Coronavirus Increases Hunger: Find A Food Bank In Alameda County

ALAMEDA COUNTY, CA — When you look around Alameda County, it’s easy to see the effects the coronavirus has had on our way of life. What’s less visible is the number of people who are now worrying about having enough to eat.

Feeding America, the nation’s largest hunger relief organization, says coronavirus-related economic crises could push the number of food insecure Americans to 54 million by year’s end. That’s 17 million more Americans than who were food insecure before the pandemic. For some, it’s a matter of running short on grocery money before the week is out and eating a lot of boxed pasta and rice dishes.

For others, food insecurity means real hunger.

In Alameda County, about 150,140 residents — 9.1 percent —were considered food insecure before the pandemic, according to Feeding America’s “Map the Meal Gap” interactive study.

Job loss and other economic crises associated with the coronavirus could push the rate of food insecurity in Alameda County to 13.9 percent by the end of the year.

Feeding America, whose 200 member food banks include Alameda County Community Food Bank, reports both higher demand for services and more need for volunteer and donor support.

Here are food resources in Alameda County:

• Alameda: Alameda Food Bank, 650 W. Ranger Rd., Alameda CA 94501
• Berkeley: Berkeley Food Pantry, 1600 Sacramento St., Berkeley CA 94702
• Berkeley: The Church by the Side of the Road, 2108 Russell St., Berkeley CA 94705
• Castro Valley: Resurrection Greek Orthodox Church – Food Pantry, 20104 Center St., Castro Valley CA 94546
• Cherryland: Eden United Church / Food for Cherryland, 21455 Birch St., Hayward CA 94541
• Dublin: Open Heart Kitchen – Soup Kitchen, 7500 St. Patrick Way, Dublin CA 94568
• Fremont: Tri-City Volunteers, 37350 Joseph St., Fremont CA 94536
• Hayward: Hope for the Heart, 22035 Meekland Ave., Hayward CA 94544
• Hayward: South Hayward Parish, 27287 Patrick Ave., Hayward CA 94544
• Livermore: Las Positas College – Food Pantry, 3000 Campus Hill Dr., Livermore CA 94551
• Livermore: Open Heart Kitchen of Livermore, 678 Enos Way, Livermore CA 94551
• Livermore: Open Heart Kitchen – Vineyard Christian Fellowship, 460 N. Livermore Ave., Livermore CA 94551
• Livermore: Tri-Valley Haven Food Pantry, 418 Junction Ave., Livermore CA 94550
• Newark: Viola Blythe Community Center, 37365 Ash St., Newark CA 94560
• Oakland: City Team Ministries, 722 Washington Ave., Oakland CA 94607
• Oakland: ECAP/Everyone’s Community Action Program, 3610 San Pablo Ave., Oakland CA 94608
• Oakland: Fremont High School – Mobile Pantry (MoPa), 4529 Foothill Blvd., Oakland CA 94601
• Oakland: Harbor House Ministries, 1811 11th Ave., Oakland ca 94606
• Oakland: Lake Merritt United Methodist Church, 1330 Lakeshore Ave., Oakland CA 94606
• Oakland: Last Phase Loaves and Fish Food Program, 1060 32nd St., Oakland CA 94608
• Oakland: Oakport Drive-Thru Pantry, 7195 Oakport St., Oakland CA 94621
• Oakland: Prescott Joseph Center, 920 Peralta St., Oakland CA 94607
• Oakland: St. Augustine’s Episcopal Church525 29th StOakland CA 94609
• Oakland: St. James Episcopal Church/Iglesia de Santiago, 1540 12th Ave., Oakland CA 94606
• Oakland: St. Lawrence O’ Toole, 3725 High St., Oakland CA 94619
• Oakland: Taylor Memorial Church, 1188 12th St., Oakland CA 94607
• Oakland: Telegraph Community Center, 5316 Telegraph Ave., Oakland CA 94609
• Pleasanton: Alameda County Fairgrounds Drive-Thru Pantry, 4501 Pleasnton Ave., Gate 8, Pleasanton CA 94566
• Pleasanton : Open Heart Kitchen, 1225 Hopyard Blvd., Pleasanton CA 94566
• Pleasanton: Open Heart Kitchen – Soup Kitchen, 4444 Black Ave., Pleasanton CA 94566
• San Leandro: Ashland Village – Mobile Pantry, 1300 Kentwood Lane, San Leandro CA 94578
• San Lorenzo: Prophetic Teacher Intercessory Church, 16490 Kent Ave., San Lorenzo CA 94580
• Union City: Los Robles Apartments, 32300 Almaden Blvd., Union City CA 94587

RELATED: Millions Made Hungry During Pandemic Could Include Your Neighbor

Food insecurity is often thought of as a “poor people’s problem,” but not all people living in poverty are food insecure, and not all food insecure people live in poverty. Food insecurity is a complex issue sandwiched in with other systemic challenges, including poverty, low wages, affordable housing shortages, chronic and acute health problems, high medical costs and social isolation.

“Our members are reporting that many of the people they’re serving have never sought food assistance before,” Kathryn Strickland, Feeding America’s chief network officer, told Patch. “Some people are reporting that people who formerly donated to food banks are now seeking assistance.”

Patch has partnered with Feeding America to help raise awareness on behalf of the millions of Americans facing hunger. Feeding America, which supports 200 food banks across the country, estimates that in 2020, more than 54 million Americans will not have enough nutritious food to eat due to the effects of the coronavirus pandemic. This is a Patch social good project; Feeding America receives 100 percent of donations. Find out how you can donate in your community or find a food pantry near you.