At Owl’s Nest Pantry, Everyone Belongs

June 26, 2025

Ruben assisting students and families at Owl’s Nest Pantry.

When people think of San Francisco’s Castro district, they often think of its history as a haven for LGBTQ+ communities and as a one of the country’s most well-known centers of queer activism.  

It’s a neighborhood with a precedent for people showing up for each other regardless of where they come from. You can still see that welcoming tradition on Thursday afternoons at Everett Middle School’s Owl’s Nest Pantry, where a volunteer-led food pantry provides groceries to students, their families, and fellow Castro neighbors.  

The pantry is run in partnership with the San Francisco-Marin Food Bank, which supplies fresh produce, pantry staples, and culturally relevant food every week. It’s staffed entirely by volunteers and hosted at the school, so families can pick up groceries in a space that feels familiar and supportive.  

As the school’s Community Coordinator and Facilities Manager, Ruben helps lead the Owl’s Nest Pantry and acts as a key link between the administration and the community. He’s a problem solver who keeps things running smoothly for students, families, and staff. Because of this, he’s deeply aware of how much students rely on support through the school that’s provided outside the classroom. 

 “Eighty percent of our students [have] free and reduced lunch,” Ruben says. “We have 90 families that are homeless or in shelters. So, if we look at the data, that’s even more reason to open this pantry.”  

He also thinks about his own childhood. Ruben grew up in a single-parent household and knows what it’s like to make hard choices at a young age just to avoid going hungry.  

“It was difficult for me growing up,” he recalls. “I understand what struggle is, and that compels me to want to work harder for our families.”  

 About half of Everett’s students are “newcomers” — recently-arrived immigrant, refugee, or asylee youth — and Ruben says it’s essential that Owl’s Nest Pantry reflects the diversity he sees in Everett’s hallways. 

“A lot of our families live different lifestyles,” he says. “We need to embrace that and make sure we’re serving all families, not just some.”  

AJ, a parent and regular pantry volunteer, appreciates the welcoming environment and is grateful to be a part of it. Like Ruben and the families who visit, he knows what it’s like to need help.  

AJ, a longtime volunteer at Owl’s Nest Pantry and parent of a student at Everett Middle.

“I come from a family who didn’t have very much money,” AJ says. “We stood in line for government cheese and had food stamps. It was really hard as a teenager.”  

AJ, who identifies as trans, has lived in the neighborhood for many years. He says it matters to him to be a friendly, visible presence for the queer youth and families who come to the pantry.  

“I like that I can hopefully make people’s days easier and not harder [by] being compassionate and kind,” he says.  

His connection to the Castro and serving his community runs deep.  

“My dad also lived here for a lot of years,” AJ says. “He was gay and died in 2016 [from] AIDS. And so also being in the Castro in particular — and we did a lot of volunteering — it’s a nice way to give back.”  

The pantry at Everett Middle is a reminder that people are still showing up, making sure their neighbors feel seen, supported, and have enough to eat. 

In a city where the cost of living keeps rising and the future feels uncertain for many families, having an anchor like Ow’s Nest Pantry— and people like Ruben — is essential. This past May, Everett Middle named its auditorium after him in recognition of more than 40 years of service to students and their families. Nearly a hundred people gathered to celebrate and honor him, including educators, parents, pantry volunteers, and students. 

“As I walk by the auditorium, I feel proud to have been part of so many special memories,” he says. “We laughed, cried and celebrated…. I’m not quite done yet and have the opportunity to continue to host events in the Ruben Urbina Auditorium. This [school] has always been a magical place and my home away from home.” 

“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.”

