Berkeley Food Pantry Newsletter
July 2025
News from the Volunteer Advisory Committee
As most of you have heard, the Berkeley Friends Church, the fiscal agent and sponsor of the Berkeley Food Pantry (BFP), has announced a partnership with the Berkeley Food Network (BFN) to better serve the Albany and Berkeley communities during these challenging times. We all know that the recently approved HR 1 (known by some as the Big Beautiful Bill) will lead to substantial cuts in Medicaid and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Cal-Fresh in California. These cuts, along with other cuts in Federal food assistance programs, will negatively impact community members we serve. By joining in partnership, Berkeley Food Network will ensure everyone can access food when they need it most. This new partnership will guarantee continued, uninterrupted food assistance to our shared community well into the future. BFP and BFN have put together a FAQ about the new partnership which you can read here.
The Pantry’s three-times-a-week “grab and go” program, home delivery, and food recovery operation will continue to function “as is”, through December 31, 2025, while the Church and Berkeley Food Network work on “back office” coordination (finances, data bases, etc.). Beginning in 2026, the Berkeley Food Network will officially manage and oversee the Pantry, and will continue to operate a food distribution program at the Church site.
In that spirit, and in recognition of the critical role volunteers play in the Pantry’s success, the VAC is actively working to help ensure a seamless transition that centers BFP volunteers, staff, and those who access our services. The VAC is working with Berkeley Food Network to ensure that volunteer perspective and experience is upheld and maintained through this process. As you may recall, the spring newsletter had a call for volunteers to serve on a fundraising committee. Given the changes that are underway, the VAC and the fundraising committee members have combined forces to form a new Transition Committee to support Berkeley Food Network during the transition of Pantry operation and management . If you are interested in serving on the Transition Committee, please email Debbie Potter at debbiepotter@comcast.net.
Important Volunteer Meeting Wednesday, July 30, 5:00 pm – Learn about the new BFP/BFN Partnership
The VAC is hosting a volunteer meeting on Wednesday, July 30, at 5:00 pm in the upstairs community room at the church. Volunteers are invited to attend and learn more about the upcoming transition and partnership between the Berkeley Food Pantry and the Berkeley Food Network. This is an excellent opportunity to meet Andrew Crispin, Executive Director of the Berkeley Food Network; and Perry Hall, Volunteer & Outreach Manager at Berkeley Food Network, and to hear from members of the Berkeley Food Pantry Oversight Committee. They will share their vision for the future, short-term and mid-term, and talk about all the ways volunteers can continue to be involved in serving our community. Andrew looks forward to hearing, and responding to, your questions and concerns. Light refreshments will be served.
RSVP to Debbie Potter at debbiepotter@comcast.net.
Berkeley Food Pantry Volunteers Participate in Berkeley CROP Walk to End Hunger – Raise Funds for Berkeley Food Pantry
On Sunday, May 18, eleven Berkeley Food Pantry volunteers and staff joined forces as the Berkeley Food Pantry Team to participate in the annual 5k (3.1 miles) Berkeley CROP Walk to End Hunger. The national CROP Walk takes place in cities and towns across the country to raise money to end hunger throughout the world. Twenty-five percent (25%) of funds raised support local anti-hunger initiatives. In Berkeley, local funds raised are shared between the Pantry and the Dorothy Day House.
The warm and sunny afternoon was perfect for a walk through downtown Berkeley and provided an opportunity for good company in combination with a good cause. The Volunteer Team had a fundraising goal of $3,000 and raised $4,655!! Thirteen teams participated in the Berkeley CROP Walk. Our team was the second-highest fundraiser. Overall, the Berkeley CROP Walk raised $22,167, generating $2,771 to support the Pantry.
Thanks to our Volunteer Team and to everyone who donated to the Team and the Walk. If you thought about donating to the Team and time just got away from you, you can donate here. One hundred percent (100%) of your donation will support the Food Pantry.
Volunteer Advisory Committee Hosts Spring Potluck in the Park
May 18 was a busy day for the Berkeley Food Pantry as immediately following the CROP Walk, the Volunteer Advisory Committee (VAC) hosted a Volunteer spring potluck at Live Oak Park. Once again, the weather was perfect for a picnic in the park. About 25 volunteers showed up with delicious side dishes. Max was on the grill cooking up hamburgers, veggie burgers, and sausages. Steven oversaw the music playlist and took photos, and a good time was had by all. It was a relaxing and yummy way to connect with fellow volunteers and meet new volunteers. Volunteers work hard every week to serve our neighbors and it’s always nice to come together to celebrate each other and the work we do.
