Food
CalFresh, known federally as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program or SNAP, provides monthly food benefits to individuals and families with low-income and provides economic benefits to communities. The program issues monthly benefits on an Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) card.
Amazon is part of a pilot run by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) to accept SNAP EBT online. Currently, customers with a valid SNAP EBT card in all states except Alaska can use their SNAP funds on Amazon. Check back here for updates as we work alongside the USDA to expand our coverage to other areas.
WeHope provides fresh produce, eggs, milk, cheese, meat, cereal, canned, and packaged food every Tuesday to individuals and families regardless of their citizenship or immigration status, ethnicity, or sexual orientation.
Market Match is California’s largest nutrition incentive program that gives extra money to shoppers enrolled in CalFresh (California’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) for fruits and vegetables at farmers’ markets and other farm-direct outlets (farm stands, CSAs, and mobile markets).
Second Harvest of Silicon Valley Food Connection
Second Harvest of Silicon Valley provides free, fresh groceries and prepared meals through more than 400 partners and 900 locations in Santa Clara and San Mateo Counties. We also help with applying for CalFresh and other food programs you may qualify for. Go to www.shfb.org/getfood to find free food near you or call 800-984-3663.
Street Life Ministries is a community-based, non-profit organization that serves the homeless and at-risk populations of the Mid-Peninsula. We establish environments and build relationships where community volunteers can provide food and clothing, as well as referrals for shelter, addiction recovery, and other personal support.
Women, Infant, and Children Program (WIC)
The Women, Infants, and Children Program (WIC) is a nutrition education program. WIC helps pregnant women, women who just had a baby, and children up to age 5 eat well, be active, and stay healthy.
EHP’s mission is to provide compassionate, dignified and practical assistance to families and individuals experiencing economic and personal hardship. We offer material help, support services, and advocacy for our neighbors in need, in a challenging and rapidly changing environment.
Sparkpoint- College of San Mateo
SparkPoint serves students and other San Mateo County residents with individualized financial coaching, public benefits enrollment, and access to the on-campus food pantry.
St. Anthony's Padua Dining Room
The Dining Room provides surplus basic groceries. Such as, fresh fruits and vegetables as well as bread products to patrons. This service allows our Guests to transport and prepare fresh meals at home.
The Center was founded to provide food, clothing, and other essential services for working poor families who (though working at one and sometimes two low paying jobs) find it very difficult to pay both the exorbitant rental costs and provide basic necessities for their families.
Society of St. Vincent De Paul of San Mateo County
Strategically located in South San Francisco, San Mateo and Redwood City, SVdP’s Homeless Help Centers offer basic survival necessities, such as a hot meal, clothing, sleeping bags, bus tokens, ID cards, laundry and mail service.
No Strings Attached Breakfast Senior Coastsiders
No Strings Attrached is to provide high-quality, free meals to all members of the Half Moon Bay community, which they can enjoy within a friendly environment.
Grace Covenant Church is a partner agency with Second Harvest serving food to the low-income families of our community. As a Partners, we help serve the culturally-diverse population of South San Francisco, San Bruno and Brisbane through our "Abundant Harvest Food Pantry" ministry
Provides a single point of entry for men, women and children to have access to safety net services, health and wellness services, leadership development, and community engagement and action.
The community service agencies are the first place to contact for emergency assistance. They can provide or locate emergency food, clothing, shelter, deposit and rental assistance, utility assistance, short-term counseling and/or employment information. Most provide translation services.
Free Groceries are readily available at the Food Closet for the community.
Hot meal Delivered to the home of persons age 60 or over or homebound who are unable to prepare their own meals.
CALL Primrose is a drop in food pantry helping to remove one worry from those most vulnerable in our community by providing free, healthy groceries to low income individuals and families on a weekly basis.
LifeMoves services programs provide interim shelter along with food, clothing, household necessities, case management, and supportive services to help homeless families rapidly return to stable housing.