Look How Far We’ve Come: COVID Recognition Event at the Food Bank

May 21, 2025

COVID-19 changed everything overnight. We sheltered in place, Face Timed family instead of visiting, and did our best to feel centered in the midst of so much uncertainty and fear. Businesses were closing, jobs were disappearing — but people still needed food. For those of us working at the Food Bank, the pandemic was a time to step up. We adapted quickly, met every curveball, and answered the call to help our neighbors. To recognize that journey, the Food Bank hosted a COVID Recognition Event on March 25. It was a much-needed moment to reflect on the past five years and honor everyone who showed up during such a challenging time, from staff and volunteers to board members.

During the event, we posed the following questions: “what accomplishment are you most proud of from COVID” and “what does it mean to be here today?”

“Innovation is in the Food Bank’s DNA”

When the pandemic hit, Food Bankers didn’t have all the answers, but we knew what was at stake and were determined to figure it out. We acknowledged our fears, put them on the shelf and collectively figured out ways to respond by scaling our services to distribute food to nearly double the number of households we were serving before. To meet this historic need, we worked together with the community to create outdoor Pop-Up pantries.

“I’m so proud for many reasons. Including the fact that we operated 28 Pop-up Pantries at the height of the pandemic, relying on the ingenuity and collaboration of our staff to meet the massive need,” said Executive Director Tanis Crosby. They were supposed to operate for just a few weeks but have lasted five years.”

Trenell Greer is a Lead Order Builder. He makes sure food orders that go out to community partners are correct, filled with nutritious, high-quality food, and are delivered on time. He echoed Christian’s sentiments. “The accomplishment I’m proudest of is that we kept pushing food out, no matter what, we kept going. It made me feel good every night knowing we were still getting good food out to the community.”

“Getting together to be together”

A moving slide show brought tears to the eyes of many Food Bankers. Candid interviews, telling stories, and honest contemplations brought everyone back to March of 2020. 

Tiffany Wei, chairperson for the Food Bank’s Young Professionals Council, is grateful to be a part of it. “I think it’s amazing to see everyone come together at this time. Especially since COVID was such a huge undertaking for the Food Bank. Seeing all these faces, I think it’s incredible to see so many people with the same drive and passion here today.”

Food Bank Major Gifts Coordinator, Angela Lan first joined as a volunteer before joining the staff two months later as a member of the Pop-Up Pantry (known as PUPs) team. She saw firsthand how COVID-19 affected participants, and how PUPs became a vital lifeline for many neighbors. At a time when many pantries were closing due to health and safety concerns, PUPs provided nourishing food to people who needed it.“ I feel so proud to work for the Food Bank” Angela said, “and to continue to serve our communities in Marin and San Francisco.”

Though we were commemorating the last five years, on this day, at this event, being together meant everything

“We all care. We’re here because we’re part of something bigger,” said Senior Program Manager, Shirley Chen. “We care about the people we work with and those we support in the community. For me, to be a part of this, is really heartwarming.”

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.” 

 

Answering the Call in Times of Crisis

May 13, 2025

At the Food Bank, we know that making sure everyone has food on their plates means showing up every day. Most of the time, that means serving people right here in San Francisco and Marin. But when disaster strikes, we try to provide assistance wherever and however we’re needed. 

This past January, when wildfires tore through Los Angeles, we sent a truck full of shelf-stable food to the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank and Westside Food Bank. We delivered canned fruits and vegetables, beans, soup, meat, and shelf-stable milk to help pack emergency food boxes for people who had lost access to grocery stores or were forced to evacuate. Having accessible food was a lifeline during a time of urgent need and uncertainty. 

Helping people — all people — in times of crisis has always been part of the Food Bank’s DNA. Starting with Hurricane Andrew in 1992, the Food Bank has proudly supported relief efforts across the country, including Hurricane Katrina, Hurricane Harvey, the COVID-19 pandemic, and the 2023 Hawaii wildfires.  

We know how quickly a crisis can overwhelm a local food bank. And we know how much it matters to have help on the way. “Food banks understand the critical role they play in disaster response and the importance of helping our colleagues across the U.S.,” said Michael Braude, our Chief Financial Officer. “We always provide support to others when we can, knowing they will do the same for us should we need them.” 

