where they’ve spent the past three months getting to know participants and connecting them to resources that address the root causes of hunger. 

The couple has been volunteering with the Food Bank for four years, initially through their church, Cornerstone in the Mission. They live in the Castro but volunteer in Western Addition because they see the need across the city. When they saw the opportunity to become Peer Navigators, it felt like a natural next step. “The Community Market provides dignity — folks can come in and choose their items,” Peter says. “As Peer Navigators, we can offer something beyond food.”

Annette greets participants and connects them with supportive services.

A New Model for Food Access

Community Markets resemble grocery stores, where participants can shop for what they need, just like they would at a local market. Responding to community feedback, markets are open multiple days with extended hours, making it easier for people to access food at a time that fits their schedule. 

Last year, the Food Bank launched two Community Markets, supported the opening of a partner-run Community Market, and paved the way for more to open this year. Markets run by the Food Bank, like Western Addition, offer referrals and guidance from Peer Navigators, who use their lived experience to help neighbors find and access local services. 

“There are a lot of resources out there, but people don’t know where to find them,” Annette says. “Being a Peer Navigator means getting people the help they need. Attaching resources to food is huge.” 

Peter and Annette are just two of the Peer Navigators at Western Addition Community Market. 

Glenn went from policy advocacy with the FoodCARE Council to helping neighbors as a Peer Navigator.

From Policy Advocate to Peer Navigator 

Glenn first got involved with the Food Bank through the FoodCARE Council (Community Advocacy Resilience Equity Council), where people with lived experience of hunger learn to advocate for policy change. After working on systemic issues that impact the whole state, he saw the Peer Navigator program as another way to help at the neighborhood level. 

“San Francisco’s going through a difficult time right now,” he says, “and people are not aware of the resources available unless they sit down and talk to someone.” 

From Healthcare to Community Care 

Michael brings three decades of healthcare experience to connecting people with resources.

Michael brings three decades of healthcare administration experience to the work. He spent years helping patients navigate complicated medical systems at a large cardiology practice. When he read about the Peer Navigator program, he recognized the same challenge: people who don’t know what resources are available or how to access them. 

“A lot of people when they come in have one thing on their mind — to get the food and get back home,” he says. “But quite a few people will stop, take the time, and listen to what we have to offer.” 

Connecting Neighbors to Resources 

The Peer Navigator role takes research, quick thinking, and genuine listening. The team maintains contact lists with direct phone numbers for city resources, from utility assistance to job training programs. When someone only has a few minutes between shopping and catching the bus home, that preparation matters. 

“We take them inside, sit down, get on the phone to see what’s available,” Peter explains. 

Housing concerns come up frequently. Peter recalls helping someone whose name wasn’t on the lease. The landlord was trying to push them out. Peter and Annette sat down with them, wrote a letter on their behalf, and connected them with legal assistance. 

Meeting People Where They Are 

Not everyone who walks through the doors is ready to talk about needs beyond food. Annette recognizes the stigma some people carry about accessing support. But showing up consistently builds trust. 

“You’re not just talking to people, you’re encouraging them and supporting them,” Annette says. “Even if they don’t have interest right away, we encourage them to think about it for later or share with someone they know who might need it.” 

These connections are at the heart of the Community Market model. By pairing dignified food access with thoughtful, supportive services, the Food Bank is helping neighbors address not just hunger today, but the root causes that create it.  

Introducing Community Markets: More Than Food, A Path to Stability

January 5, 2026

Building from Experience  

Guadalupe Gonzalez, Bilingual Community Connections Manager at the San Francisco-Marin Food Bank, remembers what it was like to figure out complex systems on her own. 

Born outside Mexico City, Guadalupe moved with her family to the Bay Area when she was eight. Her parents spoke little English, so she enrolled her younger sister in after-school programs and helped the family manage daily life.  

“The help to get through these systems is often there,” she says, “but it can feel inaccessible and overwhelming to find without support from someone who’s been there before.” 

Years later, when her sister went to college, she thanked Guadalupe for paving the way.  

“Having someone to guide you through those processes makes such a difference,” Guadalupe says. 