Walmart accepts EBT card purchases at all locations that sell food and grocery items. Your EBT card can be used the same way you would use your debit card, and EBT cardholders in 48 states can also pay for Walmart delivery and pick up orders online.
Free Diapers
Daly City Partnership - Diaper Club
Low-income parents may qualify for free diapers. Children must be between 0 to 3 years old.
Active Life Medical is contracted with a wide network of insurance providers and are constantly growing their insurance network. They specialize in working with your insurance plan for all of your catheter, incontinence and ostomy supply needs.
We are a not-for-profit Christian Organization that is committed to serving the community needs of San Mateo County without discrimination.
We are fortunate to partner with Help a Mother Out a non-profit specializing in accessing diapers to low income families across the Bay Area.
We provide free diapers and supportive services to the working poor families with babies in East Palo Alto & East Menlo Park.
Fair Oaks Community Center Diaper Distribution Program
Fair Oaks Community Center’s Diaper Distribution program serves local families monthly with two boxes of diapers, provided by Help a Mother Out.
The community service agencies are the first place to contact for emergency assistance. They can provide or locate emergency food, clothing, shelter, deposit and rental assistance, utility assistance, short-term counseling and/or employment information. Most provide translation services.
Legal
The Community Law Clinic (CLC) is Stanford’s neighborhood legal services office. Located on the east side of Palo Alto, CLC is proximate to the low-income neighborhoods of the mid-peninsula region where Stanford is located.
The Health Consumer Center helps individuals and families in obtaining and maintaining the health care services they need, as well as resolving problems with their health plans or providers.
BayLegal’s mission is to provide meaningful access to the civil justice system through quality legal assistance regardless of a client’s location, language or disability.
Free legal hotline available to qualified low-income residents living in the Bay Area. The Legal Advice Line provides counsel and advice in all languages on a range of civil legal issues.
Catholic Charities mission is to assist clients in achieving legal status and economic self-sufficiency, as well as, becoming fully active participants in the social and civic life of our communities.
The Tahirih Justice Center is a national, nonprofit organization that serves immigrant survivors fleeing gender-based violence. Our interdisciplinary, trauma-informed model of service combines free legal services and social services case management with bridge-building policy advocacy and research-based training and education
The LRS Program determines the legal area of the problem you describe and provides a referral to a private practice lawyer.
Legal Aid Society of San Mateo County
The Legal Aid Society of San Mateo County’s mission is to fight social injustice through civil legal advocacy for people living in poverty. The vision is for every person to have the basic necessities of life, including safe affordable housing, access to health care, economic security, secure immigration status, an appropriate education and freedom from violence and abuse.
Immigration
San Mateo County Immigrant Services Resources & Information
Know Your Rights
These resources have been created by legal service organizations to provide helpful general information to immigrant communities.
The Legal Aid Society of San Mateo County
LIBRE serves San Mateo County immigrant communities.
Get the facts about public charge & immigration.
Recreation & Museums
In support of California’s Outdoors for All initiative, State Parks and the California Department of Social Services (CDSS) improved the application process to make it easier for all CalWORKs families to receive their free Golden Bear Pass and enjoy the benefits of the outdoors. Providing FREE entry at 200+ state parks and beaches. The passes for the current application process are valid for the 2022 Calendar year.
Through Museums for All, those receiving food assistance (SNAP benefits) can gain free or reduced admission to more than 900 museums throughout the United States simply by presenting their SNAP EBT (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Electronic Benefit Transfer) card.
CuriOdyssey offers reduced admission and low-cost Membership for All memberships for qualifying families. Qualifying families must present a photo ID and proof of Golden State Advantage EBT/CalFresh/SNAP, WIC, Medicaid, Medi-Cal, Healthy Families or Kaiser Cares for Kids participation at the CuriOdyssey front desk.
SNAP EBT/WIC Benefit: As part of the Museums for All cooperative, the SF Zoo offers $3 Admission tickets to SNAP EBT and WIC cardholders every day of the year.
