As Bay Area grocery prices skyrocket and families recover from the recent federal shutdown, thousands of CalFresh recipients are relying on food pantries to prepare meals during the holidays, especially Latino households across San Francisco, who build their meals around fresh, culturally specific ingredients.
Most of the city’s food pantries receive their stock from the San Francisco–Marin Food Bank, one of the largest in the region, while Second Harvest of Silicon Valley distributes to pantries across Santa Clara and San Mateo counties.
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Inside one of the San Francisco–Marin Food Bank warehouses near Bayview–Hunters Point, large pallets are stacked with boxes of sweet corn, eggs, strawberries, eggplant, mandarins and oatmeal. Dozens of volunteers line up in blue plastic gloves, filling green grocery bags with 20 to 25 items each.
The food bank expects to distribute between 800 and 1,000 bags that day alone, many going to households still recovering from the shutdown or too afraid to grocery shop amid recent ICE activity in the Bay Area. Across the region, the food bank distributes 21,000 to 30,000 pounds of fresh produce each week to more than 250 neighborhood pantries, including The Women’s Building, Mission Food Hub, Casa de Barro, the Salvation Army Mission and many others.
Staff say offering fresh produce through a “choice-based” model is essential because it allows families to select foods they know how to cook and that align with their cultural traditions. For Latino households preparing dishes like tamales, pozole or enchiladas, that distinction matters.
At The Women’s Building, pantry coordinator Citlali Ramos expects demand to grow as the holidays approach. “We definitely see the need people have for food,” she said, adding that their pantry also connects people with wellness and social services. “That’s really important for us.”
Below is a list of nine San Francisco food pantries offering fresh produce and staples essential for Latino holiday cooking.
How to sign up for free food
To receive free food, most San Francisco pantries require reservations through the Plentiful app, and many do not accept walk-ups. Each household can reserve one weekly pickup. Seniors, disabled adults, pregnant people and some parents may qualify for home-delivered groceries. For alternate pantry options, use the Food Locator too. For help signing up, call or text the San Francisco–Marin Food Bank at (415) 824-3663.
El Mercadito (Little Market)
1050 Van Ness, San Francisco, CA 94110
El Mercadito was displaced from Alabama Street during the pandemic and later relocated to Mary’s and Martha’s Church on South Van Ness. The pantry works directly with farmers in Half Moon Bay, Salinas, Gilroy and Chico. Operated by Mission Action, it offers a market-style approach with a robust selection of fresh produce, meats, grains and other culturally relevant ingredients. They serve ZIP codes 94103, 94112 and 94110.
Distribution Day: Saturdays
Date of Distribution: 12/06, 12/13, 12/20, 12/27
Distribution Time: 11:00am-2:00pm
The Women’s Building
3543 18th Street, San Francisco, CA 94110
This Monday-morning food pantry has operated for more than a decade and now served more than 268 households each week. “There’s always been food insecurity,” said Citlali Ramos, the volunteer and pantry coordinator, adding most families who visit are Latino and come seeking fresh produce, chiles, herbs, squash and fruits. “We also have a large portion of the Asian community that we serve, so it must be culturally appropriate for both.”
Distribution Day: Mondays
Dates of Distribution: 12/08, 12/15, 12/22, 12/29
Distribution Time: 9:00am-10:00am
Mission Food Hub
701 Alabama Street, San Francisco, CA 94110
Created in May 2020 at the height of the pandemic, the Mission Food Hub was built to serve Latinos in San Francisco’s Mission District . It continues to provide culturally relevant groceries every Friday, primarily to immigrant families. During the height of COVID, it served more than 9,000 households three times per week. Founder Roberto Hernandez describes the pantry as a way for the community to have access to food in a dignified way.
Distribution Day: Fridays
Date of Distribution: 12/05, 12/12, 12/19, 12/26
Distribution Time: 11:00am-2:30pm
Potrero Hill Neighborhood Community Center
953 De Haro Street, San Francisco, CA 94107
Known as “The Nabe”, thie century-old nonprofit serves newly arrived immigrants. In partnership with the San Francisco-Marin Food Bank, it has provided fresh groceries to more than 150 families and seniors every week since 1986, rain or shine.
Distribution Day: Wednesdays
Date of Distribution: 12/10, 12/17, 12/24
Distribution Time: 12:00pm-2:00pm
Salvation Army Mission
1325 Valencia Street, San Francisco, CA 94110 (Garage @ 24th St & Orange Alley)
A longstanding food pantry offering groceries and social services to families and seniors. Their pantry is stocked with fresh vegetables and meat during the Christmas season, its busiest time of the year. It operates from the Reality SF, which also runs a food pantry every Saturday from 9am-10am .
Distribution Day: Thursdays
Date of Distribution: 12/04, 12/11, 12/18, 12/25
Distribution Time: 8:00am-9:00am
Casa de Barro
3811 Mission Street, San Francisco, CA 94110
Founded in 2008 during the recession, this pantry serves primarily Latino households. Led by Pastor Miguel Nunez, it operates out of the Free Methodist Church near Holy Park in Bernal Heights.
Distribution Day: Saturdays
Dates of Distribution: 12/06, 12/13, 12/20, 12/27
Distribution time: 8:30am-10:30am
Grace Fellowship Community Church
3265 16th Street, San Francisco, CA 94103
Every Saturday, the San Francisco-Marin Food Bank drops off large pallets of produce to this pantry, which serves about 135 people. Seniors, immigrant families, students and unhoused residents all rely on its produce.
Distribution Day: Saturdays
Dates of Distribution: 12/06, 12/13, 12/20, 12/27
Distribution Time: 1:30pm-2:30pm
The Father’s House
269 Zoo Road, San Francisco, CA 94132
Located near Lake Merced, The Father’s House opened in 2020 and offers a market-style pantry that accommodates working families. It serves all San Francisco County ZIP codes. Visitors must bring a photo ID with a current residential address, or a photo ID and a piece of mail showing proof of residency.
Distribution Day: Thursdays
Dates of Distribution: 12/11, 12/18, 12/25
Distribution Time: 5:00pm – 6:15pm
El Centro Bayview Pantry
1329 Evans Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94124
Housed inside the MCN Inspiring Success in the India Basin Plaza, this pantry serves primarily Spanish-speaking families. It also connects visitors to MCN’s wide-range of resources rooted in their 125-year local history.
Distribution Day: Fridays
Dates of Distribution: 12/05, 12/12, 12/19, 12/26
Distribution Time: 11:00am – 12:00pm