Now, Guadalupe is bringing her own experience to the work of building out the volunteer-led Peer Navigation program for the Food Bank’s newly launched Community Markets. 

More than Food 

Community Markets are grounded in the belief that drives Guadalupe’s work and all of ours at the Food Bank: no one should have to struggle to access food, housing, or health resources. 

“Community markets are the next evolution of the food pantry,” says Adam Hoffman, the Food Bank’s senior program manager, direct service. 

Together with trusted community partners, the Food Bank is launching this innovative model to address hunger and its root causes. Designed to resemble neighborhood grocery stores, Community Markets let participants choose the proteins, produce, and culturally relevant foods they bring home, and are open multiple days each week. The program centers on respect for participants and the power of choice. 

“Here, you have the ability to choose the day that meets your individual schedule, and you can come any time during that day,” Adam says. 

Expanding Access 

Over the next year, the Food Bank and its partners will open eight Community Markets, some run directly by the Food Bank and others led by community organizations. 

Community Markets led by our partners are pairing food access with the other services they offer to create a more seamless experience for participants. And markets run by the Food Bank are offering referrals and guidance from Peer Navigators, trusted community volunteers who use their own lived experience to help neighbors find and access local services.  

“What makes the Peer Navigators program so powerful is that it’s built for the community, by the community,” Guadalupe says. “The web of services in San Francisco is so big and accessing them can be daunting. “Having someone who’s been through similar experiences and knows how to navigate these systems can make all the difference.” 

Two Food Bank-led Community Markets, China Basin and Western Addition, launched in June. And, El Colibri Community Market, operated by La Raza Community Resource Center in the Mission District, opened Aug. 15. 

Meeting Urgent Needs with Innovative Solutions 

Gabriel Medina, La Raza’s Executive Director, is grateful for another way to reach the neighbors who need it most. 

“Food is a fundamental doorway to our services,” he says. “In a community market, we can not only offer the basic groceries that we have here, but we can also offer more intentional space and connection to our case managers and other resources. Also, with this market, we can keep food a lot longer because it’s a dedicated space. We don’t need to move it, so it can stay here until the next day.” 

El Colibri expects to serve 1,000 participants weekly by the end of October. And, over the next three years, we have the goal of serving up to 4,500 households every week through Community Markets. 

With food insecurity at historic levels and critical supports disappearing, Community Markets are one way the Food Bank is stepping up to meet people where they are and help neighbors keep food on the table, even when times are uncertain. 

 “Community markets are so important, especially today,” Guadalupe says. “We want participants to feel like this is their market, their choice, and that they’re receiving the best quality items. We hope to build community, so participants feel safe and supported.”       

 

At Bayview Church of Christ, Fresh Food Fuels Creativity

December 9, 2025

On a sunny Thursday afternoon in the Bayview, Danielle scopes out tables of fresh produce at the Bayview Church of Christ neighborhood food pantry. She’s bringing them home to her mom, who she’s been caring for full-time for the last 13 years. The weekly visits to this pantry, part of the San Francisco-Marin Food Bank’s Neighborhood Food Network, have become woven into their daily life — even sparking Danielle’s creativity. 

Finding Creativity Where You Can 

Danielle is a passionate, professional artist, but being a caretaker means she doesn’t always get to her work. When she can’t find the time, she creates with what she has: the food she cooks for her mom, much of which comes from the Bayview Church of Christ food pantry. Eggs on potatoes with tomato, carrot ginger soup, grapes and pears arranged on a plate. When her mom is delighted by one of these artfully arranged meals, Danielle takes a picture. 

Danielle estimates she’s taken about 500 photos by now. “Those pictures only happen when she wants a picture,” she explains. “I only take those pictures when she says, ‘Ooh, I like this. Let me take a picture.'” 

She’s even turned these pictures into an art exhibit, showing them both with fellow artists and in a solo show. 

The food from the pantry has brought unexpected joy to this family: ingredients that become art, and meals that spark happiness. It has also helped ease some of the burdens. 

Between managing her mom’s Alzheimer’s and trying to afford life in San Francisco, there’s a lot to juggle. So when Danielle noticed the pantry opening in 2023 while walking her dog, she signed right up. She was grateful she wouldn’t have to choose between groceries and paying for other essentials. 

