Who uses the Food Bank?

The clients of the Alameda County Community Food Bank are many different people from many different backgrounds and socio-economic standings. The food bank acts as the hub of a collection and distribution network that serves over 275 non-profit organizations in Alameda County. The non-profit organizations that benefit from the Food Bank include, food pantries, soup kitchens, child-care centers, senior centers, after-school programs and other community-based organizations. These organizations provide over 300,000 meals a week to those in need.  The clients of the organization are benefitted by the Food Banks, emergency food hotline that will directly connect those with urgent need to food within hours, the food stamp education program , where people can call in and get assistance filling out their application for food stamps in many languages, as well as, hunger and nutritional education programs. 


In orientation, Sheila the volunteer coordination made sure to stress that the food bank supplies food to ALL those in need. One does not have to be a parent with children, a veteran, or any fit into any specific category, the food bank will do whatever it takes to supply those with a direct need with food. 1 in 5 families in Alameda County partake in the food supplied by the Food Bank, so I would imagine that there is a wide range of social backgrounds. One story Sheila told us was about a father who had lost his job recently and called into the help line to see about getting supplies so that he could provide his small son with a birthday party. The Food Bank was able to direct this man to a pantry that could give him supplies of buns and hot dogs, along with ingredients to make his son a birthday cake. Small experiences like this are able to provide those that are struggling with the small pleasures of life that they may have forgotten about in the midst of their hardships.


During my time volunteering, I have also learned a lot about the Cal Fresh system (formerly known as Food Stamps). The Cal Fresh program is available to anyone, the amount one recieves just depends on your income, expenses and family size. Contrary to beliefs, someone can earn money from a job, be getting unemployment benefits, be recieving general assistance, get child support, be already a part of CalWORKs, get disability, have savings, own retirement accounts, have education savings. All these things do NOT omit someone from recieiving benefits from Cal Fresh. Owning a house or car does not disqualify you either. One must fall into a monthly income limit to qualify ($1,174.00) per one person and it goes up in increments from $406.00 a month per person in the household. Immigrant parents with U.S. citizen children can apply on behalf of their children. One must just have a social security number and meet other guidelines. 


The people who are using food provided by the Food Bank seem to have very little other alternatives, yes they may be able to get assistance from another small organization, but it seems the Food Bank has the most organized and reliable source of food available. Much of the food produced goes to programs at schools in the county where children can take home care packages to provide their family with a meal. Children seem to be the most affected by this organization, without the programs provided by the Food Bank many children would not get a meal. Since my time at the Food Bank, I have made many homeless and begging individuals aware of the programs provided by the Food Bank. Instead of giving money out to these people I have provided them with cards that list a 1-800 number that will connect them with a specialist that can let them know where they can have food delivered to them or walk to a pantry. Then these individuals can save money to focus on finding a place to live rather than having to worry about a meal day to day.


It seems many of the people affiliated with the food bank are very concerned with empowering the people they help, they recognize it is an awkward situation to have to admit that a person needs assistance. The employees here want to make providing food to people as comfortable and least embarrassing as possible. I'd assume many people do not make use of this organization due to pride or embarrassment, so the fact that the volunteers and program directors try to focus on making it a non-threatening and easy exchange is nice.