Amma's Pantry

The Amma's Pantry Project was started in January 2013 as a collaboration between MA Center in San Ramon and the Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano. Food donations are brought to MA Center then transferred to the Food Bank of CCS, where the food is weighed, sorted, and distributed into the community, including to shelters, food kitchens, and by truck into different neighborhoods where there is need.

Amma’s Pantry participants who aren’t able to drop off food in person also make online donations to the Food Bank.
Since Amma's Pantry started in 2013, through the community's generosity, broad heartedness, and Amma's Grace, we have collected a total of 25,000 lbs of food and over $39,000. That equals more than 99,000 meals for local food-insecure individuals and families. A heartfelt Thank You to all who have generously contributed over the years.

Beginning with Amma’s Birthday in September 2024, we are shifting from a bimonthly food and donations drive model to encouraging all attendees of our Saturday Satsang programs at MA Center in San Ramon to bring one can of food with them each time they come to the program. (Low sodium, easy open canned beans, soups, chili, ravioli, vegetables, fruits, tomato products.)

In addition, we will organize a larger quarterly drive around specific holidays: Valentine’s Day, Mother’s Day, Amma’s Birthday, and Thanksgiving. For these quarterly drives, we will ask for specific, seasonal items, and also provide a link to donate funds directly to the Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano Counties.

The regular donations of canned goods will be brought to the Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano Counties. For the quarterly food drives, we will alternate between the FBCCS and the Alameda County Food Bank.

It is our hope that, by opening up the Amma’s Pantry initiative to our entire community, we can create a culture of each visit to the ashram being a way to remember those who are in a moment of need in their lives, and could use a helping hand. In this small way, by bringing just one can of food with us to every program we attend, we can each be one of Amma’s hands.

For information or to participate in the Project, email Amma's Pantry at ammaspantrysr@gmail.com