“It’s one less thing I have to worry about,” Danielle says. “Financially, every little part matters and counts.” 

A Partnership That Changed Everything 

Bayview Church of Christ is one of more than 200 pantries in the San Francisco-Marin Food Bank’s Neighborhood Food Network. Each week, about 230 people pick up groceries at the pantry. Nearly 70% of what the Food Bank provides is fruits and vegetables. 

For Chris Elmore, the pantry coordinator, partnering with the Food Bank in 2023 was a game-changer. 

Before that partnership began, he and his brother were picking up donations from Safeway in Chris’s box truck and distributing them from the church parking lot on their own. It was a lot of work. 

When those grocery store donations ended, Chris connected with the Food Bank at their warehouse on Pennsylvania Avenue. 

Now, Chris says, “Everything is fresh. We got onions, we got grapes, we got celery, grapefruit. We usually have some type of meat, maybe milk. Just everything that you can want.” 

When Spices Make the Difference 

And recently, the pantry’s been offering ginger, jalapeños, and cilantro as part of a Food Bank pilot program testing whether spices and aromatics help families use more of the produce they receive. 

Chris has noticed people love the spices and are using them in all kinds of dishes. “The ginger and the jalapeño are the best right now,” he says. 

One man made something that looked like fortune cookies shaped into flowers, using ginger and other ingredients from the pantry. Another woman brought back spring roll-like pastries with beef and vegetables inside. People have brought tostadas to share with volunteers. 

Chris loves seeing how the spices inspire people to try new dishes—and how those dishes reflect the neighborhood’s diversity. Bayview brings together people from all over the world, each with their own culinary traditions. 

“The cultures here are different,” Chris says. “Even [within] countries like China and Japan, you got the Easterners, you got the Southerners, and they cook things different.” He’s learned phrases in multiple languages just from running the pantry each week. “This is my community,” he says, “and the people here are great.” 

Chris isn’t the only one who’s found connection. For Danielle, the pantry means food in the house, people who know her and her mom, and one less thing to figure out each week. It’s community care in action. 

“Most of the people here are my neighbors,” she says. “I see them not just when it’s food bank day. I see them when I walk the dog. This is helping each other.” 

 

Holly Finds Food, Dignity, and Joy at the Community Market

November 24, 2025

A Bright Start 

Sunlight streams through the floor-to-ceiling windows of the Western Addition Community Market. The space is modern and welcoming, with the cheerful energy of a neighborhood bodega — energy matched by Holly. We met her as she moved excitedly through the aisles of produce and groceries, planning out what she would take home. 

“Some greens, applesauce, potatoes, carrots, eggs. Oh my god — peaches, nectarines, grapes,” she exclaims. “It is really a blessing to come here.” 

A New Way to Shop 

For six years, Holly has relied on Neighborhood Food Pantries for fresh produce each week, helping her avoid hard choices between paying bills or going hungry. When the Western Addition Community Market opened in July, it offered her a new way to shop. Now, Holly decides exactly what she takes home, how much, and when she picks it up. 

“It’s like shopping through Safeway,” she says, calling it “top-of-the-line food.” 

 Community Markets are open multiple days each week with flexible hours, making it easier for people to shop when it works for them.  

That flexibility matters to Holly, who is currently out of work and managing the ups and downs of her mental health. 

“You go in and everything is organized,” she says. “I’ve been to a lot of pantries, but this pantry here is the best. You walk through here and you pick what you want. You don’t just have to take it.” 

Simple Joys, Real Respect 

At the Western Addition Community Market, Holly savors the small, human moments of grocery shopping that many take for granted: tapping on watermelons and smelling ripe produce. 

“It makes me feel good,” she says. “You smell it and you know it’s fresh. It makes me feel good to be able to touch what I get.” 

For Holly, those simple acts restore dignity and a sense of normalcy for her in a period marked by unemployment and financial strain. The market helps ease her fears of hunger, giving her confidence that she can put meals on the table. Just as importantly, she values the respect she feels every time she comes to shop. 