But of course, food banks supporting one another is just one part of the equation. When the social safety net takes a hit, families need more than just food. That’s why our 2025 State Policy Agenda backs two key bills to strengthen California’s disaster response and ensure a faster, more equitable recovery: 

  • AB 262 – California Individual Assistance Act: Provides direct financial assistance to local governments, community-based organizations, and individuals for disaster-related costs — whether from a fire, flood, epidemic, or other public safety emergency.
  • SB 739 – Disaster CalFresh Support: Ensures that counties have the staffing and resources they need to quickly roll out Disaster CalFresh, giving people fast access to food assistance in the wake of an emergency.

Supporting our neighbors has always been part of our mission — whether that’s distributing food locally, sharing resources with food banks across the country, or pushing for policies that ensure families have what they need to recover and rebuild. In every disaster, we’re reminded that, like our community, food banks are stronger when we work together. 

Owning Our Energy: How We’re Powering a Greener Future

April 21, 2025

Carmelo has been at the Food Bank for 13 years, and as our Senior Associate Director of Facilities, he’s helped lead some of our biggest projects. But one thing people might not know? He’s afraid of heights. 

So, when it came time for his team to oversee the installation of solar panels on the roofs of our San Francisco and San Rafael warehouses, Carmelo faced his fear — again and again. 

“It has been a few years in the making since we started the proposed and now completed solar panel installations at both our San Francisco and San Rafael facilities,” he says. “It’s a major accomplishment that reflects a tremendous team effort — from Operations to our friends in Development responsible for the capital campaign fundraising. It truly takes a village to make something like this happen.” 

At the Food Bank, we know that access to healthy nutritious food is deeply connected to the climate crisis. If we want to build a food-secure future, we have to protect the environment we all depend on to grow the fruits, vegetables, and grains that nourish our communities. That’s why making big investments in sustainability is so important for our Food Bank. 

“All companies should be doing as much as they can to address the climate crisis,” says Michael Braude, our Chief Financial Officer. “The refrigeration required for our operation uses a tremendous amount of electricity. Being able to produce as much of that as possible on our own helps shrink our carbon footprint.” 

We’re not just proud of our solar panels – check our our other sustainability initiatives.

And, we’ll be producing a lot: Our San Francisco warehouse solar system is projected to generate approximately 600,000 kilowatt-hours (kWh) of electricity each year, reducing our PG&E bill by an estimated 66 %. At our San Rafael facility, we expect to generate about 270,000 kWh annually, with an estimated 90 % savings on electricity costs. 

These systems will cover nearly all the electricity we use during the sunniest months of the year, helping us cut costs, reduce emissions, and serve more people with fresh, healthy food. Simply put: every dollar we save on energy costs helps us go further in our mission to end hunger. 

And we’re not stopping there. We’ve already streamlined our delivery routes through route optimization technology to use less fuel, and this summer, we’re taking another big step: adding three zero-emission electric trucks to our fleet. Two more are on the way, along with the charging infrastructure to support them. 

For Carmelo, who calls himself “a proud Food Banker,” facing his fear of heights was worth it. Reflecting on what’s kept him going all these years: “Of course, it’s our mission to end hunger and the real impact we make in our community. But beyond that, it’s the people,” he continues. “The colleagues I work alongside day in, and day out truly inspire me and keep me motivated. We’re like-minded individuals, united by our commitment to this mission and driven by genuinely kind hearts. That shared purpose and compassion makes all the difference.” 

We’re proud to own our energy and to keep moving forward with climate-conscious solutions that support our neighbors, the planet, and our future. 

Happy Earth Day!

