- Businesses & Institutions: The California Organics and Recycling Law (SB 1383) requires that certain businesses & institutions must recover and donate edible food.
- Our Food Recovery Organization Directory lists verified organizations accepting edible food donations in Alameda County. Resources for other counties are available here: Contra Costa County | San Mateo County | Santa Clara County | San Francisco County
- Did you know that reducing food waste is one of the leading solutions to climate change? Go to StopFoodWaste.org for Food Saving Tips, Recipes, Resources and Tools.
- Find Food Distribution sites: Alameda County Community Food Bank Locator, Contra Costa & Solano County Locator, Palo Alto Locator
- To learn how to start your own gleaning program, see the Gleaning Guide at StopFoodWaste.org in partnership Alameda Backyard Grower's Project Pick. Find & contribute to the urban fruit and forage map FallingFruit.org.
Food for Donation
Vendors
| Vendor | Address | City | Destination | Disposal Method | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| South Palo Alto Food Closet | 670 E Meadow Dr | Palo Alto | Reuse | Free Drop-off | ||
| LiquiDonate |
149 New Montgomery St Floor 4 |
San Francisco | Reuse | Free Drop-off, Mail-in for a Fee | Non-perishable only. Commercial quantity. LiquiDonate matches and moves reclaimable items (ex. returns, liquidation, branded items, inventory, apparel, office/warehouse supplies, nonperishable food) from businesses to nonprofits, including arranging pickup or delivery. Free delivery for non-profits, business pays for delivery. | |
| Food Donation Connection |
Harvest Support Center PO Box 22787 |
Knoxville | Reuse | Free Drop-off, Free Pick-up | Manages food donation programs for food service companies including restaurants, airports, college campuses and more. | |
| Arsola's Distribution Center and Community Services | 361 105th Ave | Oakland | Reuse | Free Pick-up | Types of Food Accepted: Fresh produce; Shelf-stable/Non-perishable foods; Fresh/ Frozen grocery requiring refrigeration or freezing; Baked goods; Meat; Milk & dairy; Cold prepared foods; Hot prepared foods; Bulk foods | |
| Meal Connect (Feeding America) |
35 E Upper Wacker Dr #2000 |
Chicago | Reuse | Free Drop-off | Feeding America's MealConnect links your food donations with local nonprofits. | |
| Emeryville Citizens Assistance Program (ECAP) | 3610 San Pablo Avenue | Emeryville | Reuse | Free Drop-off | Types of Food Accepted: Fresh produce; Shelf-stable/Non-perishable foods; Fresh/Frozen grocery requiring refrigeration or freezing; Baked Goods; Meat; Milk & Dairy; Cold prepared foods; Hot prepared foods; Bulk foods. This Food Recovery Organization is willing to collect from food donors in: Alameda, Albany, Berkeley, Emeryville, Hayward, Oakland; Outside Alameda County | |
| Tri-City Volunteers (TCV) Food Bank & Mobile Pantry | 37350 Joseph St. | Fremont | Reuse | Free Drop-off, Free Pick-up | Types of Food Accepted: Fresh Produce and packed food (must be unopened, undamaged, and unexpired). Shelf-stable/non-perishable foods, Fresh/Frozen grocery requiring refridgeration or freezing, Baked goods, Bulk foods. This Food Recovery Organization is willing to collect from food donors in: Fremont, Newark, Union City | |
| The Salvation Army | 1161 S Bernardo Ave | Sunnyvale | Reuse | Free Drop-off | ||
| East Oakland Collective |
7800 MacArthur Blvd (Distribution Office) |
Oakland | Reuse | Free Drop-off | Non-perishable: Canned goods, Shelf stable/dry goods, Halloween candy. Perishable: Must come from a commercial kitchen (catering, restaurant, food service); bulk food items, individually packaged prepared or ready-made meals. No homemade foods. No expired items or nearing expiration. No damaged or open packaging. https://www.eastoaklandcollective.com/food-and-supply-distribution.html | |
| White Pony Express |
3380 Vincent Road #107 |
Pleasant Hill | Reuse | Free Drop-off | Preference for produce, dairy items, eggs, and proteins. Prefer not to receive any additional breads, baked goods, and deserts. Food Recovery Organization in Contra Costa County | |
| Daily Bowl | 525 H St | Union City | Reuse | Free Drop-off, Free Pick-up | Types of Food Accepted: Fresh produce; Shelf-stable/Non-perishable foods; Fresh/ Frozen grocery requiring refrigeration or freezing; Baked goods; Meat; Milk & dairy; Cold prepared foods; Hot prepared foods; Bulk foods | |
| Food Cowboy app | 4938 Hampden Lane | Bethesda | Reuse | Free Drop-off | Food Cowboy uses mobile technology to safely route surplus food from wholesalers and restaurants instead of landfills. | |
| Helping Others Win (formerly WOFP) | 920 Peralta St | Oakland | Reuse | Free Drop-off | Donations accepted from the public: fresh produce, frozen meats and fish, canned goods, cereal, juice, rice, pasta, snacks | |
| St. Anthony's Foundation (150 Golden Gate) | 150 Golden Gate Ave | San Francisco | Reuse | Free Drop-off | If you have large deliveries of bulk food items call ahead! | |
| First Place for Youth |
426 17th St Suite 100 |
Oakland | Reuse | Free Drop-off | Donations accepted from the public: Non-perishable food items | |
| Insight Housing |
2855 Telegraph Ave Ste 601 |
Berkeley | Reuse | Free Drop-off | Donations accepted from the public: Non-perishable food. Unopened and unexpired. | |
| Alameda Backyard Growers | 2501 Shoreline Dr | Alameda | Reuse | Free Pick-up | Project Pick. Donate the excess fruit on your backyard trees. Volunteers will leave you fruit from their pick. Has gleaning program using trained volunteers to pick backyard fruit in the City of Alameda and donate it to the City of Alameda Food Bank. Volunteer your fruit trees to be picked and/or volunteer to pick fruit. | |
| Faces of the East Bay | 4130 Telegraph Ave | Oakland | Reuse | Free Drop-off, Free Pick-up | Types of Food Accepted: Fresh produce; Shelf-stable/Non-perishable foods; Fresh/ Frozen grocery requiring refrigeration or freezing; Baked goods; Meat; Milk & dairy; Cold prepared foods; Bulk foods. | |
| Chow Match App | PO Box 460612 | San Francisco | Reuse | Free Mail-in | Fresh produce; Shelf-stable/Non-perishable foods; Fresh/ Frozen grocery requiring refrigeration or freezing; Baked goods; Meat; Milk & dairy; Cold prepared foods; Hot prepared foods; Bulk foods. Operating in San Mateo and Santa Clara Counties. | |
| Tri-Valley Haven: Haven Food Pantry | 150 N L St | Livermore | Reuse | Free Drop-off, Free Pick-up | Types of Food Accepted: Fresh produce; Shelf-stable/Non-perishable foods; Fresh/ Frozen grocery requiring refrigeration or freezing; Baked goods; Meat; Milk & dairy; Bulk foods. Cold prepared foods This Food Recovery Organization is willing to collect from food donors in: Dublin, Livermore, Oakland, Pleasanton |