“Even though I’m at my lowest right now, I feel like I have something,” Holly says. “They’re treating me with respect. Even though I’m not working, I feel respected. It’s dignity.”

Finding Nourishment and Community at El Colibrí Community Market

October 17, 2025

For Veronica, finding help has often meant navigating a maze of complicated systems without much support to guide her through.

When her daughter was diagnosed with cancer in 2021, those challenges deepened. After her daughter’s remission in 2023, the family left the hospital without work or housing. Soon after, Veronica was diagnosed with breast cancer. The gaps in the safety net became even clearer when even putting food on the table was no longer certain.

“I tried applying for CalFresh and was told my household income was too high, even though my husband is underemployed and I’m unemployed,” she said.

With so many needs and so few options, it was hard to know where to turn.

But then Veronica and her family got connected to the San Francisco-Marin Food Bank’s pantry at La Raza Community Resource Center, now known as Mercado El Colibrí. It became a steady source of stability for her family, a place where they could count on fresh groceries and friendly faces during difficult times.

“My daughter loves fruit — we almost always get lots of fruits and vegetables,” she said. “With the food I get from El Colibrí, I make her pan con pollo, a traditional dish from El Salvador.”

El Colibrí is one of the Food Bank’s new Community Markets, created with trusted partners like La Raza to make access to nutritious food easier and more dignified ,and facilitate connections to vital social services. This partnership helps ensure families like Veronica’s can find healthy food and a welcoming space whenever they need it most.

“I like being here,” she said. “It helps me socialize, make friends, and relax.”

Where Food and Connection Meet

Community Markets are reimagining what it means to access food with dignity. These welcoming, grocery store–style spaces make it easier for people to get the food they want and need, when it works for them. Open multiple days each week with flexible hours, each market offers fresh produce, groceries, and culturally relevant foods. Importantly, these community-centered environments couple access to healthy food with direct connections and referrals to vital immigration and social services. 

Lucia Ruiz, Senior Program Manager at the Food Bank, said Community Markets mark an important shift in how the Food Bank approaches ending hunger. “The model is more flexible and participant-centered,” she said. “It provides dignity and convenience by offering food alongside service navigation and referrals. When we talk about addressing the root causes of hunger, we have to think about how to lift people out of poverty. Combining food access with supportive resources helps make that possible.”

Eight Community Markets are planned to open over the next year, some operated by the Food Bank and the majority operated directly by our community partners. The first partner-led Community Market to open is La Raza’s El Colibrí in the Mission District. To mark its official expansion to multiple days of service  — increasing its capacity to serve more families — and the market’s integration of critical services directly available for participants, La Raza held a ribbon cutting ceremony to welcome all to Mercado El Colibrí. 

“With our new community market, we plan to serve up to 1,000 families weekly to provide healthy food and help them get the vital wraparound services they need, and all in one place” said La Raza Community Resource Center Executive Director Gabriel Medina. “Once our food seekers are here, not only are they given more choice, all of our food seekers can connect to services like immigration, both affirmative and defensive, citizenship naturalization, women’s support groups, diaper bank, case management. It’s a concept our families sorely need more of.”

The event included remarks from community members and the Food Bank. “We are grateful to partner with La Raza Community Resource Center,” said Noriko Lim-Tepper, Chief Officer for Strategic Partnerships, Advocacy & Voice. “We celebrate La Raza’s Mercado El Colibrí as not only a resource providing access to healthy food but a center for vital services for our community.”

Essential to the vital resources available at Mercado El Colibrí is the concept of community, which is a foundation for Veronica. What began as a source of help during an especially dark time has become a place of belonging and where she now volunteers every week, welcoming others with the same warmth she found there.

“When you are treated with respect, you feel welcomed,” she said. “Everyone deserves that.”

What a Monthly Food Box Means for Two Friends in the Tenderloin

September 29, 2025

Groceries or Medicine? 

For many seniors on fixed incomes, every month is weighed down by tough decisions: pay for groceries or fill a prescription; cover rent or keep the lights on? 

And, for the older adults living in the Tenderloin, there are additional hurdles to accessing — and even preparing — healthy food. Not only are there no full-service grocery stores in the entire neighborhood, many live in single-room occupancies without kitchens. 

