Self Help Produce Stand: Nourishing Communities

Dear Community,

We are reaching out to you today with a humble request for support for the Self Help Hunger Program, a vital initiative that has been serving our neighbors in North Oakland and Berkeley for over 15 years. Rooted in the principles of the Black Panther Party's platform, we aim to provide the basic necessities of life: Land, Bread, Housing, Education, Clothing, Justice, and Peace.

Founded by Aunti Frances, a former Black Panther, who knows firsthand the struggles of homelessness, our program began with a simple yet profound gesture - providing warm meals to those in need. We understand that health, sanity, and humanity are precious gifts, and a warm meal can restore them, even if only for a short while.

Over the years, Self Help Hunger has grown beyond expectation. We now operate a food pantry four days a week, supplying fresh, healthy greens and essential supplies to over 500 people weekly. Our Warm Meals program serves an additional 150 meals to elders, displaced individuals, and hardworking families with multiple jobs. We have become one of the few remaining free programs in our area, which has seen significant displacement in recent years, especially after the termination of the rent moratorium.

This year, with the support of RePlate, we acquired a van, enabling us to rescue and distribute even more food. Our food rescue operations save around 5 tons of food weekly, reaching over 500 people. Our dedicated Cooks for Justice team prepares healthy meals for our community from the rescued food. Our produce stand ensures that everyone receives an ample share.

All this growth has strained our slim budget. Operational and personnel costs have doubled to support our expanded services, and we are facing a challenging end of the year. We are a team of 7 people, supported by numerous volunteers, nourishing two neighborhoods through Jasper P. Driver Plaza. Additionally, through food rescue, we extend our reach into three more areas: East Oakland, South Berkeley, and West Oakland.

We turn to you, the generous people of Oakland and Berkeley, to help us continue this collective effort of supporting our neighbors in need. Your contributions will ensure that we can maintain and expand our programs, providing essential support right at our doorstep.

Here's how your donation can make a difference:

$25: Provides essential pantry supplies for a family in need.

$50: Feeds a family for a week with fresh, healthy greens and meals.

$100: Supports our food rescue operations, saving tons of food from going to waste. Pays for a full tank for our van, enough for a week.

$200: Covers supplies for one week of warm meal serving. Over 140 portions.

$400: pays for one month of service for our PortaPotty. One of two public toilets in all of North Oakland.The other one is also maintained by one of our sister programs: Dover Park.

$500: Pays for one month of insurance for our van.

$1000: pays for the weekly wages needed to keep up the food stand and maintain the Jasper P. Driver Plaza clean.