Concept site Commons Pantry is a fictional food bank, designed and built by Patrick Bushe to show what I make for food banks. Fictional, by Patrick Bushe

Tue, Wed, Thu and Sat

Come shop. It’s free, and it’s for you.

No ID, no proof of income, no appointment. If you need groceries, you’re who the shelves are for.

Hours

Sample hours The line moves fast after the first half hour.

Your first visit

  1. Say hi at the table

    We ask your zip code and how many people you shop for. That’s the whole sign-up, and it stays with us.

  2. Take a cart

    Shop the produce, staples, dairy and baby shelves. Signs say how many of each item per household that day.

  3. Check out with a volunteer

    They weigh the cart for our records, help you bag, and tell you when the next market day is.

Can’t come in?

Neighbors 60 and up or with a disability can get groceries delivered on Mondays and Thursdays. Sign up once and a volunteer calls the day before.

Help with CalFresh

CalFresh is California’s name for SNAP: money for groceries on an EBT card, every month. Every Wednesday morning a volunteer helps you apply on your phone, in English or Spanish, while you shop.

  • Bring an ID if you have one, and a recent pay stub
  • Takes about 20 minutes
  • Using the pantry doesn’t change your CalFresh
A wooden crate of squash, peppers, grapes and eggplant on the grass, seen from above

What’s usually on the shelves

  • Fresh produceEvery day
  • Tortillas and breadEvery day
  • Rice, beans, oatsEvery day
  • Eggs and milkMost days
  • Chicken and fishSaturdays
  • Diapers and formulaAsk at the table

Shelves change with what comes in. Sample