That’s why the Food Bank’s Supplemental Food Program (SFP) is a lifeline for hundreds of neighbors in the area. The program provides monthly boxes of staples like rice, pasta, and canned goods, giving people 60 and older a reliable source of food to help make their limited budgets last. 

A Lifeline for Seniors 

Every month, neighbors like Ms. Mui and Ms. Luo bring their rolling carts to the SFP distribution site on the Golden Gate Greenway, a block of Golden Gate Avenue that St. Anthony Foundation transformed into a pedestrian space, to pick up the groceries that help carry them through the weeks to come. 

“We depend on SFP,” said Ms. Mui. “As seniors, we don’t make money, and receiving these food boxes helps a lot. Losing access to programs like this would be concerning.” 

Ms. Luo agreed, adding how she has to stretch her income further than ever before. 

“I only get $50 a month from CalFresh now,” said Ms. Luo. “I’m forced to be very conservative with how I spend. It does mean eating less. Retirement funds don’t go very far after rent is paid, so help with groceries makes a big difference.” 

A New Home on the Greenway 

The two friends have been receiving SFP boxes for the past three years but only began coming to the Greenway early last year. That’s when the Food Bank partnered with St. Anthony’s to open this new SFP site, launched in response to Pop-Up Pantries closing and in anticipation of more people struggling to find regular access to groceries. 

From day one, Food Bank staff saw how important this site was. 

“Our first distribution at the Greenway brought over 550 people,” said Lena Yu, SFP Program Manager for the Food Bank. “Others had stopped coming during the pandemic and were so relieved to reconnect.” 

She notes that shelf stable food, in particular, is vital for this demographic. 

“For those who aren’t cooking regularly, it’s important to have food they can count on throughout the month,” Lena said. “When you’re on a fixed income, having something in the pantry makes a big difference.”  

Powered by Partnership 

Partnership is what makes the Greenway distribution possible. The Food Bank provides the groceries, while St. Anthony’s provides the space, lush and welcoming with trees, benches, and parklets. In the Tenderloin, where there are only 9.1 acres of green space, among the lowest in the city, the Greenway gives neighbors a rare chance to enjoy greenery and community in the middle of San Francisco. 

Veronica Surrette-Fahey, Marketing Communications Manager at St. Anthony Foundation, explained, “We saw the Greenway as an opportunity to bring greenery to the Tenderloin. Many of our senior neighbors are living alone in single-room occupancies. They come to the Greenway for that sense of community.” 

 That collaborative and visionary spirit is why the Food Bank partnered with St. Anthony’s to bring this SFP site to the Greenway. 

“The partnership with St. Anthony’s has been amazing,” said Lena Yu, SFP Program Manager. “It’s such a marginalized community, and many people don’t realize how many seniors live here. For anyone on a fixed income, this program is so important.” 

At Bolinas Inc., Everyone is Welcome

September 9, 2025

When people think about seaside towns in Marin County, they often conjure up visions of luxury. But nestled just below the Point Reyes National Seashore is the tight-knit town of Bolinas, where the reality is quite different. 

“People think that Marin is very wealthy, and certainly there are really wealthy parts of Marin,” says Kathleen O’Neill, the lead volunteer coordinator for the Bolinas Community Inc. food pantry. “But Bolinas has a lot of elderly residents and a lot of poor people. Our town is considered a poverty town.” 

Bolinas is home to older adults living on fixed incomes, working-class families juggling high costs, and longtime residents navigating impossible choices between food, rent, and other necessities. The poverty rate here is 12.76 percent — higher than the 11 percent national average. So, in a town of just 1,200 people, that means everyone knows someone who’s food insecure. And that means many of the same people who volunteer — and even work — at the Bolinas Community Inc. food pantry also rely on it themselves. Kathleen is one of them. 

“Feeding people is important,” she says. “I think the world is better when people are fed. And I needed food myself. I’m retired and living on Social Security, so having this [pantry] makes a huge, huge difference.” 