The Children's Creativity Museum is the perfect place to spend time with the kid(s) in your life! Visitors can explore two floors of multimedia exhibits and activities designed to guide children ages 2-12 through self-discovery while building their creative confidence.
Filoli is a vibrant landscape of the Bay Area, situated on the unceded ancestral lands of the Ramaytush Ohlone, in Woodside, California. Filoli is proud to participate in Museums for All offering free and reduced admission to any holder of a SNAP EBT card. Please email tickets@filoli.org to reserve your admission with Museums for All.
The fun and wonder of the Exploratorium are for everyone. To ensure that the Exploratorium is accessible to all, we offer four free admission tickets to EBT (Electronic Benefit Transfer) cardholders and San Francisco Medi-Cal or CalFresh recipients. Simply show your EBT card or San Francisco Medi-Cal or CalFresh card when you arrive.
California Academy of Sciences
As part of the Museums for All cooperative, the Academy offers $3 Daytime Admission and NightLife (21+) tickets to EBT, WIC, Lifeline Pass, and Medi-Cal cardholders every day of the year
$1 – For EBT Cardholders ($1 per family member of the household). To use Guest Passes or gain admission through our Access Programs, including Museums for All (EBT), admission passes or other discounts, simply visit the museum and present your card or pass.
This gem of Victorian architecture has a long and storied history, and is the oldest public wood-and-glass conservatory in North America. As a city, state, and national historic landmark, the Conservatory remains one of the most photographed and beloved attractions in San Francisco.
The Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco, comprising the de Young in Golden Gate Park and the Legion of Honor in Lincoln Park, are the largest public arts institution in San Francisco.
The Asian Art Museum celebrates, preserves, and promotes Asian and Asian American art and cultures for local and global audiences. We provide a dynamic forum for exchanging ideas, inviting collaboration, and fueling imagination to deepen understanding and empathy among people of all backgrounds.
The Contemporary Jewish Museum (The CJM) a place where visitors can connect with one another through dialogue and shared experiences with the arts. Ever changing, The CJM is a non-collecting institution that partners with national and international cultural institutions to present exhibitions that are both timely and relevant and represent the highest level of artistic achievement and scholarship.
The Japanese Tea Garden provides visitors from around the world with an opportunity to experience the natural beauty, tranquility and harmony of a Japanese-style garden in the heart of San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park.
Transportation
Penninsula Family Service Drive Forward Vehicle Loan Program
Drive Forward provides affordable loans to help participants purchase reliable used vehicles and begin the process of improving their credit.
SamTrans (RTC) Regional Transit Connection
The Regional Transit Connection (RTC) Discount ID Card is available to persons with qualifying disabilities. Use the card as proof of eligibility to receive discount fares on fixed-route, rail and ferry systems throughout the San Francisco Bay Area.
Clipper START is a pilot program to provide single-ride discounts to eligible riders. Participants can receive: 50% - 20% discount on various public transportation through-out Bay Area
Transportation service for people who are 70 years of age participant are issued a pre-loaded Got Wheels membership card and will be able to schedule rides on-demand 24 hours a day/7 days a week.
A special transportation service (curb-to-curb) designed to meet the needs of the mobility impaired traveling in San Mateo County who are unable to use the regular SamTrans buses.
Programs and services that can help you stay mobile, active and connected to your community. These programs include helping you remain a safe driver and specialized assistance getting out into the community.
Get Around! Senior Rides Program
It's a program offered through the Parks and Recreation Department that offers seniors living in San Mateo a safe and affordable means of transportation.
Health Plan of San Mateo Ride Benefit
Health Plan of San Mateo (HSPM) now offers a transportation benefit to all Medi-Cal members allowing them to schedule rides to outpatient health-related services, like doctor’s visits, lab services, PT/OT and behavioral health appointments.
Bay Wheels offers affordable, accessible, and fun transportation option for everyone. Bay Area residents who qualify for CalFresh, SFMTA Lifeline Pass, or PG&E CARE utility discount are eligible to join our Bike Share for All program for $5 for the first year.
