31 Oct Where to Find Free Food in Contra Costa County Amid Looming SNAP Delays

Volunteers package food at San Francisco Marin Food Bank in San Francisco on Friday. The food bank is trying to highlight the need for emergency food aid amid the federal government shutdown. (Alise Maripuu / Bay City News)

By Samantha Kennedy

More than 107,500 people in Contra Costa County, or somewhere around 65,000 households, are set to experience a delay in CalFresh benefits amid the ongoing federal government shutdown, which has now lasted for 30 days and counting. County supervisors are proposing a $21 million plan that would replace benefits for the month, but there would still be a few days without benefits.

CalFresh, California’s version of the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program and probably better known as food stamps, is set to run out of money on Nov. 1, according to Gov. Gavin Newsom and the United States Department of Agriculture.  

Federal judges ruled Friday that the government must use emergency funds to pay for SNAP in November, but questions still remain around when and how much of benefits could be disbursed. 

In the meantime, state and local officials around the Bay Area are offering aid where they can. 

San Francisco is covering November benefits for its residents. Alameda County residents can visit FoodNow.net to find food banks and other resources. Santa Clara County will send $4.5 million to its food bank, Second Harvest of Silicon Valley. The Marin Community Foundation has launched the Food on Every Table fund to aid residents in that county. 

Newsom is fast-tracking $80 million and the state National Guard to food banks. 

The National Guard won’t be assisting the Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano — at least at first — partially over concerns around associations with immigration enforcement.  

For those in a position to help, the Concord-based White Pony Express is holding a special food drive through the month of November to “help ensure access to nutritious groceries.”  

Contra Costa supervisors next week will consider a two-phased approach that would replace CalFresh benefits for the month.

Beginning Monday, the county would distribute additional food at Employment and Human Services locations, according to the plan. On Nov. 10, the county would begin issuing replacement benefits on debit cards. 

To supplement any potential replacement benefits and bridge the gap until recipients receive them, we’re providing a list of free food distribution sites and discounts for those in East and West Contra Costa County.

Immigration Concerns?  

No personally identifiable information will be shared with the government or outside parties, except when application information is shared with the county if a person chooses to apply for CalFresh, according to the food bank. “The Food Bank will do everything in our power to protect you and give you the food you need,” it says in its FAQ.  

Partner food pantries and soup kitchens all have their own privacy policies and should be contacted for more information. 

In Richmond and San Pablo, residents who are affected by increased ICE activity can participate in the Richmond Area Mutual Aid’s free grocery delivery program, which you can sign up for on their website.  

You can search for all free food locations and find their contact information at the food bank’s database online. Or you can call (855) 309-3663. Sites should be contacted ahead of time to confirm details and any eligibility requirements.

Antioch 

A complete list of locations, contact information, and operation hours can be found on the food bank’s Antioch page.  

• Contra Costa Event Park, Fairgrounds, at 1201 W. 10th St. (Mobile Pantry) 

• Antioch Health Center at 2335 Country Hills Drive (Community Produce) 

• CalFresh Office (EHSD) at 4545 Delta Fair Blvd. (Community Produce) 

• First Family Church (Drive-Thru) at 3195 Contra Loma Blvd. (Partner Pantry) 

• Grace Closet at 3415 Oakley Road (Partner Pantry) (Note: This food pantry is open Saturdays, unlike many other locations.) 

• Genesis Church (Drive-thru) at 1800 Woodland Drive (Partner Pantry) 

• Support Life Foundation: Antioch at 2001 W. 10th St. (Partner Pantry) 

• Visions Christian Center at 330 Worrell Road (Partner Pantry)

Bay Point 

A complete list of locations, contact information, and operation hours can be found on the food bank’s Bay Point page. 

• Ambrose Community Center at 3105 Willow Pass Road (Community Produce and Mobile Pantry) 

• Rio Vista Elementary School at 611 Pacifica Ave. (Community Produce) 

• Our Lady Queen of the World Church at 3155 Winterbrook Drive (Partner Pantry) 

• East County Resource Coalition, Bay Area Community Resources at 204 Bailey Road (Partner Pantry) 

El Sobrante 

A complete list of locations, contact information, and operation hours can be found on the food bank’s El Sobrante page. 

• Moose Lodge #550 at 4660 Appian Way (Mobile Pantry) 

• Salvation Army at 4600 Appian Way (Partner Pantry) 

• St. Callistus Catholic Church at 3580 San Pablo Dam Road (Partner Pantry)

Pittsburg 

A complete list of locations, contact information, and operation hours can be found on the food bank’s Pittsburg page. 

