Contribute to the Pantry

Volunteer

Thank you for your interest in volunteering!
The UCB Basic Needs Center has renovated its pantry space and is operating once again in bnorth, lower level of the MLK Student Union. 

You can sign up for shifts RRR & Finals Week this Fall in this spreadsheet here.

Or for future semesters fill out our volunteer interest form here.(link is external)

Donate Food or Health & Wellness Supplies

We are open and accepting donations, both from partner organizations and the general public! We extra appreciate new health and wellness supplies since this is not something we have the budget for right now.

Please contact our team ahead of time if you are interested in donating either by emailing us at foodpantry@berkeley.edu. Thank you!

Worried about donating food? In California, The Good Samaritan Food Donation Act protects food donors against civil or criminal liability arising from “good faith” donations of “apparently wholesome” food. However, we request that you only donate food that is fresh, in good condition, and of a quality that you would personally eat.

Also, as a reminder, dollars stretch farther than cans! We buy our stock from wholesale distributors, so our funding goes farther than your dollars at a grocery store. Of course, we still always appreciate and are happy to receive your food donations when you have them. 

Food donation guidelines:

Shelf-stable goods (i.e. canned goods, rice, pasta, etc.): Must be unopened, unexpired, and in clean condition. Cans must be undented, unrusted, and have attached labels. No home-canned goods please.

Refrigerated and frozen goods (i.e. dairy, meats, frozen fruits and vegetables, etc): Must be unopened, unexpired, and in clean condition. Must not have been out of refrigeration/freezing for more than two hours. No unpasteurized milk please!

Produce (i.e. fruits, vegetables, herbs): Must be fresh (not wilting, moldy, etc) and stored in hygienic conditions prior to donation. No raw sprouts please. Home-grown or gleaned produce is accepted!

Bread and other baked goods: Must be fresh (baked within the past 72 hours) or packaged for freshness (i.e. sliced sandwich bread in a bag). Please label allergens/meat and dairy content. No home-baked bread or pastry please. 

Prepared foods (hot): Must have been cooked in a food safety-certified kitchen and served within the last four hours; cannot have been served on a buffet; and must be labeled with source and ingredients/allergens. No home-cooked foods please.

Prepared foods (cold): If served hot, must have been cooled within four hours of being served; cannot have been out of refrigeration for more than two hours; cannot have been served on a buffet; and must be labeled with source and ingredients/allergens. No home-cooked foods please.

Pet food: Must be unopened, unexpired, and in clean condition. Cans must be undented, unrusted, and have attached labels. 

No alcohol, medications, or supplements please! Thank you so much for your donations!