Food Pantry

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About this Event

About this event

We are in unprecedented times with the COVID-19 pandemic affecting our communities. The Lake Merritt United Methodist Church (LMUMC) Food Pantry has been serving the Oakland community and Alameda County for over 35 years by providing free food to individuals and families. The Food Pantry distributes fresh produce and nutritious shelf stable food and protein. We continued the work of the food pantry without missing a beat with modifications to our typical procedures to ensure safety for volunteers and community members seeking food. We are pleased to return to our client choice model where visitors can select what they want for these last three months of 2021.

Volunteer Shifts:

Distribution Set Up: Friday before distribution at 12:30 -1:30 pm.

A small team of volunteers are needed to assist in setting up stations for food distribution the next day. Note that the work space allows for good social distancing in most spaces and frequent hand washing.

Food Distribution: Saturday (Jan-Oct 4th Saturday of the month, Nov & Dec 3rd Saturday of the month) 8:00-11 am

A team of volunteers are needed to staff various stations for check in, food distribution, and clean up on Saturday. Additional projects such as preparing hygiene kits and preparing food for Lake Lunches may also take place. Note that the work space allows for good social distancing in most spaces and frequent hand washing.

Language Interpreters: We are also seeking individuals who are able and willing to serve as language interpreters in the primary languages of the food pantry visitors including Cantonese, Mandarin, Vietnamese, and others.

Please indicate if you are volunteering with a group and/or if you able to support as a language interpreter. Email Rose Lynn at liftconcertoakland@gmail.com for more information for groups and language interpreters.

Needs and volunteer requirements are subject to change.

We serve a vulnerable population where most of our visitors are senior citizens. Due to COVID-19 spread concerns, we requiring proof of vaccine for all those eligible and masks to be worn at all times. Hand washing or sanitizing before, during, and after volunteering is required.

Why and Impact

Hunger is a serious problem in Alameda County. 1 in 5 families in the county rely on ACCFB Agencies for food. Our Food Pantry fills an important need in the Lake Merritt area. An average of 430 families come for food each time, with an aggregate total for the year of almost 10,000 families. Last year, we distributed 127,910 pounds of food to these families, including 55,775 pounds of fresh produce. The ACCFB supplies the fresh produce free of charge and subsidizes the cost of the shelf stable food. We are staffed completely by volunteers from the church and community; students from several Oakland youth organizations volunteer regularly, as do a number of the food recipients.

Other Ways to Support:

Donate to our food programs on a one-time or recurring basis.

Donate to Hygiene Kit Supply Drive

Join us at the 7th Annual LIFT Concert on Saturday, May 14 at 1 pm www.bit.ly/liftconcert