Advocating for Real Change: Greer’s Story

November 18, 2024

Our network of 250 food pantries brings food into the neighborhoods where it’s most needed. But while sharing weekly groceries with our neighbors is essential to address the immediate hunger in our community, it isn’t the whole story. We can’t end hunger without addressing its root causes. And that means advocating, in coalition locally and nationally, for better public policy, a stronger safety net, and an end to structural inequities.
Our 2024 Policy Agenda lays out three key policy priorities: invest in food banks, promote sustainable food systems, and protect and strengthen the social safety net. To tackle this, we’re trying something new this year.

We know that the people closest to the problem are also closest to the solution. That’s why we are partnering with 15 people who have experienced food insecurity to form the Food Bank’s first-ever Food Policy and Advocacy Coalition (Food PAC). Over the next 18 months, the Food PAC will work closely with our Policy and Advocacy team to decide on future policy priorities, share their stories with policymakers and more.

We caught up with one Food PAC member, Greer, about how she hopes to shape food policy for the better.

Making Change with Greer

Meet Greer. She’s a single mother, Marin resident and college student studying videogame design. As a child, Greer’s dad was a chef and her family lived in UC Berkeley’s married student housing, surrounded by neighbors from all over the world.

This multicultural environment fostered an early appreciation for the power of food to bring people together, but that wasn’t the only reason she decided to advocate as part of the Food PAC. Greer has faced food insecurity throughout her life — first in childhood, and now as a mom and full-time student.

Reflecting on her decision to join, she shared that “[the Food PAC] is also teaching me advocacy skills that I haven’t had a chance to learn in the past. We’re going to be learning about public speaking, legislative processes, about bills and other things that we hopefully will be taking to local and state government. So, I’m really excited to be part of it — to try to make some real change.”

Neighbors Leading the Way

The Food PAC is one way that the Food Bank is seeking feedback directly from community members like Greer and putting that feedback into action to drive our advocacy work.

For instance, Greer identified CalFresh (formerly food stamps) advocacy as a priority for her and her community. CalFresh is one of our most effective tools to end hunger and poverty, but the system can be challenging to navigate and the benefits are woefully inadequate. The current minimum monthly benefit is $23 – a far cry from a month’s worth of groceries.

CalFresh: Room for Improvement

Greer’s own experience with CalFresh underscores how those who need benefits most are negatively affected by administrative hurdles.

“I’ve had a lot of problems with CalFresh. When your benefits get messed up or you lose them for a couple of months because of a paperwork issue or a change in caseworker, it impacts you in a lot of ways,” she shared.

Beyond not having money for groceries, Greer notes the ripple effects these benefit gaps create: “I’ve had to spend months arguing to get those benefits back, and I eventually do. But because of having to spend that time arguing, I’ve also had to take days off work. I’ve had to leave my child at childcare longer, which is more money for me. It adds so much stress to your life that it can really impact your mental and physical health.”

Protect and Strengthen CalFresh

As a mom, Greer knows how much parents will sacrifice for their kids. “I know a lot of parents that don’t get very much [CalFresh benefits]. Oftentimes they will have to defer and give the food to their kids, and they’re not eating enough themselves. I think that that’s something that’s often overlooked.”

Parents shouldn’t have to skip meals to keep their children nourished. These stories highlight why CalFresh advocacy is one of our enduring policy priorities. Whether we’re lobbying to raise the minimum benefit amount, lower administrative barriers to access, or ensure all Californians can receive benefits regardless of immigration status, the Food Bank is committed to protecting and strengthening this essential program.

One thing is for certain: as we look for ways to improve these systems and policies, there’s no one better to offer insight or lead the way forward than folks who have experienced them firsthand.

“Having been someone that had to utilize food banks and food pantries in different ways throughout my life, I want to be able to help and give back in whatever way I can,” Greer told us. “Right now, because I don’t have the ability to give back financially, this is a way that I feel like I really can make a difference.”

