Spotlight on Free & Low-Cost Grocery Programs

Author: Elizabeth Soriano

November 3, 2025

Two individuals being produce at the farmers' market

Do you find that grocery prices are just too high? Are you in search of free and low-cost grocery programs? Read this article to learn more about food resources available in San Francisco at little or no cost to you!

In San Francisco, there are several different types of food/grocery programs; and they vary on what they provide. During the COVID shelter-in-place and quarantine period, many food programs responded to an increased demand of food services due to a variety of reasons (such as decreased access to markets, financial strains due to lay-offs, health concerns, etc.).^1,2Since then, many programs have experienced a decrease in funding; and, consequently, they have had to reduce their resource availability. Fortunately, there are still active programs, and in this article, you’ll find a variety of food resources that are still serving individuals and families. See below for more information on Free Grocery Stores, Free Food Pantries, and Free Hot Meals.

Free Grocery Stores

You can find Free Grocery Stores that invite individuals and families to “shop” in a grocery store as you would in any other market, but at no cost to the shopper. This option allows individuals and families to make the decision on what they would like to receive from a food program, and it allows them to pick the groceries they prefer to consume. The District 10 (D10) Community Market is San Francisco’s first-ever government-funded free grocery store located in the Bayview neighborhood, and they are committed to providing a free grocery market experience for those experiencing hunger that is centered in dignity, culture, and nutrition.³ To be eligible for this resource, you must be a resident of 94124, 94107, or 94134 that receives public assistance (including programs such as CalFresh, Medi-Cal, CalWORKs) or is otherwise low-income (as defined by earning less than 300% of the Federal Poverty Level), and have children in the household or have a diet-related illness.⁴ To get connected to the D10 Community Market, you need to be referred by a community organization in the Market’s referral network [such as Community Youth Center, Bayview YMCA, Community Awareness Resource Entity (C.A.R.E.), Samoan Community Development Center (SCDC), and more]; a full list can be found on their website linked at the bottom of this article.⁵

Figure 1. Farmer's Market 1 Person Looking at Oranges¹²

Free Food Pantries

Another source of free groceries that can be accessed in different areas of San Francisco, and other cities as well, are food pantries (also called food banks, food distributions, food closets, etc.). Typically, you can find an assortment of groceries at a food pantry ranging from dairy products to meat products to canned goods. The style of distribution varies from pantry to pantry: some places give out pre-selected boxes of food, some allow participants to select from their available stock, some are drive-thru only, and so on. When deciding if a food pantry may be a good fit for you, take note of their distribution style and if there’s any special requirements geared towards a specific group that they serve (families with children, seniors, low-income individuals, etc.). Always confirm eligibility requirements directly with the food pantry by checking their website or contacting them.

SFSU On-Campus Food Pantry:

Associated Students Food Pantry & Gator Groceries is an emergency food program open Monday-Thursday for students to pick up free food at the bottom floor of the Cesar Chavez Student Center! Students can select from the pantry’s available stock, and they kindly ask that students bring their own bags/boxes/carts to collect and transport their groceries in an effort to reduce waste. Follow their Instagram @as_foodpantry_sfsu for updates on weekly in-stock groceries.⁵ Students are able to go on a walk-in basis to the Food Pantry and Gator Groceries during their new hours for the Fall semester:
- Mondays: 12pm-6pm
- Tuesdays - Thursdays: 11am-5pm
- Closed Fridays

Off-Campus Food Pantries:

YMCA (San Francisco and South San Francisco) hosts food pantries at several branches throughout SF and SSF to serve youth, adults, families and seniors that are facing food insecurity. On their website, you can find more information on their food pantry locations, hours of operation, and distribution style.⁶ Please note some of their locations require sign-ups before access to resources. The YMCA recommends that you connect with branches and leads before coming to Food Pantry days.
The Haight Ashbury Food Program is committed to serving all that come by, whether that means serving you as a pantry customer or helping you find the pantry partner closest to you. More information can be found on their website, including their typical pantry offerings, eligibility criteria (Note: They do not turn people away for lack of ID or permanent physical address), and hours of operation.⁷
The SF-Marin Food Bank has a few different food programs, including Free Weekly Groceries, Emergency Food, Supplemental Food for Seniors, and Home-Delivered Groceries. To access their food pantries (a part of the Free Weekly Groceries program), visit to their Food Locator webpage or call them at (415) 824-3663 to find the nearest free food pantry.⁸ When attending a food pantry, please bring your photo ID or a proof of address (if ID isn’t up to date).

Figure 2. Kitchen Preparations by 2 Chefs¹²

Free Daily Meals:

If you are looking for hot prepared meals, instead of groceries, a resource that may be better suited is a dining hall program. The programs listed below serve free hot meals during their meal service hours. Before visiting, please contact the program to confirm their hours of service.

GLIDE’s Daily Free Meals program (located at 330 Ellis St., San Francisco, CA 94102) serves three meals daily, at the times listed below. There are no eligibility requirements, all are welcome. Clients are not required to complete an intake form prior to receiving a meal.⁹ You can contact them at (415) 674-6000.
- Breakfast: 8:00am – 9:00am [open 7:30am – 8:00am for early breakfast serving seniors, families, and adults with disabilities]
- Lunch: 11:30am – 1:00pm
- Dinner: 4:00pm –5:00pm

Mother Brown’s Kitchen (located in the Bayview Drop-In Center @ 2111 Jennings Street, San Francisco, CA 94124) serves two to-go meals daily, at the times listed below. The Mother Brown's Kitchen Meal Service has no eligibility requirements, nor do they ask for external paperwork or proof of income. All are welcome to use their services, and they focus on assisting anyone at risk of or currently experiencing homelessness. They are committed to reducing barriers to access; only a general program intake application is required to access our services.¹⁰ To contact them, please call (415) 671-1100.
- Breakfast: 7:00am – 9:00am
- Dinner: Monday-Friday, 5:00pm – 7:00pm; Saturday-Sunday, 4:00pm – 6:00pm

St. Anthony’s Dining Room (located at 121 Golden Gate Ave. (1st Floor), San Francisco, CA 94102) serves three meals daily, at the times listed below. St. Anthony’s welcomes all to receive food, and their monthly menu can be found on their website.¹¹ You can contact them at (415) 241-2600.
- Breakfast: 7:00am – 10:00am
- Lunch: 10:00am – 1:30pm
- Dinner: 2:00pm – 3:00pm

References