It was a bright, sunny morning in San Francisco’s Western Addition neighborhood. And inside the Buchanan YMCA, that warmth was reflected in the energy of neighbors, volunteers, and employees celebrating the launch of the Western Addition YMCA Family Resource Center (FRC) food pantry. Music filled the gymnasium as community members lined up alongside tables stocked with fresh fruits and vegetables, tofu, and pantry staples like peanut butter and rice — all provided by the San Francisco-Marin Food Bank.
This new pantry, a collaboration between the Buchanan YMCA, Urban Services YMCA, and the Food Bank, is more than a place to pick up groceries. It’s a reflection of a long-standing commitment to community care. With Urban Services moving into the Buchanan YMCA last year, neighbors now have access to both health and social services under one roof. The Food Bank’s support has strengthened that safety net, giving the community even more essential resources and support to thrive.
A Crucial Moment for Food Access
The timing couldn’t be more critical. Since the pantry opened in late January, the neighborhood’s only grocery store has closed, leaving residents with even fewer nearby options for fresh, healthy food. Many also rely on the Food Bank’s nearby pop-up pantries, which are closing in June due to government funding cuts. While the Food Bank has worked with existing pantries to accommodate more participants, gaps in access remain. To help fill them, the YMCA and the Food Bank created a pantry that not only provides nutritious food but ensures it reflects the diverse cultural traditions of the community.
Cesnae Crawford, Senior Executive Director at Urban Services YMCA, believes food access should go beyond availability to include culturally relevant ingredients that truly serve the community. “I’ve been to food pantries where they reject so much food because it doesn’t reflect the culture of the people being served,” he says. “That’s why it was so important that our pantry got it right from the start.”
That commitment to meeting the community’s needs is exactly why the Food Bank was eager to collaborate. Tina Gonzales, Director of Community Partnerships at the Food Bank, has worked with Cesnae for years on the YMCA’s other pantry programs and knew this collaboration would make an impact. “Cesnae has always been a strong community advocate,” she says. “When [the YMCA] was ready to start a pantry in the Western Addition, we were happy to partner. This pantry will help us reach the African American communities connected to the YMCA and provide much-needed support.”
Meeting the Neighborhood’s Needs
“This building has been a safe haven through history,” says Suzanne Medina, Buchanan YMCA executive director. Since 1936, Japantown and Western Addition residents from all backgrounds came to the Buchanan YMCA in search of solidarity and a safety net — including during some of history’s most difficult moments. Before World War II, Japanese American families gathered here as part of their daily lives, only to be forced into internment camps by the U.S. government. At the same time, Black families and servicemen migrating from the South for wartime jobs made the Western Addition their home. The Buchanan YMCA became a central gathering place for them, too — providing support, recreation, and a sense of belonging during a time of segregation.
It’s why opening a food pantry here feels especially meaningful. “This has always been a place where people walk in and feel at home, feel safe,” Suzanne says. “Adding a pantry deepens that sense of security for folks who need it, especially our seniors. Many have relied on our building for health and wellness services, and now, having access to nutritious food alongside preventative programs — like diabetes prevention and brain health — makes a real difference. It all ties back to what we eat.”
For many, including a resident named John, opening day was their first time visiting a food pantry. John moved to San Francisco from Kenya in December and discovered the pantry through senior education classes at the YMCA. Now living with his daughter and two grandchildren, he says it’s already making a difference in helping his family afford groceries. “The bills, the cost of living — it goes down,” he says, relieved that the family has one less burden. John says he’s thankful to bring home fresh, healthy food without the stress of rising prices.
Whether due to accessibility challenges or simply not knowing where to turn, neighbors now have a welcoming place to get the nourishment their families need and can connect with others at their neighborhood YMCA where the legacy of community connections runs deep.
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