Category: Uncategorized

Remembering Gary Maxworthy, a Titan of Food Banking

April 3, 2026

Each year, the Farm to Family program delivers more than 300 million pounds of fresh fruits and vegetables to food banks statewide to help nourish local communities

Gary Maxworthy transformed a sector. His work impacted hundreds of thousands of families in need by asking a bold question: why couldn’t food banks provide fresh fruits and vegetables grown in California for neighbors in need? 

Gary was charismatic and always had a twinkle in his eyes. He loved people and helped you believe anything was possible.  He was a man whose vision, and unwavering devotion to helping all in our community access healthy fruits and vegetables revolutionized how California food banks operate. He passed away on April 1, 2026. 

After more than three decades in the food distribution business, Gary came to the San Francisco Food Bank at 56 after the loss of his first wife. His children encouraged a change, and volunteering soon became a compass for new purpose. He joined AmeriCorps as a VISTA volunteer, with his first and only assignment at the San Francisco Food Bank.  

Armed with a mission-driven commitment to address the growing problem of hunger, Gary channeled his grief into actions that strengthened our community. 

Gary drew on his deep expertise and quickly saw what needed to change. Food banks at the time relied mostly on canned and packaged goods, while food distributors were sending millions of pounds of fresh produce to landfills every year because it was considered a surplus harvest — nutritious but not photogenic produce.  He knew that if everyone worked together, something transformative could happen. 

Gary believed people facing hunger deserved access to the same fresh fruits and vegetables as anyone else. He was determined to make that happen, even if it meant years of driving up and down Central Valley roads and throughout California to talk with farmers about donating their excess food. In 2000, Gary’s idea took shape as Farm to Family, a groundbreaking program that connects California growers directly with food banks.  

Today, Farm to Family serves nearly every food bank in California. Last year, San Francisco-Marin Food Bank secured 39 million pounds of food through the Farm to Family program, bringing more than 71 types of delicious fruits and vegetables into our neighbors’ homes. The innovative program he launched at San Francisco-Marin Food Bank has now scaled across California, greatly expanding access to fresh, healthy food for those who are food insecure. Each year, the program delivers more than 300 million pounds — about 9,000 tractor trailer loads — of fresh fruits and vegetables to food banks statewide to help nourish local communities

Thanks to Gary, more than 70 percent of what San Francisco-Marin Food Bank provides to participants is fresh produce.  This is the gold standard in food access — providing desired, fresh, culturally responsive produce — a dramatic shift from the canned and packaged food of the past, and a change that continues to set us apart nationwide.

Gary and Radha met through their shared passion for the Food Bank — and even held their wedding at our San Francisco warehouse.

For 23 years, Gary poured his heart into the San Francisco-Marin Food Bank. His colleagues remember the way he led with care, mentored the next generation of food bankers and never lost sight of the heart of this work and who really mattered: the participants we serve.  

Gary’s connection to the Food Bank also led to new pathways in his life. He met a kindred spirit in Radha Stern, who shared his commitment to help those struggling to put food on their tables. It was not just the Food Bank’s mission; it was a personal one for the couple. Their connection to the Food Bank was so deeply rooted, they held their wedding at our San Francisco warehouse. 

Gary’s legacy lives on with every moment neighbors enjoy nutritious produce from a community market. It lives on when families gather around a table for a meal made from fresh groceries from our Neighborhood Pantry Network.And it lives on when a parent selects food of their family’s preference at a partner’s farmer’s market style pantry, packing a delicious nectarine into their child’s school lunch. So many in the communities we serve, and across California, thrive because of the transformational work that Gary started.   

We are deeply grateful to have had Gary as part of our Food Bank family.  

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. 

Food Bank Update: Government Shutdown Community Response

October 29, 2025

We are deeply disappointed to learn that Congress has not taken the necessary steps to ensure people receive their Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) payments in November as the government shutdown persists.  

90,000 households of working families, single parents, seniors, veterans, and more who rely on SNAP in San Francisco and Marin to put food on their tables will not receive their benefits starting Nov. 1 due to the government shutdown.  

One in five Californians are at risk of hunger. We are already in a hunger crisis that this lapse in benefits will only serve to exacerbate.  

We also know many members of our community are experiencing increased fear about accessing food due to heightened immigration concerns. Food is a human right. No one should have to worry about their safety when accessing food. We believe in food for all, regardless of immigration status and we stand in solidarity with all in our community.  

This is why we are actively collaborating with our partners and local agencies in preparing to mobilize a temporary emergency Shutdown Community Response plan of action. We are firm in our commitment to serve those impacted during this period of a government shutdown. More details of our response are being developed. Additionally, we don’t plan to engage the National Guard in our efforts.  

We are unapologetic about providing food for all. In the face of this shutdown we are resolute in our efforts to make sure people have the food they need today and will continue to work for policies that eliminate – not cause – hunger. 

We cannot do this alone. We encourage all to stand with us, with families and our neighbors who require our help. Now, more than ever, we will need the support of our entire community. Visit www.sfmfoodbank.org to donate or volunteer.  

