An Oakland restaurant’s viral Instagram post last week had a ripple effect in the Bay Area: “Monster Pho will now offer children a free meal until the SNAP is funded,” it said. Several other restaurants then followed Monster Pho in offering free meals to the thousands of people who don’t have money to buy food this month because their Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits have stalled during the federal government shutdown. On Friday, two federal judges ordered the Trump administration…
Saba Grocers Initiative plans to launch a community-owned food hub by March to distribute fresh local and affordable food to 50 corner stores, schools, hospitals, and food banks across Alameda County. But to fully realize its vision, Saba is asking the community to help raise $1.5 million. In September, the nonprofit received a $2 million grant from the California Department of Food and Agriculture’s Farm to Community Food Hubs program as part of a $13.8 million investment in food system infrastructure…