Food Assistance Update

November 05, 2025

Support Available for Families Impacted by CalFresh (SNAP) Benefit Pause

As the federal government shutdown continues, many Oakland families are seeing a pause in their CalFresh or Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits. If your household is affected, help is available. 

Local food banks, community partners, and neighborhood organizations across Oakland are working together to provide access to nutritious food. 

Governor Gavin Newsom has also announced steps to fight hunger. The state is sending help from the California National Guard and California Volunteers to support food banks and providing $80 million in extra funding to keep food moving to people who need it most.

Below is a list of resources and ways to contact OHA for help finding support. 

Where to Find Help

Statewide and Online Resources

• Call 2-1-1 to locate the nearest food pantry or distribution site.
• Alameda County Community Food Bank – visit FoodNow.net or call 510-635-3663 for information on distribution times and same-day meal options.
• Check your CalFresh account at benefitscal.com or the EBT Edge app to see your current balance. You can keep using your remaining benefits, but new funds won’t be added until federal funding resumes.
• If you’ve run out of benefits, call Alameda County Social Services at (510) 263-2420 for emergency or replacement CalFresh benefits. (Source: KTVU) 

Local Food Distributions*

*Source: Hope Collaborative

West Oakland

• HOPE Collaborative x Third Eye Meal Distribution
  Sparc it Place (3427 San Pablo Ave)
  1st, 3rd, and sometimes 2nd Sundays from 2:30–5:00 p.m.
• CURYJ – 1600 7th St
  Tuesdays from 11:00 a.m.–1:00 p.m.
• West Oakland Punks with Lunch – 35th and Peralta
  Sundays from 3:30–5:30 p.m.
• The Grocery Program (Peoples Programs) – bi-monthly grocery delivery.
  Email: info@peoplesprograms.com
• Community Kitchens Meal Programs – 2300 Valdez St
  Sunday–Thursday, 11:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m.

Uptown + Downtown

• St. Vincent de Paul Free Dining Room – 2272 San Pablo Ave
  Lunch served Tuesday–Saturday at 10:45–11:40 a.m. and 12:00–12:45 p.m.
• Chinatown Grocery Program (Community Liberation Programs)
  Serving elders in Chinatown through grocery delivery.
  Email: communityliberationprograms@protonmail.com 

North Oakland

• St. Vincent de Paul Free Dining Room – 2272 San Pablo Ave
  (See times above.)
• Mercy Brown Bag Program – 5714 Martin Luther King Jr. Way
  2nd and 4th Thursdays from 9:00–10:00 a.m.
  For seniors with income under the poverty line.
• Monster Pho in Oakland – 360 40th St
  Families on SNAP get a 25% discount, and their children who are 12 years-old and younger get a free meal (Source: KTVU)

East Oakland

• St. Vincent de Paul Free Dining Room – 2272 San Pablo Ave
  Lunch served Tuesday–Saturday at 10:45–11:40 a.m. and 12:00–12:45 p.m.

• Hot Meals from Unity Council
  Fruitvale Transit Village, 3301 E. 12th St | Wednesdays, 10 a.m.
• East Oakland Collective
  7800 MacArthur Blvd | Tuesdays & Thursdays, 11 a.m.
• FREEdom Store (Homies Empowerment)
  7637 MacArthur Blvd | Tuesdays & Wednesdays, 10 a.m.–3 p.m.
  (Register by calling 510-729-2072 on Mondays or Wednesdays, 12–3 p.m.)
• Rainbow Recreation Center Grocery Giveaway
  5800 International Blvd | Tues., Thurs., Sat., 11 a.m.–1:30 p.m. (first come, first served.

Need Help Navigating Resources?

The Oakland Housing Authority (OHA) Family & Community Partnerships (FCP) team is here to help residents connect to food and other support services.
Call: (510) 587-5110
Email: FCP@oakha.org

OHA remains committed to supporting residents during this federal shutdown and to help provide residents and families with access to healthy, affordable food.