How You Can Help Our Unhoused Neighbors

The Alameda Food Bank is a non-profit organization that helps the Alameda community by providing nourishing food in a dignified and respectful manner with the support of dedicated volunteers and local partners. Apart from our weekly food pantry, Alameda Food Bank collaborates with, and supplies food items to various other Alameda based organizations like Dine and Connect, AUSD, Village of Love, Alameda Housing Authority, and others. 

Volunteer: The Alameda Food Bank is currently seeking volunteers who can make a regular, weekly commitment to volunteer work. Please click here for more information on how to volunteer or contact Patty Apple at 510-523-5850 or programmanager@alamedafoodbank.org. 

Donate: Please click here to make a donation and support our mission. 

Eden I&R serves Alameda residents in finding information, resources, and programs to support their health, social, and human service needs. Eden I&R runs the 2-1-1 call center and the Alameda Homeless Hotline.

Volunteer: Volunteer opportunities depend on the interests and skills of those who volunteer. Examples include administrative support, making quality assurance follow-up calls in the 211 call center, helping the Housing Department with updating the housing database, supporting the IT and data team, assisting with development and/or communications, etc. Please click here for more information, or contact Jeanette Mills at 510-537-2710 x503 or jmills@edenir.org.

Donate: Please click here to make a donation.

Located at the former Alameda Naval Station, Alameda Point Collaborative is a supportive housing community providing over 500 formerly homeless residents with the safety and stability of a place to call home. Please click here to donate. 

Alameda Day Center

Connects clients to housing, health, mental health, substance use, and social services and supports. Offers classes, meals, well checks, showers, and enrichment activities. A safe and welcoming place for clients to relax and participate in programs. Open Monday-Sunday 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Please click here(PDF, 478KB) to download more information.

Safe Parking Program

Provides a safe and welcoming space for people living in cars or vans to park at night. Bathrooms/washing facilities available. Outreach workers and housing navigators available to connect clients to services. Open Monday-Sunday, 7 p.m.- 7 a.m. Please click here(PDF, 478KB) to download more information.

Safe Shelter Program/ FEMA Trailers

Provides shelter for elderly and medically-compromised individuals at-risk for COVID-19 using the four FEMA trailers from the State. Allows residents to shelter in place during the pandemic. Meals, health, and social services provided.

Please click here to donate or here to join our newsletter.

The Christ Church Homeless Shower Program provides shower facilities to pre-screened guests on Sundays from 2 to 4 p.m.

Volunteer: Christ Church is looking for volunteers to join the team to help run the program on Thursday nights or Saturday mornings.  Please contact Ashley Jackson at 510-220-7200 or Office@christchurchalameda.org.

Please click here for more information or to donate (in need of clean white towels, new undergarments, new toiletries, financial support).

Building Futures operates the Midway Shelter and the Alameda Housing Resource Center.

Volunteer: Building Futures is accepting volunteer applications.  Please click here for more information, or contact us at volunteer@bfwc.org.

Ways to Give: You and your friends, family members, and colleagues participate in helping our community live free from homelessness and family violence by giving to Building Futures and the Midway Shelter.  Your support makes possible a range of services that help individuals and families build improved lives, free from homelessness and family violence. Amid Alameda County’s housing crisis, Building Futures is needed more than ever. 

Donate: In-kind donations are sought for "move in kits" for newly-housed clients. Other items are accepted on a case-by-case basis. Email give@bfwc.org to ask about specific donation items or sign up for an in-kind donation drive, like a hygiene drive! 

Be a Dinner Donor: Building Futures is growing its Dinner Donor Volunteer program! Provide a monthly meal for the Alameda Midway Shelter, for 20-25 women and children by providing them with a balanced, delicious meal! "Food is Love made Visable"

To see a summary of Ten Ways you Can Help and to sign up as a volunteer click here. 

The Village of Love (VOL) partners with the City of Alameda to conduct Homeless Outreach Team services seven days a week to unhoused individuals living on the streets. VOL self-refers unhoused individuals and families to their Day Center, Safe Parking, Safe Sheltering, and Emergency Supportive Housing programs.

Volunteer: Opportunities to volunteer from home/remotely include buying materials for bagged lunches/hygiene kits and assembling the kits. Volunteers to run donation drives for food, blankets, socks, etc. are also needed. For more information, please click here.

Donate: Monetary and in-kind donations accepted.  All donations are used for the preparation and production of events and services for the homeless. We purchase locally, and all donations received are regenerated back into the community marketplace.  Call our office at (510) 995-8936 to schedule a date and time for in-kind donations. 

Have you noticed the donation meters for the homeless on throughout Alameda?  These specially designed orange meters collect spare change and credit card donations at 20 sites to raise funds for homeless services. Businesses, individuals, families, and groups may also sponsor a meter. All proceeds go to homeless services. Please click here to view a map of the meters.

Operation Dignity provides permanent and transitional housing to veterans at Dignity Commons in Alameda.