One of the Alameda Community Fund clients is the Alameda Food Bank. We have supported capital equipment requests to fulfill their mission.

Having served Alameda for over four decades, the Alameda Food Bank is now open three days a week, Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Most client visits are by appointment but they can accommodate walk-ins. Each family has an account and is allowed one shopping visit a week. Customers check in before shopping where the status as an Alameda resident, Alameda student or Alameda worker, and last visit are checked. Shopping carts are used to allow the customer to get a real shopping experience to help avoid the feel of getting handouts or charity. The main store area has dry goods, frozen, refrigerated and produce. A special protein section for meat and other foods is available. Infant items like disposable diapers and formula are available. When a family or customer is finished there is a similar checkout procedure like that at Costco.

Behind the scenes is just as large as the shopping area including two walk-in refrigerators, each with a freezer section. The new facility under construction across the street will have freezers large enough to accommodate forklifts, making receipt, storage and distribution of frozen and refrigerated product much easier and faster. Volunteers were working quickly to get the store ready for business by 10:30 AM. Everyone seemed to know exactly what to do – very well coordinated.

The picture array displays the new and future facilities, some of the over 600 volunteers and the leadership team.