Food Bank Hosts SF Mayoral Candidate Watch Party

October 10, 2024

Ending hunger starts with policy change, and policy change starts at the ballot box. To encourage civic engagement around the issue of hunger in the City and County of San Francisco, the Food Bank partnered with the League of Women Voters and UCSF in co-sponsoring a San Francisco Mayor Candidate Forum on Sept. 30, 2024, at 6 p.m. at UCSF’s Robertson Auditorium. That same evening, 20 community members came together for a live stream of the event at a Mayoral Forum Watch Party in the Food Bank’s Welcome Center.   

In alignment with the Food Bank’s co-sponsorship of the forum, mayoral candidates were asked how they would address food insecurity. Watch party attendee Troy Burnette, a member of the Food Bank’s new grassroots advocacy program, the Food Policy Advocacy Coalition (Food PAC) appreciated the opportunity to gather with others to discuss the candidates’ positions.  “We all need to be coming together to get a better understanding of what we need to work on, to hopefully make things better for everybody,” said Troy. “To hear the candidates speak from their own voices makes a difference on who you may lean toward to move forward and hopefully help the Food Bank.” 

Andre Aikens, Director of Programs for the Rafiki Coalition (a Food Bank partner), also noted that the location of the watch party helped underscore the reality of hunger with the policy positions on food insecurity shared by the candidates. “It connects the dots,” Andre said. “Listening to the candidates and sitting in this place kind of brings it all together so that you feel whether or not an individual actually has a plan, and this issue [hunger] is a priority as well.”  

The candidate forum and watch party are part of ongoing strategic efforts to increase awareness of the Food Bank’s public policy concerns and foster civic engagement activities around ending hunger, according to Noriko Lim-Tepper, Chief Officer for the Food Bank’s Strategic Partnerships, Advocacy and Voice (SPAV) Department. “The Food Bank values the strength and wisdom in our community. As an organization, we center our efforts on lifting the voices of people who have lived experiences with food insecurity to lead meaningful policy change,” said Noriko.   

In addition to viewing the live stream, attendees posed questions to members of the SPAV team. Discussion topics included how ranked choice voting works, aspects of the mayoral race and updates on the Food Bank’s latest policy and advocacy efforts including helping to drive statewide efforts to pass AB518, a new law that could lead to greater access to CalFresh for many eligible but unenrolled Californians. 

Over the next several months SPAV plans additional events demonstrating the Food Bank as a civic engagement gathering place. The department includes the Community Building team of Associate Director Irene Garcia, and Community Builder Jesus Benitez Gomez, and Policy & Advocacy’s Associate Director Marchon Tatmon, and Community Organizer Alex Raffanti. Learn more about Food Bank advocacy efforts at sfmfoodbank.org/advocacy. 

 


The San Francisco-Marin Food Bank is a nonprofit, nonpartisan 501(c)(3) organization and is prohibited from participating or intervening in any political campaign on behalf of, or in opposition to, any candidate for public office. Our goal is to elevate the issue of hunger with candidates and the public during the election cycle.

Gone Green: It’s Not Just Our Logo

April 22, 2024

“It’s like an Easter egg hunt!” 

Those were the words of Benny Pausanos, Senior Fresh Rescue Driver at the Food Bank – and he meant it quite literally. On a sunny Wednesday morning in April, Benny was busy digging through banana boxes in a Trader Joe’s parking lot, searching for stray cartons of eggs while repackaging a caseload of donated groceries. 

Benny’s quest might not immediately seem like a climate-related activity. But when it comes to fighting the climate crisis, food banking might be a bigger part of the solution than many realize. This Earth Day, let’s take a tour of Food Bank programs – and learn how many of them double as climate solutions.  

Farm to Family

Worsening food insecurity and inequitable food access are closely linked to the climate crisis.  As farmers struggle to adapt to changing climate conditions, crop shortages can cause prices to skyrocket. When the buck gets passed to the consumer, these rising prices hit our low-income neighbors the hardest and exacerbate hunger in our community. 

One way we’re fighting this food access barrier is through the Farm to Family program, founded by former Food Bank Board member Gary Maxworthy and run by the California Association of Food Banks (CAFB). 