Society of St. Vincent De Paul of San Mateo County
Strategically located in South San Francisco, San Mateo and Redwood City, SVdP’s Homeless Help Centers offer basic survival necessities, such as a hot meal, clothing, sleeping bags, bus tokens, ID cards, laundry and mail service.
Peninsula Clean Energy-Electric Vehicle Car Loan Program
Peninsula Clean Energy is a community-controlled, not-for-profit, joint powers agency formed as a Community Choice Aggregation (CCA) program by San Mateo County and all 20 of its cities and towns in 2016, and joined by the City of Los Banos in 2020.
Peninsula Rides- San Mateo County Mobility Resource Center
Peninsula Rides provides information about transportation options to people with mobility challenges so they can get around in and beyond San Mateo County.
Utilities
California Alternate Rates for Energy Program (CARE). A monthly discount of 20% or more on gas and electricity. Participants qualify through income guidelines or if enrolled in certain public assistance programs. Family Electric Rate Assistance Program (FERA). A monthly discount of 18% on electricity only.
Lifeline program provides a discount on phone service for qualifying low-income consumers to ensure that all Americans have the opportunities and security that phone service brings, including being able to connect to jobs, family and emergency services. Eligibility covers recipients eligible for SNAP, Federal Public Housing Authority, SSI, Medicad, etc.
Provides a single point of entry for men, women and children to have access to safety net services, health and wellness services, leadership development, and community engagement and action.
The community service agencies are the first place to contact for emergency assistance. They can provide or locate emergency food, clothing, shelter, deposit and rental assistance, utility assistance, short-term counseling and/or employment information. Most provide translation services
CA Department of Social Services: Need affordable internet? To learn more about low-cost plans, contact the Get Connected Call Center today! 833-938-3298.
Internet Essentials - Affordable Internet from Xfinity
Internet Essentials offers a reliable home internet connection to qualifying households with fast speed for learning, working, telehealth, and more.
San Mateo County Libraries provides a variety of equipment to strengthen our community and facilitate discovery and is proud to offer interactive items for checkout beyond traditional books and media. Library of Things is a curated collection of items to help you find joy, discovery and excitement. There's something for everyone and best of all, everything is free to checkout! Some items are available through their Equipment Reservation page, or Computers, Tech Help & Reservations while others are found on a first come, first served basis on their In-Luck library shelves.
T Mobile Project 10 Million Direct to Parent Guardian Eligibility
With Project 10Million, T-Mobile offers free hotspots with 200GBs of mobile data each year for five years, plus access to at-cost laptops and tablets, to 10 million eligible K-12 students.
Housing
The community service agencies are the first place to contact for emergency assistance. They can provide or locate emergency food, clothing, shelter, deposit and rental assistance, utility assistance, short-term counseling and/or employment information. Most provide translation services.
LifeMoves services programs provide interim shelter along with food, clothing, household necessities, case management, and supportive services to help homeless families rapidly return to stable housing.
Street Life Ministries is a community-based, non-profit organization that serves the homeless and at-risk populations of the Mid-Peninsula. We establish environments and build relationships where community volunteers can provide food and clothing, as well as referrals for shelter, addiction recovery, and other personal support.
WeHope provides hot meals, shelter beds, access to medical care, hot showers, laundry service, transportation – and through comprehensive case management, life skills classes, and job training, individuals become healthy, employed, and housed.
A transitional housing program that provides independent living skills training and mental health support for homeless teens aged 16-21.
Provides a safe and loving home for at-risk pregnant and parenting mothers and their children. Each mother receives onsite case management which is designed to teach and encourage long-term independence.
CORA- Communities Overcoming Relationship Abuse
CORA provides safety, support and healing for individuals who experience abuse in an intimate relationship and educates the community to break the cycle of domestic violence.
Mental Health Association of San Mateo County is dedicated to improving and enriching the quality of life for individuals in our community who have a mental illness, HIV/AIDS or a co-occurring disorder by providing stable housing and supportive services.
