*This is a special feature from the City of San Jose, Department of Parks, Recreation and Neighborhood Services

From organizing mobile food events in San Francisco to delivering free groceries in San José – Off The Grid isn’t your ordinary food truck pop up.

“Our public events and technology bring communities of people together in fun, engaging ways over shared meals,” says Matt Cohen, CEO of Off The Grid (OTG).

“The relief programs have allowed us to bring together food communities in even more powerful and community-supportive ways— allowing for food businesses to survive while helping those in need.”

A pallet of fresh fruits and vegetables arrives at a local distribution center in San José. Photo Courtesy of OTG.

When the City of San José sought out partners to address rising demand for food, the idea of grocery delivery grew increasingly necessary to expand food assistance services for residents impacted by COVID-19.

As food banks across the Bay Area continue to see unprecedented demand for food, the City partnered with OTG and East San José’s Veggielution to create the San Jose COVID Food Relief Program.

Since October 21, the relief program has provided free food delivery service to residents at high risk of illness from COVID-19 and individuals who have been economically impacted.

Yet, when it comes to addressing the challenging demand for food assistance in San José, local organizations like OTG are able to overcome road-blocks efficiently, and most importantly– quickly.

“Community-based organizations with a clear goal are well suited to support these efforts by having dedicated teams to ensure efficient follow-through and achieve maximum results,” admits Cohen. “Through our programs, we were able to connect all stakeholders, provide targeted outreach, and offer comprehensive insights into the hardest-hit areas.”

The San Jose COVID Food Relief Program provides farm boxes through Veggielution, a San Jose-based farm-to-table concept located at Emma Prusch Farm Park in East San José. Photo Courtesy of OTG.

The San Jose COVID Food Relief Program is slated to run through December 30, but residents in need can access healthy and nutritious meals by meeting one of the following eligibility criteria:

• Any individual that meets the CDC definition of individuals at high risk for severe illness from COVID-19.
• Individuals who have suffered from employment or business interruptions due to COVID-19 related business closures and do not currently have other assistance in purchasing food or cooking meals on a consistent basis.

In order to determine if a resident will receive groceries or prepared meals, the application process asks interested individuals whether they are able to cook their own meals.

If a participant is unable to, OTG provides a slew of cuisine preferences so that residents can begin receiving freshly prepared meals in the comfort and safety of their home.

According to data provided by OTG, the Bay Area-based food provider has seen a steady increase in applications, with a 40 percent increase in approved applications.

Workers are seen unloading fresh produce and packing farm boxes to be sent out for delivery. Photo courtesy of OTG.

“We have seen a sizable increase in demand for this program since its inception,” says Cohen.  “As of December 1, we have delivered 19,741 meals and 17,194 grocery boxes in total.” 

In highlighting the critical need to assist Bay Area food banks like Second Harvest Food Bank of Silicon Valley, community partners like OTG are rising to the occasion to help take some of the burden off of institutions and government agencies to support impacted communities.  

By working with community-based organizations and local eateries who have also been economically impacted by COVID-19, the City of San José is working to meet increased demand and provide food assistance services for San José residents.  

“We’re helping keep residents off of other programs while also supporting the small businesses we work with,” Cohen explains.  “Now is the time to rally the troops and take action. These communities can’t afford to wait.” 

For more information on the San Jose COVID Food Relief program, visit them online at www.offthegrid.com/sjfoodrelief or by calling (408) 339-5888. To find out how you can access food resources in your neighborhood, please visit bit.ly/SCCFoodMap.   

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