Farm to Family connects food banks with California growers. When farmers can’t send produce to stores because of size or ‘beauty’ requirements, we can purchase that for pennies on the dollar. This allows us to supply beautiful, farm-fresh produce that our participants can choose from year-round.

Last fiscal year, we diverted 40 million pounds of food through the Farm to Family program, bringing more than 40 types of delicious fruits and vegetables into our neighbors’ homes. But we’re not only fighting the ongoing effects of the climate crisis – we’re also taking preventative measures to avoid warming our climate further.  

Fresh Rescue

As food spoils, it emits methane – a greenhouse gas 20 times more potent than carbon dioxide, and a major factor in the worsening climate crisis.  But what if, before it spoils, that food could make it onto the tables and into the stomachs of our neighbors across San Francisco and Marin? 

Enter the Food Bank’s Fresh Rescue program. Every day, Benny and our Fresh Rescue team make the rounds at stores like Trader Joe’s, Whole Foods and Safeway to sort through boxes of donated bulk produce, dairy products, proteins and baked goods that otherwise would go to landfill. 

“I’m the link to help transport and qualify these donations,” Benny explained. Stores may donate items for a variety of reasons – whether they’re approaching expiration or have slight imperfections – and

We can’t accept severely dented or crushed cans they may harbor botulism!

Benny goes through every item individually. “We’re just trying to make the right decisions to feed people good quality food.” 

For donations that aren’t up to quality standards for our neighbors? We send unusable bread and produce to our partners at Marin Resource Recovery Center and Silva’s Ranch, where it becomes feed for pigs, cows, chickens, sheep, goats and even peacocks. Marin Resource Recovery Center, along with Recology SF, also helps sort, compost and recycle our remaining cardboard and other inedible grocery items.  

More Choice, Fewer Emissions

After inspection, high-quality donations come back to the warehouse. Some donations will go out to our pantry network, providing neighbors with additional grocery options on top of farm-fresh produce, whole grains and proteins.  

Other donations are funneled through our Shop Floor program. Our shop partners – community organizations who provide non-pantry services like hot meal sites and after-school snacks – can stop by our warehouse for free produce, bread for 8 cents/pound, and all other items for 18 cents/pound. “It’s all beneficial,” said Benny. “They can pick and choose what they can take for their programs. I think it’s impactful in that way – they have that extra variety to source from.” 

Giving our neighbors more variety and choice is always a win in our book. Plus, our Fresh Rescue program helps permanently avoid the production of harmful greenhouse gas emissions. Food Bank Fresh Rescue staff diverted four million pounds of food from rotting in landfill last fiscal year – that’s the equivalent of protecting 4,000 acres of forestland.  

Energy Efficient Improvements

Our programs aren’t the only thing keeping us green! With the generous support of Capital Campaign donors, we expanded and redesigned our San Francisco warehouse to store more fresh produce, serve more people, and save more energy. Now, we’re building on that momentum by installing solar panels at our San Rafael warehouse! 

“Solar energy is a renewable resource that produces clean electricity without emitting greenhouse gases or other pollutants. By harnessing solar power, we’ll be reducing the carbon footprint of our San Rafael warehouse and contribute to environmental sustainability,” shared Carmelo Riyel Santo-Tomas, Senior Associate Director of Facilities at the Food Bank. 

Alongside sustainability-focused building improvements, our drivers are optimizing their routes to eliminate back-tracking and save on fuel costs. And in the next year, we’re looking forward to welcoming new electric vehicles into our fleet of trucks – another move towards energy efficient transportation.  

Climate Impact in Community

We’re proud of our work to become a more climate-conscious organization, but we recognize we have a long way to go. Looking to the future, we’re continuing to explore how to reduce food waste, implement energy efficient storage and transportation, and partner alongside farmers and community organizations who share our desire for a positive climate impact.  

