How Can I Get Food and Gift Help for Christmas and Thanksgiving in Berkeley, California?

Berkeley is located on the San Francisco bay.

Even though the San Francisco Bay Area has one of the highest income brackets in the country, many of the residents have a hard time making ends meet on a monthly basis. When the holiday season rolls around, the added expense involved in feeding the family and buying gifts are often just over the financial edge for poor families and homeless individuals. Fortunately, cities like Berkeley -- known around the world for its progressive politics -- is home to several different organizations dedicated to helping those in need -- during the holidays and throughout the year.

Instructions

1. Head to Cafe Gratitude on Thanksgiving. Every year the five locations of Cafe Gratitude in the Bay area serve free thanksgiving meals that are open and available to the general public. No reservations are needed and the meal is meant a means of giving back and showing their appreciation to the restaurant's customers and the community. Cafe Gratitude in Berkeley is located at 1730 Shattuck Avenue.

2. At Christmas time, those who need gift or food help should head to the Epworth United Methodist Church. During the five weeks of advent preceding Christmas, this church stocks a food barrel with healthy non-perishable foods that are donated to those in need. The church also supplies holiday gift bags to the homeless and those in need, which come with hats, socks, gloves and other cold weather essential clothing. The Epworth United Methodist Church is located at 1853 Hopkins Street.

3. For help with food, housing or other issues on both Thanksgiving and Christmas -- or at any other time of the year -- talk to the folks at the Berkeley Food and Housing Project. This non-profit organization provides free meals Monday through Friday to anyone who shows up, and offers a wide variety of other programs to help those in need. Housing assistance, monetary management, medical services and even emergency shelter are all available at the Berkeley Food and Housing Project, located at 1931 Center Street, in the basement of the Veterans building.

References

• Cafe Gratitude: Free Thanksgiving Feast
• Epworth United Methodist Church: Serving Those In Need
• Berkeley Food and Housing Project: Programs and Services