• Buchanan Park at 4150 Harbor St. (Community Produce) 

• Pittsburg City Park at 60 Civic Ave. (Community Produce and Mobile Pantry) 

• First Baptist Church at 224 Linda Vista Ave. (Partner Pantry) 

• Diane Avenue Church of Christ at 283 Diane Ave. (Partner Pantry) 

• St. Vincent de Paul Society Pittsburg at 2210 Gladstone Drive (Partner Pantry) 

• WIC Pittsburg at 2311 Loveridge Road (Community Produce) 

Richmond 

A complete list of locations, contact information, and operation hours can be found on the food bank’s Richmond page. 

• Booker T. Anderson Center at 960 S. 47th St. (Community Produce) 

• John F. Kennedy High School at 4300 Cutting Blvd. (Community Produce) 

• Living Hope Neighborhood Church at 2800 Rheem Ave. (Community Produce and Partner Pantry) 

• Southside Church of Christ at 1501 Florida Ave. (Mobile Pantry) 

• Support Life Foundation: Richmond at 1110 36th St. (Partner Pantry) 

• Richmond Civic Center at 24 Barrett Ave. and 25th St. (Mobile Pantry) 

• Richmond Emergency Food Pantry at 2369 Barrett Ave. (Partner Pantry) 

• True Fellowship Baptist Church at 1213 Fred Jackson. (Partner Pantry) 

San Pablo 

A complete list of locations, contact information, and operation hours can be found on the food bank’s San Pablo page. 

• Contra Costa College at 2600 Mission Bell Drive (Mobile Pantry) 

• Davis Park Community Center at 1651 Folsom Ave. (Community Produce)  

• San Pablo City Hall at 1000 Gateway Ave.  

• San Pablo Food Pantry at 2301 Rumrill Blvd., Room 27 (Partner Pantry) 

• Anchor of Life Church at 2707 17th St. (Partner Pantry)

For Students 

All California K-12 students receive free breakfast and lunch each school day. Students at Los Medanos College in Pittsburg and Contra Costa College in San Pablo can get free food from their school’s corresponding basic needs department. Check each department’s website for program offerings, hours, and exact locations (as they may change or be approximate due to campus layouts). 

• Contra Costa College’s Compass Market at One Comet Way, near lots 1 and 2, at 2600 Mission Bell Dr. in San Pablo.  

• Los Medanos College’s Marketplace at 2700 E. Leland Road in Pittsburg, in the portable building.  

• Diablo Valley College’s Basic Needs at 321 Golf Club Road in Pleasant Hill, in the Student Services Center, Room 206; and at 1690 Watermill Road in San Ramon, in the West Building of Room 125.  

• CSU East Bay’s Food Pantry at 4700 Ygnacio Valley Road in Concord, in the Academic Services Building; and West Loop Road in Hayward, in Student Health and Counseling Services, Room 1118.  

• UC Berkeley’s Basic Needs Food Pantry at 2495 Bancroft Way in Berkeley, lower level of the Martin Luther King, Jr. building.  

For Seniors 

• Antioch Senior Center at 415 W. 2nd St in Antioch 

• First Family Church at 3195 Contra Loma Blvd. in Antioch 

• First AME Community Church at 2915 Willow Pass Road in Bay Point 

• Church of Good Shepherd, St. Vincent de Paul at 3200 Harbor Road in Pittsburg. Serves those living south of Highway 4.  

• Diane Avenue Church of Christ at 283 Diane Ave. in Pittsburg. Serves those living north of Highway 4.  

• Corrine Sain Senior & Family Community Center at 515 Silver Ave. in Richmond 

• Southside Church of Christ at 1501 Florida Ave. in Richmond 

• San Pablo Library’s Community Room at 13751 San Pablo Ave. in San Pablo 

Prepared Meals 

These locations offer free prepared meals to residents who may not be able to prepare their own.  

• The American Legion Hall (Loaves and Fishes) at 403 W. 6th St. in Antioch 

• Light Ministries Church Soup Kitchen at 415 W. 6th St. in Antioch 

• Saint Vincent de Paul at 1415 Simpson Court in Pittsburg 

• First Baptist Church Sunrise Cafe at 204 Odessa Ave. in Pittsburg 

• GRIP Souper Center at 165 22nd St. in Richmond 

• The Redman-Pochantas Hall (Loaves and Fishes) at 1403 Main St. in Oakley

Other Discounts 

Local churches and businesses may also offer free or reduced-price food to residents that can supplement food received from pantries. In Antioch and Concord, OG Tacos is offering those with an ID and a SNAP card free tacos dorados — up to three meals per family — starting in November. 

Online food delivery services are also offering discounts to those who receive benefits.  

DoorDash will waive delivery and service fees for approximately 300,000 orders across select grocery stores, and Gopuff will give $50 off groceries, paid out in two separate $25 credits, during the month.