The steady supply of food is what makes the 13-year partnership between the Bolinas Community Inc. food pantry and the San Francisco-Marin Food Bank essential. More than 200 people come through the pantry each Thursday, relying on the shelf-stable staples and fresh produce. And for many, the chance to connect is just as much of a lifeline. 

“All the elders line up together,” says Kate Ryan Ross, general manager of the Bolinas Community Center, where the pantry is hosted. “It’s their [time] once a week they get to talk. It’s like sitting around in a coffee shop, but it’s the food bank every week.” 

Randi Arnold, executive director of the Bolinas Community Center, says the partnership with the Food Bank changed everything. Before, volunteers collected whatever extra food they could find from local stores, and that was the extent of what they could offer. 

“When this partnership began, we were astounded,” Randi says. “We get anywhere from 4,000 to 8,000 pounds of food [each month].” 

Thanks to the Food Bank’s support, the pantry stocks fresh produce, culturally meaningful foods and shelf-stable staples that help families stay nourished all week. That’s no small feat in a town like Bolinas, which has just two small markets — both expensive — and no full grocery store. The nearest affordable option is at least 15 miles away, and gas to get there isn’t cheap. 

Kate says her own family has depended on the pantry since it began. “Now that my parents are both retired, they need it even more,” she says. 

Produce from the pantry was especially important for Kate during her pregnancy, when meeting prenatal health needs was critical for both her and her baby. “I could get what I needed here, and then fill in the rest at the market,” she said. 

For Alfonz, a longtime participant managing serious health conditions, the pantry is essential to his stability. “I used to go in every day to the emergency room because something went wrong every day,” he recalls. But now that he’s able to eat the healthy food he needs to manage his symptoms, his quality of life has improved. 

It means regular access to fresh, nutritious food. “Chicken, turkey, fish with omega-3s, organic fruit. Turkey’s my favorite,” he says. ‘This place is great because you can pick and choose,” he says. “Otherwise, I wouldn’t eat. Food’s so expensive.” 

And it’s only gotten harder. 

“Since COVID I see people come through our pantry now that never came before,” Randi says. “I have a lot of people that come [and say], ‘Well, no, I’d rather have people who need it.’ And I tell them, everybody needs to eat.” 

That sense of welcome is intentional. 

“Randi and Kathleen have their finger on the pulse and go above and beyond to make sure participants not only receive service with dignity, but they also feel safe,” says Marisol Ramirez, the Food Bank’s neighborhood representative for West Marin. 

Marisol recounted how, when the pantry’s bilingual “All Are Welcome” sign started to fade, Randi and Kathleen were quick to ask for a new one to make sure immigrant families knew they had every right to come and get food, regardless of their documentation status. That simple request ended up prompting the Food Bank to print a whole new round of signs for partner sites across the region. 

People don’t always see the full picture of life in Marin. But Kate, who grew up in Bolinas, wants people to understand who is often left out. 

“Yes, Marin has a very high population of rich people,” she continues, “but there’s also those of us that clean those houses, do the landscaping, the childcare. We go to the same high school… but we are the ones managing those places, doing their laundry and their housekeeping.” 

Despite doing all this work, the reality is many still can’t make ends meet in Bolinas, Kate observed. “We need this extra food.” The Food Bank is proud to partner with the Bolinas Inc. pantry, helping to put nutritious food on the table so families here can thrive.  

“This Is the Village”: Homeless Prenatal Program

June 23, 2025

Pregnancy and parenthood are overwhelming even in the most ideal circumstances. For some, the time before a baby arrives is spent choosing the right stroller or figuring out how to install a car seat. But for parents without stable housing or income, the stakes are higher. Every decision feels critical: rent or diapers, formula or gas, all while trying to get enough nourishing food to support a healthy pregnancy. 

For 36 years, Homeless Prenatal Program (HPP) has helped lighten the load for expecting parents by providing the tools and support they need to build healthy, stable families. Located in San Francisco’s Mission District, HPP connects pregnant people and their partners with parenting classes, case management, housing support, and fresh groceries through a long-standing partnership with the San Francisco-Marin Food Bank. 

For many staff members, the work is deeply personal. 

