The San Francisco Food Bank provides healthy food to alleviate hunger through three channels:

• Direct distribution through neighborhood pantries
• Opening our warehouse to agencies to “shop” for selected foods
• Relief in the event of a citywide disaster or individual crisis

We partner with over 600 community-based programs to provide food through senior and daycare centers, public schools, soup kitchens and other venues. 

 

Through our network of almost 200 pantry sites, we provide thousands with the food they need to cook healthy meals in their own homes. Weekly farmers’ market-style distributions allow clients to select the foods that best meet their families’ needs. From fresh fruits and vegetables to bread and rice, each client receives much-needed, nutritious foods that are otherwise unaffordable.

 

Over 300 nonprofit agencies come to the Food Bank weekly to select packaged groceries and fresh produce. “Shopping” at the Food Bank enables agencies to be more receptive to their clients’ particular needs, from children’s snack to hot meal programs. Some of the city’s largest meal programs, including Glide, St. Anthony’s and Project Open Hand, receive the bulk of the food they need to serve their clients from the Food Bank.

 

Approximately 66,000 people – seniors, children, parents and individuals – receive food to prepare a festive holiday meal thanks to this program.

 

The Supplemental Food Box program provides a monthly box of nutritious USDA food to low-income seniors, pregnant women, women up to one year postpartum, and children under the age of six.

 

The Emergency Food Box Program provides a three-day emergency food supply to families and individuals in crisis.

 

The Disaster Relief Program distributes emergency food supplies to low-income neighborhoods in the event of a citywide disaster.