Partner with Alameda County Community Food Bank!

Alameda County Community Food Bank (ACCFB) partners with almost 400 food pantries, hot-meal programs, senior centers, and other non-profits to distribute millions of pounds of food every year. Each of our “distribution partners,” as we call them, has its own mission, tailoring their services to meet the unique needs of the community.

ACCFB is not currently accepting new partners into our network.

If you are interested in partnering with ACCFB to distribute food to the community, please fill out the New Partner Interest Form below. Updates for new partner applications will be sent to the email submitted on this form.

In the meantime, please direct community members in need of food to ACCFB through our Food Helpline, 510-635-3663, and websites foodnow.net and comidaahora.net. We can help them locate nearby food distribution sites, and we can assist with applying for CalFresh benefits.

Questions: Please see the frequently asked questions at the bottom of this page or contact ACCFB Programs Department at newpartners[at]accfb . org.

New Partner Interest List Sign Up:

When will the next new partner application cycle be open? We do not have a date for the next new partner application cycle. Please keep your contact information current. An email will be sent to the interest list when the application cycle opens up.

Where can I refer community members to access food in the meantime? Please direct community members in need of food to ACCFB through our Food Helpline, 510-635-3663, and websites foodnow.net and comidaahora.net.  We can help them locate nearby food distribution sites, and we can assist with applying for CalFresh benefits.

What type of organizations can partner with the food bank? We are able to partner with 501c3 Public Charities, Churches, schools, libraries, and many other organizations.

What are the requirements to partner with ACCFB?

To be eligible to apply for Partnership, all applicants must:

  • Operate and be in Alameda County.
  • Operate under a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization or apply as an ACCFB Program. Program applicants do not have to have a 501(c)(3) non-profit status and are usually entities such as schools, colleges or universities, libraries, or public parks.
  • Able to distribute large quantities of fresh produce and dry goods to the community (ie. multiple pallets delivery)
  • Provide food for the food insecure population at no cost.
  • Have a dedicated and secure (locked) storage space that is not operated out of a person’s home.
  • Adhere to food safety guidelines and maintain clean dry and cold storage spaces.
  • Actively promote the food program to the community. Programs accepted into the network will be listed on the food bank’s emergency food helpline and food now website and may receive regular client referrals.
  • Must enroll into ACCFB’s Client Voice Project. The Client Voice Project utilizes cloud-based case management software customized for ACCFB. The platform benefits our partners and their clients by – making client data safer and more secure; improving sign-in process efficiency; reducing wait times; enabling ACCFB and our partners to capture more insight into who we are serving and what our clients’ needs are.
  • Operate regularly scheduled hours. Special consideration will be given to those organizations that are open often and during evening or weekend hours.
  • Have dedicated staff or consistent volunteers to distribute food.
  • Safe Food Handling training (to be completed before partnership begins).
    • If you are applying with a meal or snack program that prepares or otherwise handles food, at least one active member at your food program must have a five-year Food Manager’s certification.
    • If you are applying as a pantry program that distributes packaged and unprepared food, you may wait to complete the California Food Handler Card certification after your application has been accepted.

Please know that ACCFB will give preference to the agencies that provide the following:

  • Have existing relationships with communities currently underserved by ACCFB.
  • Open to the public.
  • Able to provide evening or weekend distributions.
  • Offer clients additional services outside of food.
  • Open several days a month.
  • Provide multilingual support.
  • Build on community gathering location.

What are the benefits of partnering with ACCFB?

  • Access to fresh produce, shelf-stable items, frozen meats, and much more. Nearly all food items are free of charge.
  • Shopping at ACCFB’s Community Market
  • Delivery or pick up for qualifying agencies on a recurring basis.
  • Quarterly network meetings where partners can problem solve and share best practices.
  • Eligibility to apply for capacity-building grants.
  • Invitations to free training opportunities and skill-building sessions on topics such as food safety, volunteer management, de-escalation, and succession planning.
  • Advocacy resources to engage your community members in shaping state & local policy on issues impacting our community.
  • Food Recovery Program – connects partners to retailers to pick up free food and non-food products.
  • Nutrition Programming – access to a nutrition education program, including educational materials and programmatic support.
  • Food Helpline – telephone hotline that provides same-day, emergency food referrals and referrals to special food programs.
  • CalFresh Outreach – our team can help families with the application process to help ensure they receive benefits.

Questions: Please contact ACCFB Programs Department at newpartners[at]accfb . org.