Lake Merritt UMC Food Pantry

The Lake Merritt United Methodist Church (LMUMC) Food Pantry has been serving the Oakland community and Alameda County for over 35 years by offering food to individuals and families at no cost. The Food Pantry distributes fresh produce and nutritious shelf stable food and protein through client choice shopping model

Volunteer Shifts:

• Distribution Set Up: Friday before distribution at 10:00 -11:00 am
• Food Distribution: Saturday (4th Saturday of the month) 8:00-10:00 am

Help Needed:

• Friday Set Up: A small team of volunteers assist in setting up stations for food distribution the next day.
• Saturday Distribution: Volunteers staff various stations for check-in, registration, produce and dry goods, and clean up on Saturday. Additional projects such as preparing hygiene kits and preparing food for Lake Lunches may also take place.
• Language Interpreters: We are also seeking individuals who are able and willing to serve as language interpreters in the primary languages of the food pantry visitors including Cantonese, Mandarin, Vietnamese, and others.

Please indicate if you are volunteering with a group and/or if you able to support as a language interpreter. Email lmumcfoodministries@googlegroups.com for more information for groups and language interpreters.

Needs and volunteer requirements are subject to change.

We serve a vulnerable population where most of our visitors are senior citizens. Hand washing or sanitizing before, during, and after volunteering is required. Wearing a mask is optional and available on site.

Why and Impact

Hunger is a serious problem in Alameda County. 1 in 4 residents in our community is experiencing or at-risk of hunger. Our Food Pantry fills an important need in the Lake Merritt & Downtown Oakland area. Nearly 400 households come for food each time, with an aggregate total for the year of almost 10,000 families. LMUMC is an Agency Partner of the Alameda County Community Food Bank. ACCFB and more community partners supply fresh produce, protein, and shelf stable food. This offering is made possible through generous and commited donations of time and resource by community partners and volunteers!

Other Ways to Support:

• Donate to the food programs on a one-time or recurring basis.
• Donate to Hygiene Kit Supply Drive