Curves and a Carry On

Hey San Diego,

My heart has been so heavy with the food insecurity facing our nation. When I was a kid, there was a time my parents had SNAP benefits. I remember weeks without food while waiting for pending SNAP applications, going to local churches and rec centers for free breakfast and lunch with my little brother when we were out of school for the summer, and our church gifting us a turkey and a box of canned goods every holiday season. I remember what it’s like to be hungry. I still work through a lot of food-related trauma as I’ve navigated a binge eating disorder over the last 25 years – I was always really scared of not having food again – and hoarded food for a long time to comfort myself through food scarcity trauma.

Food isn’t a negotiable. Millions of Americans rely on these benefits. Some Americans need these benefits and make “too much” money to qualify for them. Other Americans work for the very government failing them, and have been going without paychecks, and therefore, grocery money.

I can’t sit here and watch it happen, so I did some research!

If you’re feeling the pinch from losing SNAP benefits or you’re just in a rough spot, please know – you’re not alone- and there’s help out there. San Diego has an amazing community of food banks, pantries, and local nonprofits ready to lend a hand (and a bag full of fresh groceries 🥕🍞

Whether you’re between jobs, furloughed from federal work, or just don’t qualify for SNAP — this guide is for you. Save it, share it, and know that brighter days (and full fridges!) are ahead. 💪🏽💛

Check out my Google Map of Food Resources here

🏙️ San Diego’s Major Food Assistance Hubs

1. Jacobs & Cushman San Diego Food Bank
📍 9850 Distribution Ave, San Diego, CA 92121
☎️ (858) 527-1419
💡 County-wide network with dozens of local pantries. Use their Find Food Map  to locate the closest pantry to you.

2. Feeding San Diego
📍 9477 Waples St. Suite 100, San Diego, CA 92121
☎️ (858) 452-3663
💡 They partner with local schools, churches, and nonprofits — check their interactive map for free weekly distributions. Great for federal employees and those in benefit gaps.

3. Catholic Charities Diocese of San Diego – Emergency Food Network
📍 4772 Felton St., San Diego, CA 92116
☎️ (619) 323-2841 (option 2)
💡 Offers drive-thru and home-delivery options for seniors, people with disabilities, and families.

4. Special Delivery San Diego
📍 4021 Goldfinch St., San Diego, CA 92103
☎️ (619) 297-7373
💡 Provides groceries and home-delivered meals to those with health challenges or mobility barriers. 🌈

5. Salvation Army Food Pantries (Multiple Locations)
📍 Main: 825 7th Ave., San Diego, CA 92101
☎️ (619) 699-2219
💡 Multiple sites throughout the county offering food boxes, community meals, and seasonal produce.

 

🍊 Neighborhood Pantries That Care

Bayside Community Center – 2202 Comstock St. (Linda Vista)
St. Paul’s Cathedral Pantry – 2728 6th Ave. (Hillcrest)
Faith Tabernacle Food Bank – 2885 Clay Ave. (Southeast SD)
South Bay Food Pantry – 970 Broadway Ste 101, Chula Vista
St. Brigid’s Pantry – 4735 Cass St., Pacific Beach

(Full list of 20+ pantries in the downloadable PDF below ⬇️)

 

💛 Resources for People Who Don’t Qualify for SNAP

If you fall into that gray area, like maybe your income is just above the limit or you’re waiting for paperwork…here are some amazing programs that can help:

Porchlight San Diego
A “neighbor-to-neighbor” network helping with emergency food, small bills, and housing costs. No income paperwork required! The program offers low-to-no-cost food resources. I recently met the founder Claudia, and fell in love with her and her passion for providing for our community! I am now a volunteer there. This program requires an online registration and appointment time, and you will get to shop in the Porchlight market. They even get items from Whole Foods, Crumbl Cookies, Sprinkles Cupcakes, local farms, and more!
👉 https://porchlightsd.org

211 San Diego ☎️
Call or visit 211sandiego.org for real-time info on free meals, food delivery, and rent or utility assistance.