Spotlight on Fresh Produce
In the last issue, we highlighted the food recovery crew. Now, let’s see what happens to the fresh produce they bring to the Pantry. Have you ever peeked inside those bountiful bags of fruits and vegetables we give our clients? The produce arrives in boxes from places like Trader Joe’s, Whole Foods and the Kensington Farmers’ Market. It often needs to be sorted into similar kinds of items (think oranges vs. avocados). Badly damaged or moldy items are culled from the usable items and then composted.
It takes a phalanx of people to meticulously examine the fruits and vegetables before they are deemed fit for our clients. Here are two of the folks who are involved in this transformation.
Kristy Madrigal has volunteered her time at the Pantry for five years. She’s part of the Friday morning crew of 10-12 people that sorts fruits and vegetables. Her favorites are potatoes and apples since they are typically in good condition with little spoilage or rot. Her least favorites are over-the-hill leafy greens and past-their-prime green beans. She gives a big shout out to fellow Friday crew members Sandy and Deanie who painstakingly clean up strawberries for our clients. Kristy loves the community feeling and overall vibe of the Pantry.
For the last three years, Ifeta Turnovic has spent most Monday, Wednesday, and Friday mornings with the Produce crew. She discovered the Pantry while driving past it regularly and observing the line of people waiting for food. That sight turned her into a Pantry volunteer. Cherries are her favorite fruit to work with. She has no least favorites; it’s a sign that she sees value in all the fruits and vegetables we receive. Ifeta enjoys helping others and finds the Pantry to be a great source of happiness for her (especially when the produce bags are full!).
The Produce Sorting crew performs an invaluable service making certain we offer high quality fruits and vegetables to our clients. These items are critical for a healthy diet. In future issues, we’ll cover the crews that assemble the various bags of food we give our clients.
From the Staff
Do you ever wonder WHY the Pantry gets food - especially our produce - from local grocers and farmers’ markets as part of our food recovery program? We get food that most grocery stores can’t or won’t sell for one reason or another. Some open box items are obvious, but the area in most need of an open mind is produce. The most common issue up for discussion is bruising, when it’s too much and when it’s ok to provide to Pantry clients. From a fall, rough transit, packing and shipping, or maybe just a little soft and not so pretty anymore, the produce may still be perfectly serviceable for anyone willing to use a paring knife or some ingenuity.
It’s important to remember that many of our clients don’t have the food options and access that others do. We do our best to give our clients options. A soft avocado isn’t something most people would purchase BUT it is still great as a spread, guacamole, even added into a recipe for high protein chocolate mousse, believe it or not!
Not only do we have a group that meticulously sorts through berries to remove anything moldy, but we also have tables available for clients, during distribution, to sort through bags and leave what they may not want or use for others to take as they need. There is rarely anything left on these tables at the end of service, and it is a system that allows clients to exchange and not have things go to waste. Aside from produce that is smashed and broken into pieces, we need to be thoughtful about our own privilege of access, how that shapes our perspectives, and think more broadly about usage to give our clients the most options to choose for themselves.
- Alex, Chris, and Max
Are you going on vacation this summer?
We love hearing about your summer plans! If you will be missing any of your regular volunteer shifts, please fill out this quick form for each day you will be out (e.g. if you are missing two of your regular shifts, please submit the form twice: once for each day you’ll be out).
Local Organizations Pitch In
During the past few months, several local organizations have helped out at the Pantry. Here are two of them:
Every Monday afternoon, Adonis from Toolworks brings several eager volunteers to help break down large quantities of cardboard boxes and prepare produce and dry goods bags for our afternoon distribution. Adonis reliably lends a big hand transferring frozen meat from our weekly Food Bank delivery into our freezers. Per their website, Toolworks, in partnership with people with disabilities, is a human service agency dedicated to providing the tools and resources that promote independence, equality and personal satisfaction.
Oakland Military Institute (OMI) has dispatched several cadres of gregarious high school students to spend the entire day at the Pantry. Their tasks range from moving heavy meat boxes into our freezers to assisting with the afternoon food distribution. Per OMI’s website, the school’s mission is to prepare each of its cadets to qualify for, and succeed in, leading colleges and universities. OMI, through a cadet-led experience, instills honor, integrity and leadership.
The efforts of these groups make a big difference at the Pantry!
By the Numbers
We continue to see very high numbers of households that need assistance putting food on the
table. Here are our numbers for the past three months:
April: 136 households per day / 310 total people in households
May: 137 households per day / 298 total people in households
June: 145 households per day / 313 total people in households
Your help getting food to these folks is greatly appreciated!
BERKELEY FOOD PANTRY
1600 Sacramento Street
Berkeley, CA 94702
(510) 525-2280
Newsletter produced by George Baranowski, Max Crowther, and Debbie Potter
July 2025