Community Food Bank

Alameda County Community Food Bank helps residents connect with groceries, hot meals, and assistance with CalFresh applications. This article explains how to request food help, what the emergency food helpline provides, how the Food Bank works with local distribution partners, and which contact handles each type of inquiry. It also covers office hours, transportation, volunteer requirements, food donations, and the different arrangements for small collections and larger food drives.

Alameda County Community Food Bank Services

The Alameda County Community Food Bank, also known as ACCFB, works with community partners to address hunger and its root causes. Its services include connections to food providers, CalFresh application assistance, food distribution through partner agencies, and opportunities for residents and businesses to support that work. The organization’s stated mission is to partner with the community to end hunger, with a vision of an Alameda County where all people are nourished and thriving.

The Food Bank’s distribution network includes more than 350 agency partners. These partners include food pantries, meal programs, shelters, and child and senior care centers. Together, the network provides up to one million meals worth of healthy food each week. For someone seeking food, the practical entry point is the food assistance service, which connects callers with a nearby provider.

Food assistance, volunteering, donations, and agency food orders have different contact routes. Choosing the route that matches your purpose helps direct your question to the appropriate team. A resident seeking groceries should use the emergency food helpline, while someone organizing a collection should contact the Food Drive Team. Businesses offering food donations have a separate food industry contact.

Food Help for Today

The Food Bank’s Get Food page directs people who need food today to its helpline. The service connects callers with a source of groceries or a hot meal on the same day they call. This makes the helpline the most direct contact for a resident whose immediate concern is obtaining food.

The helpline operates Monday through Friday, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Staff can assist callers in multiple languages. If you leave a message, the Food Bank says it will call you back and connect you with a nearby food provider the same day you call. The helpline number appears in the contact list at the end of this article.

When speaking with the helpline, explain whether you are seeking groceries or a hot meal. That distinction matches the two types of assistance the service identifies. The helpline provides a connection to a food source; the same-day statement concerns that referral and should not be read as a promise of a grocery delivery or a particular distribution appointment.

Before traveling, establish which provider you have been connected with and where you need to go. The Food Bank’s Oakland office address and the location of a neighborhood food provider serve different purposes. A referral to a nearby food source is the information that matters when planning a trip to obtain groceries or a meal.

Language Assistance and Return Calls

Multiple-language assistance is available through the helpline. Callers who need that support can raise the request when contacting the service. The same helpline handles food assistance inquiries, so the general office, volunteer team, and donation contacts do not need to be used as separate entry points for finding food.

If your call reaches a message service, leave a message that allows staff to return your call. Keep the helpline’s weekday hours in mind when arranging contact. The Food Bank describes its callback service as a way to connect people with a nearby provider on the day they call.

Summer Meals for Children

The Get Food page also identifies free summer meals for children under 18 and provides an option to find a nearby meal site. Families looking for this service should use the summer meal information on that page. It is a seasonal service with a stated age limit, distinct from the general helpline’s grocery and hot meal referrals.

CalFresh Application Assistance

The Food Bank offers help with CalFresh applications. CalFresh is a nutrition program that helps families obtain healthy meals. Application assistance is a separate service from an immediate food referral, so residents can identify which kind of help they are seeking when contacting the organization.

Two options appear on the Get Food page. The first lets users answer a few questions to see whether they pre-qualify. The second allows users to request contact from the Food Bank so staff can check their eligibility. These options provide different ways to begin a conversation about CalFresh: an initial question-based screening or a request for staff follow-up.

A pre-qualification result should be understood as an initial screening. The page describes the service as application assistance and says that its help can improve the chance of approval. It does not describe the Food Bank’s screening as a final benefits decision. Keeping screening and application assistance separate from approval helps prevent confusion about what an initial response means.

CalFresh screening hours are Monday through Friday, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Those hours match the emergency food helpline schedule. Someone who needs food today can use the food referral service while also asking about CalFresh application help; the two services address different needs.

The Distribution Network and Food Programs

The Food Bank’s mission and distribution information explains the role of its partner network. Food moves through a range of community settings, including pantries and meal programs. This network is central to how the organization reaches residents throughout Alameda County.

