Hayward Food Pantry Set to Close Friday After 50 Years of Service

After more than five decades of service, the South Hayward Parish Food Pantry is set to close its doors on Friday. The pantry, which has been a vital resource for the community, will cease operations due to the church’s need to reallocate resources to its homeless shelter services and aging facilities. Hallie Hottle, senior pastor at First Presbyterian Church of Hayward, shared the decision with Bay Area News Group, emphasizing the challenges of meeting growing demand while maintaining physical capacity.
Hottle noted that while countywide homelessness numbers have not shown a significant increase, the local experience has been different. In the past year and a half, she observed a rise in the number of people needing shelter, yet the available space has remained limited. “We can’t physically create more space, but we’re trying to create more services during the day to get more people housed more quickly,” she explained. This shift aims to free up shelter space for those waiting in line, reflecting a commitment to addressing immediate needs while working toward long-term solutions.
Since moving to its current location on Patrick Avenue in 2019, the pantry has served over 43,000 individuals. On average, it provides food to about 700 people per week, many of whom bring supplies home to larger households. The site has a rich history, having once served as the Westminster Hills Community Outreach Center, a hub for connecting homeless residents with essential services. Hottle described the loss of the pantry as a significant grief, underscoring its role as a community anchor.
The First Presbyterian Church of Hayward continues to operate its shelter, which has a capacity of about 25 residents. Despite a 13% decline in Alameda County’s homeless population since 2024, Hottle emphasized that the needs of vulnerable residents, particularly in the surrounding areas, are growing. “Homelessness is an issue everywhere, but it’s particularly visible in that area that we are in,” she said. The community, she noted, will need additional support to fill the gap left by the pantry’s closure.
The final food distributions will take place on Thursday and Friday from 1 to 4 p.m. at 27287 Patrick Ave. As the pantry closes, the church remains committed to its mission of care and compassion, seeking to meet the needs of the community through other means. The closure highlights the ongoing struggle to balance resource allocation with the ever-increasing demands of those in need, a challenge that calls for collective action and continued support.

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