“Hunger at Home serves as a conduit between the business and nonprofit communities to channel excess food and surplus goods to homeless and hungry individuals and families, and projecting at providing 2.5 Million meals (annually) since the start of the pandemic in March 2020,” shares Ewell Sterner, Executive Director of Hunger at Home (HAH).

Executive Director Ewell Sterner, ensuring our community is in good hands. Photo Courtesy by the nonprofit Hunger at Home in San Jose, Calif.

(HAH) is preparing and packaging hot meals to the community during the pandemic. They had the capacity to change their business model from food rescue to food production. With a network of talented chefs, passionate volunteers and incredible partners, they were able to pivot quickly to serve the community during this emergency.

Hunger at Home is one of the beneficiaries awarded a @CityofSJ’s Collective Impact Grant (CIG), which provides Community-Based-Organizations with additional funding for food and necessity distributions in needed areas of San José. Partnering with other organizations, they have increased their capacity and scaled up their distribution.

Sysco a partner serving the community with pallets full of food and necessities. Photo Courtesy by the nonprofit Hunger at Home in San Jose, Calif.

“We are able to serve the community between ten to forty thousand meals a day with the help and generosity of financial donors and city grants,” said Sterner. “ Increasing the meals served each day, from 1.2 million to 2.5 million annually through the funding has allowed to purchase necessary essentials channeling excess food and surplus goods to hungry and homeless individuals and families affected by Covid-19.”

In addition, HAH has helped distribute much needed items like towels, blankets, kitchen items, and hygiene kits. This also helps their client base of non-profit partners with job training and placement in the very businesses that donate excess food.

With the increase of food demands (HAH) serves about 500 cars a service day. Since the start, they have loaded more than 20,800 meals into vehicles, including 21,000 pounds of fruits, vegetables, chicken and other groceries. Unfortunately, HAH realizes the lines of residents exceed the needs of the community.

A long line of clients in their cars wait for a free food give-away. Photo Courtesy by the nonprofit Hunger at Home in San Jose, Calif.

However, for those residents they can assist, Sterner reminds us that HAH wants to “Make it a great day!” And, it does, thanks to grants like (CIG) which help organizations meet the needs of their clients. Hunger at Home appreciates their donors and grants, allowing them to reach vulnerable San José residents when they need it most.

Hunger at Home esteem chefs prepare hot fresh meals to local residents. Photo Courtesy by the nonprofit Hunger at Home in San Jose, Calif.

Hunger at Home is in need of donations, partners and volunteers. Learn more by visiting https://hungerathome.org/ today.

To find out how you can access food resources in your neighborhood, please visit bit.ly/SCCFoodMap. #SiliconValleyStrong #SJCares #KeepSJHealthy