Rashawna and Mike

“My journey started here,” declares Mike Brown, a Community Staff Member at HPP. “I used these services before, and now I’m able to give back. I owe it.” 

Mike oversees the same pantry line he once stood in as a kid. His connection to the Food Bank goes back decades, to when his mom turned to HPP for support while raising him on her own and trying to get by during unemployment. 

“My mom had me young,” he says. “So we basically grew up together.” He remembers the palpable relief of leaving the pantry with food. It’s why he admires his mother for the strength it took to ask for help, and why he understands how much that support means to families. 

“Whether it’s a bag of rice or the eggs this week, it’s all very necessary,” Mike says. “It may be just some carrots and some radishes, but that goes a long way when you have nothing.” 

As Mike shares his story, Rashawna nods in agreement. She found HPP in 2009, when she was pregnant and full of questions. “Back then, there were not many mom classes available,” she recalls. “[HPP] had the support I needed.” 

Through breastfeeding education and peer support, she was able to prepare for her growing family. And with crucial access to fresh produce and pantry staples from the Food Bank, she built a stable foundation for her and her child. 

“It was feeding me, it was feeding my children. It was putting food in the household,” Rashawna says. “When you don’t have that money to make ends meet, then you have the food [from the Food Bank] to rely on. Even if you’re vegetarian, you can make a really good meal.” 

The support she received was transformative, and Rashawna is now an intern in HPP’s paid community health worker apprenticeship. “I was a client,” Rashawna says, “and now being able to give back is a wonderful opportunity.” 

Linda

Linda has spent 12 years on HPP’s operations team, helping run the Food Bank’s weekly food distributions. She says stories like Mike’s and Rashawna’s show just how powerful the partnership between HPP and the Food Bank really is. “What’s special about Homeless Prenatal is serving the community and seeing all these beautiful little children thrive,” she says. “It takes a village to raise a child, but it takes a village to raise a community. This is it. This is the village.” 

But with shrinking budgets and looming cuts on all levels of government, she’s worried about how much support HPP will be able to provide. And Food Bank contributions are more essential than ever. 

“Right now, San Francisco-Marin Food Bank is our only source of fresh fruits and vegetables,” Linda says. “Due to the budget cuts, we no longer have different resources… we rely on the Food Bank.” 

She remembers when HPP could assemble Mom Boxes filled with peanut butter, rice, beans, apples, and chicken. They’d then supplement them with Food Bank extras to round out the meal. But those boxes are no longer possible. “Now we’re just giving Food Bank food,” Linda says. “People are thankful, but it’s hard to see a mom walk away without a bag, especially when she’s picking up right before school drop-off.” 

That strain isn’t unique to HPP. Across the Food Bank’s network, staff and volunteers are bracing for what comes next. Lucia Ruiz, a Senior Program Manager at the San Francisco-Marin Food Bank, hears that uncertainty every day. 

“We don’t know yet exactly how federal budget cuts are going to affect us, but we do expect there could be fewer of certain items coming in,” she says. “What we do know is that we’re incredibly grateful for the support of donors and community members — it’s what allows us to keep these programs going.” 

Lucia says it’s that sense of community and commitment to showing up for each other that will carry partners like HPP through these uncertain times 

“This pantry is more than a food distribution site,” she says. It’s a trusted hub where families get groceries, diapers, and other essentials,” she says. “Even during the pandemic, they kept their doors open. That tells you what kind of community this is.”

CalFresh: More Than Meets the Eye

May 16, 2025

When families enroll in CalFresh, it opens the door to more than groceries. 

Formerly known as food stamps, CalFresh is a vital part of the social safety net. Despite helping thousands stay above the poverty line, California’s participation rate is just 81 percent, ranking 31st in the country. To change this, the Food Bank is working to improve the system through outreach, advocacy, and policy. We co-sponsored AB 518, a new state law that requires California to identify people who are eligible but not enrolled and develop new ways to reach them to get them enrolled. 

Last year, our team helped more than 2,400 people apply for CalFresh, unlocking $6.5 million in benefits for households in San Francisco and Marin. That’s money our neighbors can use to buy the food they need enabling families and communities to thrive.  