HIP Housing’s Mission is to invest in human potential by improving the housing and lives of people in our community. HIP Housing enables people with special needs, either from income or circumstance, to live independent, self-sufficient lives in decent, safe, low-cost homes.
San Mateo County Department of Housing Authority
The Department of Housing collaborates with partners as a catalyst to increase the supply of affordable housing and create opportunities for people at all income levels and abilities to prosper by supporting livable and thriving communities.
Affordable housing of high quality to those in need; establish stability and opportunity in the lives of residents; and foster diverse communities that allow people from all ethnic, social and economic backgrounds to live in dignity, harmony and mutual respect.
Nation Call Center for Homeless Veterans
The mission of the Homeless Programs Office (HPO) is to assist Veterans and their families in obtaining permanent and sustainable housing with access to high-quality health care and supportive services.
Catholic Worker Hospitality House
The mission of Catholic Worker Hospitality House is to serve the needs of low-income and homeless individuals in our community.
Home & Hope’s mission is to provide a safe haven for families facing homelessness and help them to regain long-term self-sufficiency.
Rebuilding Together Peninsula (RTP)
Rebuilding Together Peninsula (RTP) has provided year-round renovation and repair services for the Peninsula’s most vulnerable homeowners, from seniors and veterans to individuals with disabilities and families with children, as well as for a range of community facilities.
Emergency Shelter (2-1-1 Bay Area)
2-1-1 connects callers with local community services, such as food, shelter, counseling, employment assistance, quality child care, senior services, and more.
Clothing
Ecumenical Hunger Program (EHP)
EHP’s mission is to provide compassionate, dignified and practical assistance to families and individuals experiencing economic and personal hardship. We offer material help, support services, and advocacy for our neighbors in need, in a challenging and rapidly changing environment.
The Clothing Distribution Center provides free infant and children’s-wear, men and women’s clothing, shoes, blankets and sleeping bags (as available) for approximately 1,000 patrons per month.
Street Life Ministries is a community-based, non-profit organization that serves the homeless and at-risk populations of the Mid-Peninsula. We establish environments and build relationships where community volunteers can provide food and clothing, as well as referrals for shelter, addiction recovery, and other personal support.
The Center was founded to provide food, clothing, and other essential services for working poor families who (though working at one and sometimes two low paying jobs) find it very difficult to pay both the exorbitant rental costs and provide basic necessities for their families.
Society of St. Vincent De Paul of San Mateo County
Strategically located in South San Francisco, San Mateo and Redwood City, SVdP’s Homeless Help Centers offer basic survival necessities, such as a hot meal, clothing, sleeping bags, bus tokens, ID cards, laundry and mail service.
The community service agencies are the first place to contact for emergency assistance. They can provide or locate emergency food, clothing, shelter, deposit and rental assistance, utility assistance, short-term counseling and/or employment information. Most provide translation services.
LifeMoves services programs provide interim shelter along with food, clothing, household necessities, case management, and supportive services to help homeless families rapidly return to stable housing.
Free and Discounted with Qualified Public Assistance Programs
Amazon is part of a pilot run by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) to accept SNAP EBT online. Currently, customers with a valid SNAP EBT card in all states except Alaska can use their SNAP funds on Amazon. Check back here for updates as we work alongside the USDA to expand our coverage to other areas.
Walmart accepts EBT card purchases at all locations that sell food and grocery items. Your EBT card can be used the same way you would use your debit card, and EBT cardholders in 48 states can also pay for Walmart delivery and pick up orders online.
America’s farmers’ markets are great sources of fresh fruits, vegetables, and other healthy foods. FNS is committed to expanding access to these foods by SNAP recipients while supporting economic opportunities for farmers and producers.
Market Match is California’s largest nutrition incentive program that gives extra money to shoppers enrolled in CalFresh (California’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) for fruits and vegetables at farmers’ markets and other farm-direct outlets (farm stands, CSAs, and mobile markets).
