“The food is delicious!” shared Josette, a home-bound San José senior who found vital help in the Great Plates Delivered (GPD) program.

At the Great Plates Delivered program, #FoodHeroes are working together and tirelessly to make nutritious meals available to vulnerable residents who are currently unable to leave their homes, especially seniors. Speaking with several senior residents in San José, program staff learned that many have come to benefit from the statewide program and rely on it as a source of food security.

The program’s two goals are to help seniors and other at-risk adults stay home and stay healthy by delivering two meals a day, while providing essential economic stimulus to local businesses. They accomplish these two objectives by connecting the food providers, namely local restaurants, with the residents.

Since the program began in May, Great Plates Delivered has expanded to reach more and more residents; currently it is up to more than 2,000 meals a day and more than 10,000 meals per week.

The basic idea of the statewide program is to connect local restaurants with residents in need of food assistance.

Most seniors that receive this meal delivery service are vulnerable and at risk because of health conditions. One resident confided that because both her and her husband have diabetes, they “have been staying-in-place even before it was recommended. [Early on] food was limited.” Turning to the community for help, they eventually found out about the Great Plates Delivered program.

The food itself has been a big hit with the residents and are encouraged to see a diverse selection of restaurants providing food, from Vietnamese to Italian restaurants.

When the same residents had a problem with a particular restaurant, they were able to contact the local program administrators, who fixed the problem right away. They were very pleased with the quick response.

Josette added that she is “so grateful for those who make the program work. They are the friendliest people. There are a lot of seniors out there who need it.”

“It was a life-saver,” shared another homebound-San José resident, “[we’re] extremely grateful for Great Plates Delivered! This program is a Godsend, I don’t know what I would do without it. I hope it gets extended.

The State of California recently extended the program through September 9 and those in need can still apply for the program.

If you are a homebound senior in need or know one, please fill out the Great Plates Delivered Eligibility & Intake Form today. Residents in need of Great Plates Delivered services can call 211 or 408-350-3230, option 1, and visit www.SiliconValleyStrong.org/GPD or www.mysourcewise.com to sign up today.

For more information on how you can access and find food resources in your neighborhood, visit bit.ly/SCCFoodMap. ##SiliconValleyStrong #SVEats #KeepSVHealthy