Just as food banks can’t end hunger alone, we can’t fight the climate crisis alone. Together with our participants, partners, staff and community, we are committed to doing our part to support the well-being of our neighbors and the planet. Happy Earth Day! 

Finding Joy with Ms. Chang

February 28, 2024

As rain drizzled down on an early Saturday morning at Florence Fang Community Garden (FFCF), Ms. Chang finished loading up her cart with groceries and beckoned us over to view her most recent crop: a bountiful patch of cauliflower! Each plant boasted a still-growing cauliflower head, already larger than an outstretched hand.  

Ms. Chang is an eight-year volunteer and five-year food pantry participant at FFCF, a Food Bank partner and beautiful one-acre community center located in Bayview-Hunters Point. “It’s a really diverse space, with all kinds of people,” Ms. Chang told us. “I live in Hunters Point, so I walk here. My motivation to come out was that I’m retired, and now I have free time! This is an opportunity to find some joy, and it’s just really fun to socialize.”  

Return of the Food Pantry 

It’s not only social hour at the farm: Ms. Chang, along with around 15-20% of other farm volunteers, stops by FFCF’s Saturday morning food pantry before beginning her farm workday. Though it was forced to close because of pandemic precautions, the pantry reopened with the support of the Food Bank back in February of 2023.  

Now, FFCF provides pantry essentials and fresh produce each week to mainly Chinese elders. It’s a much-needed service, especially as high prices persist and safety net programs are rolled back – because neighbors like Ms. Chang and her eldest daughter, whom she lives with, are already feeling the impacts. 

Ms. Chang shared her experience: “I have CalFresh, it helps me with getting groceries. It was definitely easier during the pandemic with their extra funding [emergency allotments]. But it barely holds me over now. I cope by just not buying as much – I have retirement (SSI) too, so I’m not completely depleted. It does feel like not enough sometimes, though.” 

Saturday (Farm)er’s Market 

Neighborhood pantries like FFCF help fill the gap with fresh, healthy food for thousands of neighbors across San Francisco and Marin who are facing similar difficulties. On the Saturday we visited, volunteers laid out items like rice, bok choy, beets, carrots and celery farmer’s market-style, so each participant could take or decline items as they wished. 

“It’s great to see all of the offerings and get to choose what I want to bring home. I tend to like everything, though,” Ms. Chang told us. “With today’s offerings, I’d throw together the carrots, celery, bok choy, throw some sort of meat in and make a lovely soup. It is great for bringing down inflammation in the body!” 

A Joyful Space 

Upon immigrating to San Francisco from Guangzhou, China in the 80s, Ms. Chang worked as a sewist in San Francisco Chinatown’s garment factories. Now retired, the farm offers a different, more enjoyable kind of work: “I get to do some work on the farm, grow green vegetables and romaine lettuce. I grow really big winter melons. It isn’t too strenuous, and we get to pick whatever jobs we want. Plus, I like the exercise!”  

As we talk, she helps another volunteer carry a basket of recent harvests up the hill, where they’ll be divided among the volunteers – “we all get to share our harvests with one another,” explained Ms. Chang. That’s not all they share, because food and fun go hand in hand at FFCF. Typically, Ms. Chang will volunteer with her two younger sisters, but her daughter and grandchildren also stop by occasionally: “There’s a lot of events and activities at the farm, and my family enjoys coming to these events. We throw parties, sing, dance, everything. You’ll have to come visit us when we put on talent shows!” 

After marveling at the beauty and vibrancy of the farm and learning what Ms. Chang is planting for spring (tong ho and yao choy!), we finally wave goodbye. The rain has stopped, the sun is beginning to peek out, and Ms. Chang heads back to her fellow volunteers. From the smile on her face, it’s safe to say that FFCF has built not only a flourishing farm or food pantry, but a true community on this plot of land.  

As Ms. Chang put it so succinctly: “I have a lot of friends here. Being here makes me happy.”