The RMP is a program that gives certain people that are at a high risk for chronic hunger the option to use their CalFresh Food benefits to buy prepared meals at approved participating restaurant vendors. The RMP is available to older adults aged 60 or older, people with disabilities, and homeless persons, and their spouses.
California Alternate Rates for Energy Program (CARE). A monthly discount of 20% or more on gas and electricity. Participants qualify through income guidelines or if enrolled in certain public assistance programs. Family Electric Rate Assistance Program (FERA). A monthly discount of 18% on electricity only.
Lifeline program provides a discount on phone service for qualifying low-income consumers to ensure that all Americans have the opportunities and security that phone service brings, including being able to connect to jobs, family and emergency services. Eligibility covers recipients eligible for SNAP, Federal Public Housing Authority, SSI, Medicad, etc.
Working to improve baby and family well being by increasing access to diapers for families in need. We distribute diapers to families in need through a network of social service partners including voluntary home visiting programs, facilitated parent support groups, family resource centers, and public health departments.
Clipper START is a pilot program to provide single-ride discounts to eligible riders. Participants can receive: 50% - 20% discount on various public transportation through-out Bay Area
We offer sliding scale pricing on all memberships and programs to help you on your path to wellness. Our mission is your health. Applying for financial assistance is easy- just let us know a little about you and we’ll get back to you in a day or two.
In support of California’s Outdoors for All initiative, State Parks and the California Department of Social Services (CDSS) improved the application process to make it easier for all CalWORKs families to receive their free Golden Bear Pass and enjoy the benefits of the outdoors. Providing FREE entry at 200+ state parks and beaches. The passes for the current application process are valid for the 2022 Calendar year.
Through Museums for All, those receiving food assistance (SNAP benefits) can gain free or reduced admission to more than 900 museums throughout the United States simply by presenting their SNAP EBT (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Electronic Benefit Transfer) card.
Beginning in School Year (SY) 2022–23, California will become the first state to implement a statewide Universal Meals Program for school children. California’s Universal Meals Program (Universal Meals) is designed to build on the foundations of the federal National School Lunch Program (NSLP) and School Breakfast Program (SBP).
California's Low Cost Auto Insurance Program
California's Low Cost Automobile Program (CLCA) was established as a program designed to provide income eligible persons with liability insurance protection at affordable rates as a way to meet California's financial responsibility laws.
We serve seniors with a variety of backgrounds, circumstances, and needs. Some are recovering from hospitalization, have disabilities, or are living with age-related illness such as Alzheimer’s. Some live below the federal poverty levels. Others are simply facing the challenges of aging. They need support, connection, and opportunities to engage with life and other people in meaningful, enjoyable, and life-affirming ways.
The Clothing Distribution Center provides free infant and children’s-wear, men and women’s clothing, shoes, blankets and sleeping bags (as available) for approximately 1,000 patrons per month.
Quality childcare programs for San Mateo County. Izzi Early Education (formerly IHSD Inc.) believes that every child and every family deserve access to high-quality early child education. Our comprehensive early care, education, and family services ensure that all children, regardless of circumstances, get the care they need, where they need it.
CA Department of Social Services: Need affordable internet? To learn more about low-cost plans, contact the Get Connected Call Center today! 833-938-3298.
Internet Essentials - Affordable Internet from Xfinity
Internet Essentials offers a reliable home internet connection to qualifying households with fast speed for learning, working, telehealth, and more.
San Mateo County Libraries provides a variety of equipment to strengthen our community and facilitate discovery and is proud to offer interactive items for checkout beyond traditional books and media. Library of Things is a curated collection of items to help you find joy, discovery and excitement. There's something for everyone and best of all, everything is free to checkout! Some items are available through their Equipment Reservation page, or Computers, Tech Help & Reservations while others are found on a first come, first served basis on their In-Luck library shelves.
T Mobile Project 10 Million Direct to Parent Guardian Eligibility
With Project 10Million, T-Mobile offers free hotspots with 200GBs of mobile data each year for five years, plus access to at-cost laptops and tablets, to 10 million eligible K-12 students.