- 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 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Essential Food and Medicine (EFAM) | 2311 Magnolia St | 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; 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. | |
| East Bay Asian Local Development Corporation (EBALDC) |
1825 San Pablo Ave #200 |
Oakland | Reuse | Free Drop-off | Donations accepted from the public: Fresh produce; Shelf-stable/Non-perishable foods; Milk & Dairy; 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. | |
| Community Food Giveaway (Mount Zion Missionary Baptist Church) | 1203 Willow St | Oakland | Reuse | Free Drop-off | Accepts donations from the public | |
| St Michael Catholic Church Community Care Program | 458 Maple Street | Livermore | Reuse | Free Drop-off, Free Pick-up | Donations accepted from the public: Baked goods. | |
| Omni Commons | 4799 Shattuck Ave | Oakland | Reuse | Free Drop-off | Donations accepted from the public: Canned food, bottled water | |
| Falling Fruit App | PO Box 284 | Boulder | Reuse | Free Pick-up | Falling Fruit is an interactive map folks can add to and then glean of the overlooked culinary bounty of the city streets. | |
| Mercy Brown Bag Program |
1301 Marina Village Parkway Suite 210 |
Oakland | Reuse | Free Drop-off | Accepts donations from the public | |
| 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. | |
| 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. | |
| La Familia Counseling Service (Hayward Family Resource Center) |
680 W Tennyson Road Wing B |
Hayward | Reuse | Free Drop-off | Accepts donations from the public | |
| HOPE Collaborative |
2000 Franklin St 3rd floor |
Oakland | Reuse | Free Drop-off | Types of Food Accepted: Fresh produce; Shelf-stable/Non-perishable foods; Fresh/Frozen grocery requiring refrigeration; Baked goods; Meat; Milk & dairy; Cold prepared foods; Hot prepared foods; Bulk foods | |
| Copia | 1968 S. Coast Hwy | Laguna Beach | Reuse | Free Drop-off, Pick-up for a Fee | 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 | |
| Extra Food - Marin County | PO Box 150394 | San Rafael | Reuse | Free Drop-off, Free Pick-up | ||
| Open Heart Kitchen |
1141 Catalina Way Mailbox 137 (see notes for drop-off location) |
Livermore | Reuse | Free Drop-off | Accepts donations from the public | |
| 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. | |
| Food Shift |
2550 Monarch St Building 2, Wing 8 |
Alameda | 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 | |
| Food Distribution Center (Hope for the Heart) | 22035 Meekland Ave | Hayward | Reuse | Free Drop-off | Accepts donations from the public | |
| Peninsula Food Runners | PO Box 460612 | San Francisco | Reuse | Free Drop-off, Free Pick-up | Picks up excess food for free from restaurants, caterers, bakeries, hospitals, event planners, corporate cafeterias, and hotels. If you have excess food from home or a small private event, you can deliver to one of their local shelters. |
