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Tri City Food Banks
There are quite a few local resources that help distribute food to the needy. These are some that I am aware of, all compiled in one place. As I find out more, I will update this list. If you know of other places, please let me know by filling this form.
Right to Food
I came across the concept of Right to Food recently, also known as Right to Freedom from Hunger. It is a human right like Right to Life, Right to Education etc. Over 60 countries have it as a Constitutional right, and 160 countries have committed to this right by ratifying the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights.
The Right to Food is not about government providing free food. Rather, it is about food availability, accessibility and adequacy. Also, in times of war or other crisis, when food is not available, the right requires the government to provide food directly.
It is heartening to know that there is an international movement around this because hunger does not discriminate. The United States is one of the countries with no known right to food.
That does not mean that we don't have government help available. There are several public programs. For example, at our local Newark Library (37055 Newark Blvd., Newark, CA 94560), there is Free food for kids ages 1-18 at 12:30 PM Monday to Thursday. I was delighted to learn about this program because in case of adversity (homelessness, job loss, refugee etc), kids suffer the most. This program provides a safe place to receive a meal with dignity.
Got fruit trees?
If you have fruit trees and find yourself with excess food during harvest season, we can save it from going to waste. I recently learned about Village Harvest that helps people share the abundance of their gardens. It is very simple - donate the excess harvest to TCV Food Bank at 37350 Joseph St., Fremont, CA. M - Th 10:00am - 2:00pm, Fri 10:00am - 11:30am. The website also gives tips on how to harvest fruit, how to tell when it is ripe, other Bay Area locations, how can you volunteer by picking fruit, and driving.
This is a win-win situation:
Many fruit trees such as apples, persimmons, peaches ripen all at once and families are still left with excess after consuming what they can, and distributing to friends. This is a single location where they can drop off the extra fruit. They can also apply to harvesting assistance for volunteers to come pick fruit.
Having access to fresh produce and fruit is essential to the future health of this country as it provides a nutritious option to families in need. This CNN article claims "While higher-income neighborhoods have overwhelming options when it comes to fresh fruits and vegetables, low-income communities of color often live in nutritional deserts with fewer grocery stores and a higher concentration of processed foods, sugary drinks, and shelf-stable products."
Here is another place where you can donate fruit: Fremont Leaf - 55 Mowry Ave, Fremont, CA 94536. Monday mornings from 9am to 10:30am.
