At the Food Bank, we’re committed to being here for our neighbors no matter what. We believe that food is a human right and no one should go hungry.
We recognize that you may have concerns or be unsure about receiving much-needed services and sharing personal information in this political climate. This is especially true if you are part of immigrant communities.
We are a community that cares for each other. We all want to ensure you feel safe accessing the services we provide.
If you are looking for food, we’re here for you.
Below are a few common questions we’ve received. We hope this helps provide you with the reassurance that you are safe with us.
Am I safe to come get food? Will there be authorities there?
We’re fortunate that California is a Sanctuary State and that most of the cities in our service area are Sanctuary Cities. For this reason, it is unlikely that immigration officials will show up at our distribution sites.
Regardless, the Food Bank will do everything in our power to protect you, and give you the food you need.
What is required to get food? Do I need to bring anything?
When you arrive at most of our distributions, you will be asked for your name, the number of people in your household, your county or zip code and to confirm (yes or no) that your monthly household income meets the requirements. This is so we can understand how many people we are serving and provide better services.
No individual or personally identifiable information will be shared outside the Food Bank, except where required for federal programs you participate in, such as CalFresh (see more below). If you have any concerns, please ask a staff member about your option to be anonymous.
As a private non-profit organization, the Food Bank is not obligated to report the immigration status of anyone we serve and will not share personal information with immigration authorities.
If you need food, please contact our team with any questions you may have at info@foodbankccs.org or 855-309-FOOD (3663). ¡Se habla español!
What about CalFresh?
As of January 23, 2025 CalFresh is not a Public Charge, and receiving CalFresh benefits will not impact your immigration status. Our CalFresh team continues to closely monitor this situation and will update applicants if needed.
Learn more about Public Charges at Keep Your Benefits
The Food Bank’s CalFresh team is HIPPA trained and takes the safety of your application data incredibly seriously.
All application documents are kept in locked cases, and physical documentation is shredded after it is uploaded to the county for processing. Our team members’ laptops are encrypted to ensure your digital privacy.
Your rights and protections
All people in the United States, regardless of immigration status, have certain rights and protections under the U.S. Constitution.
Here are some helpful resources to learn more about your rights:
- Red Cards from the Immigrant Legal Resource Center help people assert their rights and defend themselves in many situations, such as when ICE agents go to a home. These are available in multiple languages.
- Know your rights documents from Stand Together Contra Costa in multiple languages.
- Know your rights toolkit from Immigrant Legal Resource Center
- Immigration preparedness toolkit from Immigrant Legal Resource Center
- List of Immigrant raid and legal resources from Solano County
- Find immigration assistance and legal aid resources by location from Keep Your Benefits
- If you fear deportation and need legal advice, legal defense, or aid:
- Bay Area
- Stand Together Contra Costa (925) 900-5151 www.standtogethercontracosta.org
- San Francisco Rapid Response Network (415) 200-1548 www.sfilen.org
- San Mateo County Rapid Response (203) 666-4472
- Santa Clara County Rapid Response Network (408) 290-1144 www.amigoscenter.com/rapid-respon
- Bay Area
We believe no one in Contra Costa and Solano Counties should go hungry, regardless of immigration status. We’re committed to serving all our neighbors with dignity and respect – and now more than ever, protecting your privacy is a critical part of our work.
