Food Banks and Pantries in San Francisco, CA

How to Get Free Food in San Francisco

The SF-Marin Food Bank is the regional Feeding America member serving San Francisco and Marin counties through roughly 265 community partners. Anyone in need can get free food at a partner site with no income requirement at most locations. Call 211 or use the food bank website find-food map to locate the nearest pantry or mobile distribution.

Regional Food Bank: SF-Marin Food Bank

The primary Feeding America member food bank serving the San Francisco, CA area. It distributes food to an estimated 265 partner pantries, soup kitchens, and meal programs across San Francisco and Marin counties.

Notable Pantries and Meal Sites in San Francisco

This is a sample of well-known sites. For a full, current list of all pantries near you, use 211 or the food bank website above.

Soup Kitchens and Community Meals

The SF-Marin Food Bank partners with a robust network of soup kitchens and meal programs across San Francisco, including the St. Anthony Foundation Dining Room in the Tenderloin, which serves thousands of meals daily, and Martin de Porres House of Hospitality in the Mission. Many churches and community centers run free community meal nights. Most meal sites welcome anyone in need with no questions asked and many also hand out groceries.

Mobile Pantry Program

The SF-Marin Food Bank operates a Mobile Pantry Program that brings fresh produce, dairy, and shelf-stable goods to neighborhoods, senior centers, and public housing across San Francisco and Marin on a rotating schedule. Stops focus on food deserts and areas far from a fixed pantry. Schedules are posted on the food bank website and updated monthly.

SNAP / Food Stamp Outreach

The SF-Marin Food Bank offers free SNAP application assistance at its main facility, partner sites, and community events across San Francisco and Marin. Staff help residents complete applications, gather documents, and prepare for interviews, and they offer pre-screening so applicants know their likely benefit amount. Help is available in English, Spanish, and Chinese.

How to Find a Pantry Near You in San Francisco

Call 211 in California, visit sfmfoodbank.org and use the Find Food map, or call the food bank at 415-282-1900. The Feeding America locator at feedingamerica.org/find-your-local-foodbank also covers San Francisco. Most pantries require no appointment, but hours change, so call ahead.

More Food & Benefits Guides

• SNAP / Food Stamps guide (general)
• WIC (Women, Infants & Children)
• EBT card guide -- how it works
• Free meals & community kitchens
• P-EBT & Summer EBT (SUN Bucks)

Frequently Asked Questions