“Just go, take advantage of the resources that are available to you,” she advised, “Stay positive and in community.”
Gomez wants first-time visitors to food banks to know that staff and volunteers that work at food banks “are providing the assistance with love and empathy,” she said.
“There are a lot of people that have big hearts and are doing everything that we can to ensure that people don’t miss meals,” said Gomez.
Gomez also confirms that you won’t be asked about your documentation status in the U.S. when using ACCFB, and that you can request information via their hotline and the FoodNow.net tool anonymously.
You may see the California National Guard behind the scenes
Gov. Gavin Newsom has activated the California National Guard to support some food banks around the state during the federal government shutdown. This is similar to how the National Guard were used to assist California food banks in March 2020 at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, said Major General Matthew P. Beevers, Adjutant General for the California National Guard. “The California Military Department, under the direction of the Governor’s Office, is proud to support food bank operations across the state,” said Beevers.
Assemblymember Alex Lee (D-San José), who chairs the state legislature’s Human Services Committee with oversight of CalFresh policy, said that per Newsom’s office, the state guard “won’t be armed” when serving at food banks and will be more in behind-the-scenes logistical roles rather than being “civilian-facing.”
Lee said he also anticipated that the state guard would be “very few in numbers” at each food bank, because of the sheer number of organizations around the state needing help. And people there to use the food bank’s services “should not confuse [them] with federal troop deployment, federal agents, or ICE,” he said.
The California National Guard won’t be at every food bank, either. For example, Gomez confirms that right now, “ACCFB is not planning to utilize that resource.”
Check if you’re eligible for food assistance through WIC too
The Women, Infants and Children Supplemental Nutrition Program (WIC) provides food assistance to lower-income families who have young children or are expecting a new child, including grandparents. Like CalFresh, it’s federally funded and income-based, and you can receive WIC benefits on top of your CalFresh benefits — but unlike CalFresh, the state has confirmed that November WIC payments won’t be affected during the shutdown.
Where can I find a food bank near me?
Most food banks are not the actual site to get your meals, but rather a distributor to participating organizations, non-profits and churches.
Major food banks, like the SF-Marin Food Bank or the California Association of Food Banks, will likely have a tool online that can help you locate food resources near you. These maps or search engines can list locations ranging from large operations to small community fridges.
Volunteers distribute food items at a San Francisco-Marin Food Bank pop-up pantry in the Richmond District of San Francisco on June 13, 2023. (Beth LaBerge/KQED)
Another way to find a food bank or distribution center is to call the state’s 211 hotline.
Once you find a spot, be sure to check out the food bank or pantry online before heading out. Note what hours they are open, and for how long. Some locations are open to anyone and to walk-ins, but some may require people to register for a spot beforehand or live in a specific zip code.
Here are just some of the food banks and pantries around the Bay Area:
San Francisco
East Bay
North Bay
South Bay
KQED’s Nastia Voynovskaya and Amanda Hernandez contributed reporting to this story.