Food Resources
Food Resources for Seniors and At-Risk Populations:
County of Alameda COVID-19 Food Distribution, Testing, and Services Map
Food Distribution
TCV Food Bank delivers free bags of goods (fruits, vegetables, dry goods, and other items) to the Ruggieri Senior Center (33997 Alvarado Niles Rd) on second and fourth Wednesday's each month from early January to mid-November at 1:30 pm. Pre-made bags are first come, first served. Contact Kellie Barron for more information: mobile@tcvfoodbank.org or 510.675.5495.
Spectrum Services Inc. delivers bagged lunches for seniors at the Ruggieri Senior Center (33997 Alvarado Niles Rd), Mondays through Thursdays at noon. A $3.75 donation is preferred. Recipients must be age 65 or older, and must make a reservation 24 hours in advance. For more information, contact ruggieriseniorcenter@unioncity.org or 510.675.5495.
The Alameda County Community Food Bank is operating a drive-through food pantry distribution on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm at the Alameda County Fairgrounds (4501 Pleasanton Ave Pleasanton, CA 94566). Pre-packaged emergency food bags, boxes, and/or produce will be distributed on a first come, first served basis.
Centro de Servicios provides free milk, eggs, and bread, upon availability, at 33750 6th St. Tuesdays through Fridays, starting at 10 a.m. For more information, call 510.489.4100.
Our Lady of the Rosary (703 C St) is distributing bagged dinners on Fridays from 6:00 pm to 7:00 pm.
St Vincent DePaul (3777 Decoto Rd) opens their food pantry Monday through Friday and on Sundays. Call 510.706.5852.
Food Pantry/Urgent Living Resources (Food, Diapers, Hygiene Products, and more): Call Union City Family Center at 510-476-2770; Go to unioncityfamilycenter.org
Raja Sweets & Indian Cuisine (31853 Alvarado Blvd.): Free food for Union City seniors and families in need, every day from 12:00 p.m.- 8:00 p.m.
School meals: New Haven Unified School District will have four sites available throughout the District for free “Grab and Go” breakfasts and lunches for all students. “Grab and Go” locations are: James Logan High, Cesar Chavez Middle, Alvarado Elementary, and Hillview Crest Elementary School, Mondays and Wednesdays from 7:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Grab and Go will expand to Fridays starting on September 25.
TCV Food Bank delivers free bags of goods (fruits, vegetables, dry goods, and other items) to the Ruggieri Senior Center (33997 Alvarado Niles Rd) on December 7, 15, 21, and 29 at 12:00 pm. Pre-made bags are first come, first served. Contact Kellie Barron for more information: mobile@tcvfoodbank.org or 510.675.5495.
Spectrum Services Inc. delivers bagged lunches for seniors at the Ruggieri Senior Center (33997 Alvarado Niles Rd), Mondays through Fridays at noon. A $3.75 donation is preferred. Recipients must be age 65 or older, and must make a reservation 24 hours in advance. For more information, contact ruggieriseniorcenter@unioncity.org or 510.675.5495.
Meal Deliveries:
LIFE ElderCare is a local non-profit that provides free services & support for Alameda County seniors. If you are 60+ and have no one to help you during the shelter-in-place, LIFE can provide you with Meals on Wheels, deliver groceries from the food bank (bags delivered as-is; no specific requests or substitutions), match you with a volunteer “phone buddy”, or help out with other essential support.
Please call 510-894-0370, email info@LifeElderCare.org.
CalFresh Benefits
President Biden's administration announced Monday, August 16, 2021 that it has approved a significant and permanent increase in the levels of food aid available to needy families — the largest single increase in the program’s history.
Beginning in October 2021, recipients will see their allotments through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)—known as CalFresh in California and informally known as food stamps—rise roughly 25%. It will be the largest increase in SNAP benefits in more than four decades.
The increase coincides with the end of a 15 percent boost in SNAP benefits that was ordered as a pandemic protection measure. That benefit expires at the end of September 2021. The aid boost is being packaged as a major revision to the USDA’s Thrifty Food Plan, which estimates the cost to purchase groceries for a family of four and guides the way the government calculates benefits.
To see if you are eligible for CalFresh food assistance and to apply, visit www.foodnow.net, an intake portal which is administered by the Alameda County Food Bank.
Pandemic EBT
Due to Coronavirus (COVID-19), children who are eligible for free or reduced-price meals at school will get extra food benefits. These food benefits are called Pandemic EBT or P-EBT benefits. P-EBT benefits help families in California buy food when schools are closed because of the coronavirus emergency. Families will get up to $365 per eligible child on their P-EBT card to use on food and groceries. Families can buy food in most grocery stores and farmers’ markets. Families can also use their P-EBT cards to make food purchases online.
Your immigration status is not affected if you participate in P-EBT. Learn more at https://capandemic-ebt.org/#3.