Food Banks and Pantries in San Jose, CA
Second Harvest of Silicon Valley serves San Jose, CA with an estimated 900 partner pantries and meal programs. Anyone in need can get free groceries or a hot meal — ID and income requirements vary by site (some ask for photo ID or proof of address, others only your ZIP code and household size), and first-time visitors are usually served regardless of documents. Call the site or 211 to confirm before you go.
Last updated:
San Jose at a Glance
900
Partner pantries & meal sites
Second Harvest
Regional Feeding America food bank
4
Notable sites listed below
211
Free pantry locator hotline
How to Get Free Food in San Jose
San Jose is served by Second Harvest of Silicon Valley, the Feeding America member covering Santa Clara and San Mateo counties. It distributes food through more than 900 partner sites, one of the largest networks in the country. Sacred Heart Community Service and Marthas Kitchen are the best-known direct-service providers downtown. The food bank also runs one of the largest mobile pantry programs in California.
Regional Food Bank: Second Harvest of Silicon Valley
The primary Feeding America member food bank serving the San Jose, CA area. It distributes food to an estimated 900 partner pantries, soup kitchens, and meal programs across Santa Clara and San Mateo counties in the San Francisco Bay Area.
Map is an independent Google search of the area — not a map of the listings on this page, and its pins may include businesses we don’t list. The listings on this page span the greater metro area including nearby towns; each listing’s address line shows the town it is actually in.
Notable Pantries and Meal Sites in San Jose
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
Marthas Kitchen serves free hot meals daily at 795 S 1st St in downtown San Jose. Loaves & Fishes Family Kitchen operates meal service on West San Carlos Street. CityTeam San Jose offers meals and pantry items on Zanker Road. Second Harvest of Silicon Valley supplies many smaller church kitchens across Santa Clara County.
Mobile Pantry Program
Second Harvest of Silicon Valley operates a Mobile Pantry program that delivers truckloads of fresh produce and staples to underserved neighborhoods across Santa Clara and San Mateo counties, including East San Jose, Gilroy, and East Palo Alto. The schedule rotates weekly and is posted on shfb.org. Distributions are first-come first-served.
SNAP / Food Stamp Outreach
Second Harvest of Silicon Valley provides CalFresh (SNAP) outreach and application assistance at its warehouses and partner sites. Staff help residents apply through BenefitsCal. The California SNAP hotline is 877-847-3663, and applications can be completed at benefitscal.com.
How to Find a Pantry Near You in San Jose
Call 211 to reach the California helpline for a referral to the nearest Second Harvest partner pantry. Visit shfb.org for the find-food locator, or use feedingamerica.org/find-your-local-foodbank. Sacred Heart Community Service at 1381 S 1st St is a reliable same-day option.
More Food & Benefits Guides
Frequently Asked Questions
Where can I get free food today in San Jose?
Do San Jose food pantries require ID?
Where can homeless people get hot meals in San Jose?
How do I apply for CalFresh in Santa Clara County?
Does Second Harvest deliver food to homebound seniors in San Jose?
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