Supervisor Fewer helps deliver the 250,000th bag of groceries
SAN FRANCISCO (December 13, 2018) – The San Francisco-Marin Food Bank’s Home-Delivered Groceries (HDG) program made its 250,000 delivery this December. San Francisco Supervisor Sandra Fewer was on hand, joining the Richmond Neighborhood Center (RNC) and Richmond Senior Center (on December 13) to deliver groceries to the Pham family in San Francisco’s Richmond District. Supervisor Fewer will also present a special certificate to mark the 250,000th bag milestone.
“Food security is a critical part of what makes and sustains a healthy neighborhood. In the Richmond District, we take care of each other, and we take care of our neighbors,” says Supervisor Fewer. “This dynamic Home Delivered Groceries program allows seniors, the fastest growing population in the Richmond District, to age-in-place with community support. I am so appreciative of the collaborative partnership and the volunteer-powered effort that make this 250,000th grocery delivery milestone, and many more future ones, possible.”
Founded in 2011, the Home-Delivered Groceries Program serves 1,998 homebound seniors and 467 adults with disabilities in San Francisco every week. The program aims to provide nutritious food to vulnerable neighbors, as well as reduce loneliness and foster connections among community members.
“For thousands of homebound residents in San Francisco, a weekly knock on the door brings not only a delivery of fresh groceries but a friendly visit and some human contact with people who don’t get outdoors very much,” says Jillian Tse, Program Coordinator for the Food Bank’s Home-Delivered Groceries program.
One of the Food Bank’s most successful collaborations is with the Richmond Senior Center and the Richmond Neighborhood Center (RNC), dating back to 2015. Every week, this partnership delivers groceries to 116 seniors and 7 adults with disabilities. Since 2015, the partnership has carried and delivered over 385,000 lbs of groceries to neighbors in need.
“The Richmond Neighborhood Center and our partners at the Richmond Senior Center have been so pleased to see the positive impact the home-delivered groceries program has on our clients.” says Yves Xavier, Neighborhood Services Program Manager for The Richmond Neighborhood Center. “Our unique model capitalizes on the deep community roots of two neighborhood-based organizations to effectively match local volunteers one-to-one with a home-bound resident in the area. Because a volunteer delivers to the same person every week, they really form a bond. We’ve seen this enrich both our volunteers’ and clients’ lives and ultimately help fight the negative effects of social isolation so many of our home-bound residents deal with.”
The HDG program is funded by San Francisco’s Department of Aging and Adult Services (DAAS). Fourteen faith-based and community-based organizations coordinate volunteers and staff to make weekly deliveries. The Food Bank provides 25 pounds (on average) of food weekly –chicken, pasta or rice, and lots of fresh, seasonal produce. This food is tailored to the nutritional needs of seniors and people who are less active because of mobility challenges.
This program is needed now, more than ever as an estimated 16.3% of seniors face the threat of hunger in California. In San Francisco, the need is even more acute, since food costs are estimated to be 23% higher here than nationally. In addition, the population of seniors in San Francisco continues to grow. In 2016, older adults comprised 20% of that population but are projected to rise to 26% by 2030.
WHAT:
- The delivery of the 250,000th Home Delivered Grocery Bay to a Food Bank participant.
WHEN:
- December 13, 2018 2:00pm (bag assembly) 4:30pm (bag delivery – location tbd)
WHERE:
- Richmond Neighborhood Center 741 30th Ave. San Francisco
WHO:
- Volunteers with Richmond Neighborhood Center and Richmond Senior Center.
- The Pham family will receive the 250,000th bag
- San Francisco Supervisor Sandy Fewer (represents the Richmond District)
- Jillian Tse, Food Bank HDG lead.
**All will be available for interviews on site**
MEDIA CONTACT:
Maria Stokes
Director of Marketing and Communications – San Francisco-Marin Food Bank
(office) 415-282-1907 ext. 270; (cell) 415-3128750
mstokes@sfmfoodbank.org
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About the San Francisco-Marin Food Bank
The San Francisco-Marin Food Bank’s mission is to end hunger in San Francisco and Marin, where one in four neighbors is at risk of hunger. We envision a community where everyone can obtain enough nutritious food in a dignified manner to support the health and well-being of themselves and their families. We address hunger head on: from our pantry network and home-delivered groceries, to our nutrition-education classes and CalFresh food-stamp enrollment, we work in many ways to nourish and empower neighbors in need. Every week, 30,000 households count on us for food assistance. Nearly 60 percent of what we distribute is fresh fruits and vegetables. Learn more at www.sfmfoodbank.org.
About The Richmond Neighborhood Center
The Richmond Neighborhood Center is a nonprofit public benefit organization dedicated to improving and enriching the Richmond District community by addressing critical community needs and fostering respect for all people and the environment. For over 35 years, we have worked to nurture our diverse urban community by providing youth programs at nine area schools, supplying food to over 1800 families and seniors in need each week, and a variety of wellness classes and community events. Learn more at https://richmondsf.org/
About Richmond Senior Center
The Richmond Senior Center’s mission is to help older adults and adults with disabilities live comfortable, safe, active and happy lives. Our neighborhood-based center fosters healthy aging through activities, nutrition, education and friendship. The Center is free and welcomes people of all races and orientations, with staff and volunteers fluent in English, Russian, Cantonese and Mandarin. We embrace and celebrate older adulthood, hosting a positive, empowered community and providing a supportive home-away-from-home. Learn more at http://ggsenior.org/
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