The Bear Pantry
1050 Monroe St, Albany, CA 94706
bearpantry.uva@berkeley.edu
What is the Bear Pantry?
The Bear Pantry was first established in 2009 by a student parent living in the Village who wanted to serve low-income families and those with dependent minors. Since then, the Bear Pantry has evolved to a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization with dedicated staff to support basic needs efforts at University Village. The Pantry is open to all Village community members including residents and staff. The Pantry currently provides produce, hygiene products, and baby products as well as emergency food services for residents experiencing crisis. The Bear Pantry’s vital work is possible because of generous donors and key partnerships with UC Berkeley offices and community organizations including:
- UC Berkeley Basic Needs Center: This campus resource provides students access to fundamental necessities, complementing our efforts to address food insecurity.
- UC Berkeley Student Parent Food Donations Program (SPFD): This program provides support to student parents through essential food assistance to balance their academic and family responsibilities.
- Berkeley Food Network: As a core community partner, the Berkeley Food Network sources and distributes food efficiently throughout the local area, expanding our collective reach.
- Alameda County Community Food Bank (ACCFB): The ACCFB is a critical source of resources, providing large-scale food supplies and infrastructure to combat hunger across the county.
- Help a Mother Out: This organization increases access to diapers for families in need. They partner with the Pantry to ensure that families served have access to this essential, yet often overlooked, basic necessity.
What do I do to access the Bear Pantry?
The Bear Pantry serves the Village community which includes all residents and staff. At the moment we have the capacity for community members to come once per week. No registration is required and we do not require any proof of need. All you need to bring is your Cal ID and bags to carry your groceries!
Don’t have your own Cal ID? Not a problem! You can bring a picture of the Cal ID of the student or staff that you live with.
Where is the Bear Pantry and what are the hours?
We are located at 1050 Monroe St next door to the Community Center on the corner of Jackson Street and Monroe Street. Our hours shift based on staffing, so please check this website, emails from our listserv, and our signs regularly for the most up-to-date information. Our current hours are:
Sunday: 9 .a.m – 11 a.m.
Monday: Noon – 2 p.m.
Tuesday: 4 p.m. – 6 p.m.
Wednesday: CLOSED
Thursday: 1 p.m. – 4 p.m.
Friday: CLOSED
Saturday: 9 a.m – 11 p.m.
What can I get at the Bear Pantry?
The items we have available at the Pantry are dependent on the donations we receive that week. When you visit us, you will see some staples as well as a variety of other products that change week to week. We aim to stock nutritious items as well as community favorites. We also have a limited supply of items to meet a variety of dietary needs. You can expect to see:
Food (once per week)
- Seasonal fruits and vegetables
- Canned goods
- Shelf stable items
- Protein option
Hygiene (once per month)
- Soap and sanitizer
- Dental products
- Menstrual products
Baby products (once per month)
- Diapers
- Baby wipes
How do I contact and/or get updates about the Bear Pantry?
Email all inquiries and requests to join our listserv to bearpantry.uva@berkeley.edu. Follow us on Instagram @uvabearpantry.
How can I get involved?
The staff at the Bear Pantry collect donations, organize inventory, hand out food and goods, and deliver programming.
If you would like to volunteer, check out the Student Parent Food Donations Program, which runs the weekend pop-up pantry. This is a registered student organization started in 2014 to address food insecurity faced by the student-parent community and to support efforts in reducing food waste.
The Student Parent Food Donations Program is currently looking for volunteers! Volunteering is a great way to impact your community, make friends and connections, plus there are some perks! Volunteers get first access to pop-ups, are entered in monthly raffles for gift-cards, and best of all: you get to work with the amazing Bear Pantry staff!
More details and information can be found on the Student Parent Food Donations Program Facebook page. You can also contact sparrfood@gmail.com.
UC Berkeley resources
Basic Needs Center resource guide
Community resources
Berkeley Food Network (BFN) pantry