The variety of partner settings also explains why a request for food begins with a connection to an appropriate provider. A pantry, meal program, shelter, or care center has a different role within the network. The helpline helps connect an individual caller with a nearby food source rather than requiring that person to sort through the entire partner network independently.

The Food Bank also identifies a Food as Medicine program that provides medically supportive food to people with chronic conditions and bills healthcare through the CalAIM Initiative. This is a distinct program within the organization’s work. It should not be confused with the general helpline’s groceries and hot meal referrals or with CalFresh application assistance.

Food recovery is another part of the distribution operation. The organization brings recovered food to its agency partners while addressing the environmental effects of food waste. Businesses interested in contributing food have a dedicated donation route, separate from the contacts used by residents requesting food.

Office Visits, Hours, and Transportation

The Food Bank’s contact and directions page separates office hours from service-specific schedules. The office operates Monday through Friday, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Emergency food assistance and CalFresh screening end at 4 p.m., so the office’s later closing time should not be used to plan a call for either service.

Other activities follow their own schedules. Warehouse deliveries are handled Monday through Friday, from 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Volunteer shifts are listed Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. A delivery, volunteer visit, and general office inquiry therefore require attention to different hours.

For visitors taking public transportation, the directions identify BART to the Coliseum station followed by AC Transit line 98. The bus stops on Edgewater Drive near the Food Bank. The volunteer page describes the same connection through Coliseum/Oakland Airport and AC Transit line 98.

The organization has both a street address and a mailing address. Use the street address when planning an office or scheduled volunteer visit, and the mailing address for correspondence. Both appear in the final contact list. For food assistance, obtain the provider connection through the helpline before treating the office address as your destination.

Volunteering at the Food Bank

The Food Bank volunteer page welcomes individuals and groups and provides a schedule and sign-up options. Warehouse volunteers help sort and pack fresh produce. Volunteers who are comfortable with heavy lifting are also needed to help agency partners load their vehicles at the warehouse.

Volunteer participation begins at age 10. The stated supervision requirement is one adult for every five youth, and volunteers ages 15 through 17 may participate on their own. These age and supervision rules are especially relevant for schools, clubs, and families organizing a group visit.

Volunteers must be age 10 or older.

Youth participation requires one adult for every five youth; ages 15–17 may volunteer independently.

Closed-toe shoes are required, and shoes must cover the entire foot.

Warehouse work includes sorting and packing produce, with additional opportunities involving heavy lifting.

Use the posted schedule to choose a shift before arranging your visit. A group organizer should account for participant ages, the required adult ratio, and footwear when preparing the group. Questions about volunteering belong with the volunteer contact in the final list.

The volunteer page also identifies opportunities at partner agencies throughout Alameda County, where volunteers help distribute food at neighborhood distributions. Those community opportunities are distinct from warehouse shifts at the Food Bank. The page additionally describes advocacy and organizing opportunities and a Community Ambassador role for volunteers interested in representing ACCFB.

Community and Business Food Donations

The food donation page distinguishes community donations from food industry business donations. Community collections involve nonperishable food gathered at sites across the county. The Food Bank brings that food to its warehouse, sorts it, and distributes it through its network.

The Food Bank does not accept every type of donated food. Its donation page directs donors to food donation guidelines and drop-off information. Review those instructions before assembling a donation so your collection matches the organization’s acceptance rules and reaches the appropriate location.

Food industry donations can come from large manufacturers, retail distributors, small businesses, and grocers. The Food Bank provides a separate route for these donations, with policies, procedures, and a dedicated food industry contact. A business donation should therefore be coordinated through that team rather than treated as a small community drop-off.

For people considering buying food specifically to donate, the Food Bank encourages financial contributions. It explains that money allows it to negotiate purchases and prioritize foods communities want, including fresh produce, eggs, dairy, and culturally appropriate foods. This option is useful when the purpose of the purchase is solely to support distribution.

