ALF Food Pantry

Serving residents of Atascadero, Templeton, Santa Margarita, Creston and California Valley.

ALF Food Pantry

ALF Food Pantry is a 501(c)(3) all-volunteer organization that began in 1984 with the mission to provide essential nourishment to those in need.
Federal Tax ID #77-0082730

Who We Are

The ALF Food Pantry is dedicated to providing nutritious groceries to the food-insecure residents of the communities we serve.

Each weekday morning, our flagship van picks up fresh rescue groceries throughout the north county. We receive deliveries from SLO Food Bank. We purchase other items we need. Our sustainable menu group ensures we are consistantly offering a variety of shelf-stable items, produce and meats of high quality and quantity. We accomplish this while staying within a budget of about $15,000 a month - averaging $750 a day - in addition to the donated food we receive.
North San Luis Obispo County and beyond continue to step up with private donations. Without them, ALF could not survive. Private and government grants generate about one-third of our budget, but two-thirds comes from individuals and business.
ALF was recognized as the Atascadero Chamber of Commerce Community Organization of the Year for 2024. We are a proud member of the Atascadero Chamber of Commerce.
ALF does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion (creed), gender, gender expression, age, national origin (ancestry), disability, marital status, sexual orientation, or military status in any of its activities or operations.

Our Impact in our Community

Watch video of our morning crews preparing boxes for our clients
We fill boxes every morning with produce, potatoes, onions, bread, canned goods, cereal, pasta and a variety of rescued food. We fill between 35 to 60 boxes daily based on the anticipated need.

Check out our hard working morning crews on these videos!

Watch video of our drivers picking up Fresh Rescue from groceries daily
We are fortunate to have our local grocery stores donate healthy food every day. We spend $15,000 monthly on staples such as milk, eggs, meat, and produce. The rescued food allows us to buy more essentials to provide our clients.

Watch this KSBY video of how food donated during the Season of Hope impacts our community.

ALF Board Matching Challenge

ALF Food Pantry is a designated 501(c)(3) nonprofit, and all donations are tax-deductible.

The ALF Food Pantry Board of Directors' 2025 Community Challenge Fundraiser originally pledged matching funds to $31,000 for donations made by October 1.
OF NOTE -This challenge continues as an additional $14,000 has been added to the Board of Directors’ Community Challenge Fund with a deadline for matching fund donations of Nov. 15. The total Board pledge is $45,000. Community donations have been generous. Please help us reach the goal for this fundraiser of $90,000 to be used to support the food insecure in our community.
Donations can be made through the Donate button below or by dropping off or mailing a check to the pantry at 5411 El Camino Real, Atascadero, CA 93422.

Great news! Rosemary's fundraiser met the goal!
Nine months ago Rosemary Dexter celebrated her 100th birthday with a donation to ALF Food Pantry. Her birthday wish was that her donation would grow into $100,000. This week that wish came true with a donation that took the total of Rosemary's fund to $100,172.52. Thank you to the community members who donated in honor of Rosemary and helped the food pantry provide groceries to the local food insecure.

ALF closed on these day

November 27-28
December 25