Community Food Donations

BFN accepts unopened, unexpired shelf-stable donations and some backyard produce from community members at our 1925 Ninth Street warehouse Monday through Friday from 9:00am – 12:00pm and 1:00pm-4:00pm.

Individual Donation Guidelines

Our most desired items are:

✅ Canned meats

✅ Shelf-stable milk and alternative milks 

✅ Coffee and tea 

✅ Ready-to-eat snacks

✅ Dried noodles 

✅ EZ-open soups 

✅ Nut butters

✅ Nuts and dried fruits 

We cannot accept:

❌ Perishable foods (e.g. frozen meals, bread, produce)

❌ Sodas/sugar-sweetened beverages

❌ Pet Foods

❌ Alcohol

❌ Dietary supplements including protein powder, vitamins, and medicine

❌ Baby formula

Backyard Produce

Do you have a fruit tree? We also accept tree fruit (lemons, oranges, plums, apples, pears, persimmons, etc.) that are whole, fresh, and unspoiled. Contact our partners at Oakland Gleaners for support with picking efforts.

Food Drives

We partner with local businesses, schools and community groups for food drives that support our shelf-stable sourcing. Donation guidelines above.

For the holidays, we have food donation barrels stationed at local businesses throughout Berkeley.

Here are our current holiday barrel locations:

  • Artis Coffee: 1717 Fourth St B, Berkeley, CA 94710
  • Ironworks: 800 Potter St, Berkeley, CA 94710
  • Residence Inn: 800 Potter St, Berkeley, CA 94710
  • Albany YMCA: 921 Kains Ave, Albany, CA 94706
  • Berkeley YMCA: 2001 Allston Way, Berkeley, CA 94704
  • The Freight: 2020 Addison St, Berkeley, CA 94704
  • 24 Fitness El Cerrito: 10636 San Pablo Ave, El Cerrito, CA 94530
  • Berkeley City Hall: 4th Floor Lobby, 2180 Milvia St, Berkeley, CA 94704,
  • BUSD: 2020 Bonar Street, Berkeley, CA 94702
  • Rosa Parks Elementary School: 920 Allston Way, Berkeley, CA 94710

Questions or interest in hosting a food drive?

Please email sourcing@berkeleyfoodnetwork.org, or call the Operations Team at (510) 255-0134.

Are you a business or organization interested in donating food? Go here.

Sign up for our mailing list to receive updates about the Berkeley Food Network and how to get involved in our community.