San Francisco-Marin Food Bank to Expand Community Market Initiative with $2M Grant from Visa Foundation
Investment will help the San Francisco-Marin Food Bank grow its Community Market program to 10 sites, providing free, dignified access to fresh food for up to 8,000 households each week
SAN FRANCISCO — September 22, 2026 — The San Francisco-Marin Food Bank today announced plans to expand its Community Market Initiative from four to 10 locations across San Francisco and Marin counties, supported by a $2M investment from Visa Foundation. The expansion will help provide up to 8,000 households each week with free, dignified access to fresh food in welcoming, grocery-store style settings.
The Community Market model reimagines traditional food distribution by allowing neighbors to shop for groceries in a supermarket-style setting that is open multiple days each week with extended hours daily. Participants can choose fresh produce, proteins, and staples based on their own household needs and preferences, an approach that ensures dignity and choice to the experience of accessing food assistance. Community Markets are more than a place to access groceries. They also connect participants to supportive services, including public benefits enrollment, housing support, job training, and other community programs.
“With food insecurity on the rise in San Francisco and Marin, Community Markets are new ways to connect families to food as well as the supportive services that address other needs they are experiencing,” said Tanis Crosby, Executive Director of the San Francisco-Marin Food Bank. “With Visa Foundation’s support, we can bring the Community Market experience to more neighborhoods, giving more households the ability to choose fresh, nourishing food and to build pathways to mobility.”
“The Bay Area is home to Visa. These are our neighborhoods, and we have a responsibility to invest back in the community that has given us so much,” said Oliver Jenkyn, Group President, Visa. “The San Francisco-Marin Food Bank is turning that commitment into real impact by making nutritious food easier to access with dignity and choice. Visa Foundation is proud to support the Food Bank as it brings this innovative model to more families across San Francisco and Marin.”
The expansion comes as the Bay Area continues to see elevated demand for food assistance, with many households facing the ongoing effects of rising living costs as well as the impact of recent cuts to SNAP (CalFresh in California). It is estimated that 19,000 residents in San Francisco and Marin are at risk of losing their CalFresh benefits due to new federal cuts and eligibility requirements that could result in $43 million in lost benefits and $64 million in lost economic activity. By scaling the Community Market model to 10 locations, in collaboration with community-based organizations, the Food Bank aims to meet more neighbors where they are, reducing barriers such as transportation and accessibility.
As expansion begins, the San Francisco-Marin Food Bank will continue to work closely with community partners, city and county officials, and volunteers to ensure the markets reflect the needs and cultures of the neighborhoods they serve. A portion of the funds will directly support those community partners who co-lead Community Markets.
About the San Francisco-Marin Food Bank
The San Francisco-Marin Food Bank’s mission is to end hunger in San Francisco and Marin counties. Together with a network of 265 community partners, we provide fresh, nutritious groceries to 46,000 households weekly, as well as CalFresh outreach, home-delivered groceries, and advocacy efforts to change systems and policies that perpetuate hunger. For more information visit San Francisco-Marin Food Bank website.
About Visa Foundation
Visa Foundation seeks to support inclusive economies where individuals, businesses and communities can thrive. Through grantmaking and investing, Visa Foundation prioritizes the resilience and growth of micro and small businesses around the world. The Foundation also supports broader community needs and disaster response in times of crisis. Visa Foundation is registered in the U.S. as a 501(c)3 entity. For more information visit Visa Foundation website.
Media Contacts:
Jean Paul Zapata
San Francisco-Marin Food Bank
Jzapata@sfmfoodbank.org
(415) 797-2892
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