Food Drives and Collection Sizes

The food drive requirements provide two different arrangements based on collection size. A food drive gathers nonperishable, canned, or dry foods for distribution through the Food Bank’s partner network. The amount a group expects to collect determines which arrangement fits its campaign.

Barrel Drives of 300 Pounds

To host a barrel-based food drive, organizers must commit to collecting at least 300 pounds of food. The Food Bank describes that quantity as three full barrels or approximately 20 grocery bags. This arrangement is best suited to large events, school-wide collections, or businesses with more than 100 employees.

Drivers schedule barrel delivery for the campaign and pickup at the end of the drive or when the barrels are full. Organizers should coordinate those arrangements with the Food Drive Team. The 300-pound commitment is a requirement for this larger collection format, so it should be considered before requesting barrels.

Collections Below 300 Pounds

For a collection below 300 pounds, the Food Bank directs organizers to use their own containers and take the food to a food drive drop-off location. It identifies this approach as suitable for first-time drives, pantry cleanouts, and smaller collections involving neighbors, coworkers, classes, clubs, or teams.

This distinction gives small groups a way to contribute without committing to a barrel campaign. Estimate the scale of the collection before selecting the format, then follow the drop-off information provided through the food drive page. Warehouse delivery hours and community drop-off arrangements should not be treated as interchangeable.

Virtual Food Drives

A virtual food drive raises money rather than collecting food in containers. The Food Bank explains that these funds help purchase foods that cannot be collected in barrels, including milk, eggs, and fresh produce. It states that each dollar helps provide two meals through its purchasing power.

Financial Gifts and Donation Changes

The Food Bank giving page provides options for financial support, including one-time and monthly gifts. It also describes donations by check, stock, and donor-advised funds. For a check donation, the page instructs donors to complete the donation form and mail it with their check.

Donation questions can be directed to the donation contact below. Existing recurring donors can log in to the Supporter Center to edit their gift or contact the donation team. Phone assistance for recurring donation changes is available Monday through Friday, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Keep the purpose of the transaction clear when selecting a contact. A financial gift, an industry food donation, and a community food drive each have a different route. Using the corresponding team helps donors coordinate the contribution and avoids directing donation questions to the food assistance helpline.

Food Bank Office and Contacts

Alameda County Community Food Bank — 7900 Edgewater Drive, Oakland, CA 94621; Mailing Address: PO Box 2599, Oakland, CA 94614 — 510-635-3663

Volunteers — 7900 Edgewater Drive, Oakland, CA 94621 — 510-635-3663 ext. 308

Food Drive — 7900 Edgewater Drive, Oakland, CA 94621 — 510-635-3663 ext. 318

Food Industry Donations — 7900 Edgewater Drive, Oakland, CA 94621 — 510-635-3663 ext. 605

Donations — PO Box 2599, Oakland, CA 94614 — 510-635-3663 ext. 111

Community Food Bank FAQs

Does the Food Bank provide materials to promote a food drive?

Yes. The food drive page offers a printable 8.5-by-11-inch flier and an 11-by-17-inch poster. Organizers can use these materials to promote a collection at a school, workplace, or community event. The page also includes a list of foods the community wants and a link to food drive FAQs. Review that list when preparing your announcement so participants have guidance about what to contribute.

Can students request help with a school project?

The Food Bank directs students to project guidelines linked from its contact and directions page. Read those guidelines before requesting assistance; the supplied information does not specify interview availability, response times, or which projects staff can support. That page also provides a separate form for requesting a Food Bank speaker. A student research request and a speaker request have different starting points, so choose the option that fits your assignment or event.

How does the Food Bank protect online donations?

According to its giving page, the Food Bank uses industry-standard SSL technology to protect donation information. Begin through that official page when making a gift online. Its donation FAQ addresses security directly, allowing donors to review the organization’s stated protection before entering payment details.

What tax identification number should donors use?

The Food Bank lists its federal tax identification number as 94-2960297. Use that number when a donation form or charitable giving arrangement asks you to identify the recipient organization. The number identifies the Food Bank; it does not establish whether a particular contribution qualifies for a deduction on your tax return.