Community Fridges San Diego 🧊
Free community-run fridges where anyone can take or leave food — no questions asked. Check Instagram: @communityfridgessd

🇺🇸 For Furloughed Federal Employees

If you’re temporarily without pay, there’s help here too:

Feeding San Diego offers specific days for federal workers.
Federal Employee Education & Assistance Fund (FEEA) – feea.org provides emergency micro-grants.
San Diego Food Bank and Catholic Charities both have expedited service for furloughed workers — just mention your status when registering.

📥 Download the  Map

👉My San Diego Food Help Resource PDF is coming soon

It will include 20+ pantries, food banks, and special programs for SNAP-gap residents, students, and federal workers.

(Here’s a bonus 🗺️ Google Map link to see which one’s closest!)

🌻 Want to Give Back? Here’s How to Support San Diego’s Food Community:

If you’re in a season where you can give — whether that’s your time, grocery extras, or a few dollars…thank you. Truly. Food justice happens when neighbors show up for neighbors.

Here are some amazing organizations in San Diego that accept food + monetary donations and offer volunteer opportunities:

🍞 Jacobs & Cushman San Diego Food Bank

Donate: Shelf-stable groceries, hygiene items, funds
Volunteer: Warehouse packing, distribution events, senior food box assembly
Learn more: https://sandiegofoodbank.org/volunteer
Impact: One of the largest hunger relief operations in the county.

🥕 Feeding San Diego

Donate: Fresh produce, pantry staples, monthly giving welcome
Volunteer: Packing shifts, school & community distribution support
Learn more: https://feedingsandiego.org/volunteer
Fun fact: They rescue surplus food & redirect it to families; truly amazing sustainability work. 🌿

🍲 Catholic Charities Emergency Food Distribution Network

Donate: Food or funds
Volunteer: Drive-thru distribution, delivery for homebound seniors & disabled neighbors
Sign up: https://ccdsd.org/volunteer
Why it matters: Their network supports many smaller neighborhood pantries.

🌾 Porchlight San Diego (for neighbors helping neighbors)

Donate: Small grocery gift cards, pantry staples, emergency funds, your time!
Volunteer: Friendly check-ins, porch-drop grocery delivery, time in the market checking out customers, helping with marketing, or sorting and organizing food for market
Get involved: https://porchlightsd.org
Good to know: No income-limit barriers — supports dignity-based care.

🧺 Community Fridges San Diego

Donate: Fresh food, produce, grab-and-go snacks, water, hygiene supplies
Volunteer: Stocking, cleaning, neighborhood refrigerator host support
How to help: Check out their Instagram account for opportunities
Mission:Take what you need. Give what you can. No questions asked.

🥫 Neighborhood Food Pantries (Local Churches + Community Hubs)

If you want a hands-on, community-based way to help:

Search by zip code on Feeding SD’s map here
Many pantries operate weekly and ALWAYS need shelf-stable foods & volunteer packing help.

💸 Donating Money Is Powerful Too

$1 donated to San Diego regional food banks can often provide 2–4 meals due to large-scale sourcing, partnerships with farmers, and rescued food programs.

If money is tight, remember this too:

Your time, your kindness, your willingness to share this resource — all of that is donation.✨💛

 Volunteer Tip:

Show up once → you’ll probably want to come back.
Volunteer shifts are usually:

* 2–3 hours
* Group-friendly
* No heavy lifting required (volunteers can choose seated/light roles)

No one should ever have to choose between paying bills and eating well.

San Diego’s got your back — and your next bag of groceries. 🧡

Share this post to help someone who might need a little boost today.

If you suffer from any eating disorder yourself, please consider visiting the National Eating Disorder Association website, as well, for resources to help you regain a healthy and happy relationship with food. I promise you, you deserve that.

I love you, and I never want to see you go without a full belly or a good neighbor. ❤️