CalFresh Puts Food on the Table… and Diapers in the Closet 

In addition to enabling our participants to put food on their tables, CalFresh enable recipients to access other important benefits. For families with young children, the cost of diapers adds up quickly. Too often, parents are forced to choose between diapers and food. That’s where CalFresh, the Food Bank, and community partners like Homeless Prenatal Program (HPP) come together. The San Francisco Diaper Bank, a partnership between the SF Human Services Agency and family resource centers like Homeless Prenatal Program, offers a free monthly supply of diapers to CalFresh families with children under two. At HPP, a long-standing Food Bank partner, families can pick up diapers and healthy groceries in one stop. It’s a model of seamless support that strengthens the safety net and addresses the root causes of hunger. 

Outreach That Meets People Where They Are 

We know that CalFresh is a proven strategy in reducing food insecurity. But stigma, immigration concerns, and a complex application process keep far too many people in San Francisco and Marin from getting help. 

That’s why the Food Bank’s CalFresh Outreach team works closely with partners to provide outreach, education, and one-on-one support to enroll more eligible residents. 

“The Food Bank’s free grocery programming is designed to support low-income residents of San Francisco and Marin to supplement their food budgets,” says Liliana Sandoval, our Senior Director of Programs and Outreach. “Starting CalFresh outreach at the Food Bank was an obvious choice.” 

Bringing CalFresh into the Food Bank’s mission was a natural step, Liliana says, since even a small benefit can make a difference. 

“Folks can attend a pantry and receive CalFresh,” she explains. “Even if they only get the minimum monthly benefit, they can buy food that isn’t available at the pantries. Ultimately, we want people to have a bit more ease in their daily lives.” 

Building Confidence, Busting Myths 

One way we strengthen the region’s CalFresh outreach is by providing training opportunities for our partners who make expanding CalFresh enrollment possible. 

In March 2025, the Food Bank’s CalFresh Outreach Team hosted its first in-person training since the pandemic. Staff from community organizations across San Francisco and Marin were excited to come together to deepen their understanding of the CalFresh application process and build skills to better support participants.  

“Community means more than ever right now,” Liliana said at the start of the day. “We’re all here to learn from each other.” 

The training covered everything from household composition and income rules to immigration-related eligibility and how to help people navigate BenefitsCal, the website where people can apply for and manage their public benefits  Partners also learned about new updates, like chip-enabled CalFresh cards that reduce fraud, and additional benefits like discounts on museums, internet, and more. 

Partners who joined the training shared real fears their clients have, especially older adults, immigrants, and students. Some talked about legal permanent residents who were afraid to apply, worried it could affect their families. 

“There’s so much fear out there,” Liliana said. “And that’s why we’re doing this.” 

Another one of the myths that Liliana and her team are working to dispel is around who is eligible for CalFresh and who isn’t. Many people assume they don’t qualify, while others have tried before and stopped because the process was too difficult or unclear. 

She wishes more people understood what CalFresh is really about: it’s a tool for dignity, stability, and choice. 

“There is no nutrition restriction on what folks can buy, and most grocery stores, farmers markets, and big chain stores accept CalFresh,” Liliana says. People can choose what they want to eat and where to shop. Everyone needs food, and that’s why we are here — to help folks access it.”  

As CalFresh Awareness Month continues, the Food Bank’s Outreach Team is out in the community nearly every day, visiting schools, events, and pantries to raise awareness and enroll new participants.  

It’s a busy season, but the mission remains the same: meet people where they are, walk with them through the process, and open the door to resources that make things a little more manageable for families. 

And connecting folks to CalFresh can open doors to many other cost-saving resources they might not expect. Through CalFresh, people may also be eligible for: 

  • Transit discounts 
  • Free or low-cost cell phone service through the federal Lifeline program — sometimes even a free phone 
  • Affordable internet from major providers, with plans starting as low as $10 per month 
  • Half off Amazon Prime through Prime Access 
  • Free museum admission 

“Life is already so complex, and our low-income community members have to navigate so much just to meet their basic needs,” Liliana says.  “Our team loves reminding partners about these added benefits, because CalFresh isn’t just about food. It’s about making everyday life a little easier.”