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

"It's an honor to be able to pay it forward and help people of our community during this difficult time," says Thach Namer, owner of Élyse Restaurant. "We hope that with our hot and ready meals, people in need can enjoy a top-quality meal with a smile on their face."

Élyse Restaurant is a family-owned business in the heart of Downtown San José. This modern restaurant features French-Vietnamese cuisine in an upscale environment.

With the many impacts COVID-19 has made on our community, our #SiliconValleyStrongHeroes went to work to help others by offering delicious meals for free out of their own pockets.

On Thanksgiving day, Élyse Restaurant offered 1,000 meals to people in need. The flavorful plates that were given to participants included a turkey wild rice soup and your choice of shrimp fettuccine/roasted turkey stuffed with herbs, creamy mashed potatoes and a side of vegetables.

While the preparation took the restaurant staff hours, distributing the meals only took one hour.

"It was a humbling experience to be able to distribute so much food in one day! It made us realized how many more families are in need and why we must extend our generosity beyond the holidays," continues Namer.

With the heightened need for food security in our community, Élyse Restaurant plans to continue providing meals for our community at least once a month and during the holidays.

They are starting this distribution plan beginning Sunday, December 6, from 2:00 to 3:00 p.m. Our #SiliconValleyStrongHeroes plan to distribute 1,500 meals featuring a tasty chicken noodle soup and white rice with stir fried broccoli and filet mignon.

Élyse Restaurant requires participants to register by contacting their team on Facebook @ElyseRestaurant or by calling (408) 899-2762 to request a free meal. It is a grab and go distribution system and requires all participants to practice COVID-19 safety protocols such as social distancing and wearing a face covering at all times.

Through the generosity and kindness of their heart, our #SiliconValleyStrongHeroes are making a difference in our community by providing meals.

If you would like to help Élyse Restaurant continue to distribute meals, they are in need of volunteers and boxes. For more information, please visit them online at www.Elyserestaurant.com or by calling (408) 899-2762.

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