Individuals impacted by the SNAP delays can visit our food locator:  https://www.sfmfoodbank.org/find-food/ where we will post more information as it becomes available. 

Chris on Doubling His Impact Through Workplace Giving

October 9, 2025

When the pandemic hit, Chris and his wife, Stephanie, could not stop thinking about their neighbors. How would people get by when so much of daily life had been upended, suddenly struggling to make ends meet? 

“In the early days of the pandemic, our first thought was that there will be many people in our community who might not be able to meet their most basic needs and certainly food is one of those,” Chris said. “We wanted our support to reach people quickly and reliably, and the San Francisco-Marin Food Bank was the best way to do that.” 

That reliability mattered because Chris knew one thing for certain: without food, nothing else is possible. “It’s foundational,” he said. “When people know they’ll eat, everything else — school, work, caring for yourself and your family — gets easier. Investing in food is investing in dignity and opportunity. We all live in this community together and collectively we have a vested interest in the strength of its members.” 

Why Food Security Matters 

Chris knows from personal experience that food insecurity puts tremendous strain on families. “There were times in my life as a child where our family just barely had enough for the basics,” he shared. “It puts a tremendous amount of stress on the family.” 

Seeing the Food Bank step up during the pandemic, along with his own memories of growing up, convinced Chris to donate regularly. He was also drawn to the Food Bank’s ability to make gifts go further, turning every dollar into enough food for two meals. 

On top of that, Chris discovered he could stretch his donations even further through his employer’s matching gift program. “Most large employers offer matching gifts for charitable donations,” Chris said. “In my case the company was good at informing employees of our giving options, including matching gifts. The process was simple, I submitted an online request with proof of my donation and within a few weeks, a matching gift was processed.” 

That simple step made a big difference. “It’s the simplest multiplier I know,” Chris said. “Taking the time to fill out a form turns one gift into two. In the case of the Food Bank, that translates directly into more groceries for more people right away.” 

Encouraging Others to Act 

Chris hopes more people will take advantage of workplace giving, because he has seen how much it can multiply the impact of a single gift. A few minutes spent submitting a form to your employer can mean twice as many meals for a neighbor in need. 

 “It all helps,” he said. “What you may consider small may be the difference between a child, a senior, or any person having something to eat in a day or nothing at all. We live in a community that’s blessed with large amounts of resources, but it’s important to remember that not everyone has access to the same benefits, and they can use your help. Give to what you care about. For us, it’s food security because it impacts a most basic human need.” 

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.  

Carolyn & Stephen’s Smart Giving

August 8, 2025

A lot has changed since Carolyn and Stephen started giving to the Food Bank in 1995, but their commitment to making an impact — and Carolyn’s passion for smart financial giving — hasn’t wavered. 

“I’m obsessed with learning about financial tactics and trends,” says Carolyn, a former financial professional with Wells Fargo and Charles Schwab.  

This expertise drove her to ensure her donations had the greatest impact, and the Food Bank stood out as one of the most efficient ways to help. 

“We feel like our dollars really make a difference here,” Carolyn says. “The Food Bank is one of the most efficient ways to get aid to people. With all the food given to the community, our contributions go even further. We were like, wow, this is even more than we thought in terms of efficiency and really giving directly to people who need help.” 

After touring the Food Bank’s San Francisco location, Carolyn and her husband, Stephen, felt even more invested in its mission. And, when the pandemic hit, they wanted to do more than donate. 

“I’m a high-energy person, and I wanted to help,” Carolyn says. “And there were so many people who needed it.”

Over the course of lockdown and social distancing, she and Stephen spent hundreds of volunteer hours packing bags of food to ensure that no one went hungry. 

“The Food Bank is a great way to donate with your hands,” Stephen says. “It’s one of the few organizations where you can actually be on the ground with the people receiving services.” He loves that the Food Bank “encourages donors to be part of the action.” 

Stephen and Carolyn are also inspired by how far their donations go at the Food Bank. Since only about 6% of food is directly purchased by the Food Bank, donated food provides most of the supply, allowing us to operate more efficiently.  

Making Donations Go Further 

Given her financial know-how, Carolyn knows a good deal when she sees one. That’s why she donates to the Food Bank in stock instead of cash. 

“It’s good for the Food Bank, and it’s good for me too,” she says. 

Donating stock lets you avoid capital gains taxes while still getting a full tax deduction for the total market value. That means the Food Bank gets more, and you save money. 

An Easy Way to Make an Impact 

Donating appreciated stocks, bonds, or mutual funds is one of the smartest ways to give: it’s tax-efficient, fully deductible, and helps get more food to neighbors in need. And with the Food Bank’s online tool, making a stock donation takes less than five minutes. 

For anyone feeling nervous about trying a new way to donate, Carolyn offers a reassuring message:

“If it sounds complicated, give it a try once,” she says, “and you’ll realize it’s really not that difficult.”

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.”