- 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 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | |
| West Oakland Food Pantry - Prescott-Joseph Center | 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 | |
| Village Harvest | P.O. Box 9231 | San Jose | Reuse | Free Drop-off | This organization accepts fruit only. For drop-off locations, visit http://www.villageharvest.org/dropoff. | |
| Lake Merritt United Methodist Church | 1255 First 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 | |
| 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. | |
| Alameda County Community Food Bank | 7900 Edgewater Dr | 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. | |
| La Familia Counseling Service (Hayward Family Resource Center) |
680 W Tennyson Road Wing B |
Hayward | Reuse | Free Drop-off | Accepts donations from the public | |
| United Eden Church of Christ - Food Pantry | 21455 Birch St | Hayward | Reuse | Free Drop-off | Accepts donations from the public | |
| Multi-Agency Service Center (MASC) | 1931 Center St | Berkeley | Reuse | Free Drop-off | Donations accepted from the public: Pantry items, dry goods, & fresh food | |
| 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 | |
| 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 | |
| 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 |
