After 57 years of service, the Berkeley Food Pantry, or BFP, closed its doors Jan. 31 following an unsuccessful merger with the Berkeley Food Network, or BFN.
Operating out of the Berkeley Friends Church, or BFC, as a ministry, the BFP has been running its nonprofit services since 1969. The organization has provided a selection of USDA foods — including shelf stable goods, frozen meat and a range of produce — to 4,000 Berkeley and Albany residents facing food insecurity per month. BFP worked in partnership with Natural Grocery, Thistle and Alameda County Community Food Bank, or ACCFB.
In July 2025, BFP announced that a partnership had been reached with the BFN in order to combat federal cuts to Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, benefits. However, on Dec. 3, the BFC reported that the two organizations had mutually agreed to conclude talks of incorporating BFP’s services with the BFN.
In a press release, the BFP said the “structural requirements for a successful transition” would have exceeded the resources available to both companies. Such concerns cited the recent government shutdown and increasing needs for food assistance.
In an interview with Berkeleyside, BFN Executive Director Andrew Crispin said the decision was made by the pantry’s oversight committee. Following the October 2025 government shutdown during which SNAP benefits were delayed, Crispin said BFN saw a 40% increase in traffic.
“BFP has been vital in supporting the Berkeley and Albany communities by addressing food insecurity with compassion and care,” ACCFB Program Coordinator Katie Hin said in an email. “Their commitment to providing food with respect and dignity has built a lasting legacy. We are grateful for all they have done to serve the community.”
The California Association of Food Banks estimated that 175,009 Alameda County residents receive CalFresh benefits.
In 2025, the BFP told Berkeleyside it received a 36% increase in pantry visits that year alone.
UC Berkeley students can access the Basic Needs Center’s food pantry in the Martin Luther King, Jr. Student Union once per week. There are numerous other local resources for individuals in need, such as the ACCFB’s “food locator” and Emergency Food Hotline at 510-635-3663. Additionally, the BFN is open on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
On the state level, CalFresh offers food benefits for people from low-income households.
Berkeley offers hot meals for senior citizens over the age of 60, as well as the women, infants and children program that provides nutritional and health services. The Meals on Wheels program offers frozen meals for seniors over 60 on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays.