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

“This partnership will allow restaurants to start rehiring people or keep people currently employed and start preparing meals… and have those meals delivered to our seniors all throughout the state of California,” announced Governor Gavin Newsom on April 24, 2020.

When the governor announced the Emergency Feeding Program framework more than nine months ago, the City of San José launched the Great Plates Delivered (GPD) program, resulting in over 6,000 delivered meals for seniors per week.

In collaboration with World Central Kitchen’s restaurant partners and third party delivery services – San José seniors are able to access nutritious meals delivered safely to their doorstep.

“For what you do for me, I couldn't be more appreciative,” said Diane Warren, a 75-year-old resident of East San José who lives alone and has received GPD meals since September 2020.

“It has helped me a lot since I don't drive and it's hard for me to get around with my wheelchair.”

Freshly prepared meals are stacked on top of each other before going out for delivery. Photo courtesy of Bloom Catering.

Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, the City has explored all available avenues to feed our most vulnerable residents, particularly at-risk populations in seniors and individuals living with a disability.

As an extension of ongoing state and city efforts to provide food assistance for vulnerable populations, the GPD program helps stimulate local restaurant recovery while feeding seniors, a win-win for all involved.

Just last week, the GPD program provided 1,231 daily meals and 6,157 meals in total, according to City food dashboard data.

“Receiving these meals has been a blessing to me,” said a 74-year-old female recipient living in East San José who agreed to speak on condition of anonymity.

“The food has great salads and low sodium. When these folks prepare the meals, they seem to take precaution to serve the meals that are healthy for senior citizens.” she added.

For many older adults participating in the statewide program, GPD delivers up to three daily meals from partner restaurants and through delivery partner, Hungry.

Meals prepared by Yolked restaurant in Morgan Hill are packed and ready for delivery later that day. Photo Courtesy of Yolked.

Not only are the meals prepared locally by mom and pop restaurants, but they also eliminate the need for low income, immune-compromised seniors to go grocery shopping and venture outside their homes.

GPD is a unique program in that restaurant partners are chosen based on eligibility requirements such as being female, minority or immigrant-owned, including small family-owned eateries.

In a statement released by the California Governor's Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES), GPD has served over three million meals in 37 cities and counties.

“Great Plates Delivered is the first program of its type in the country and has already proven highly successful serving nearly 4 million meals to vulnerable Californians during a time of great need,” stated CAL OES in summer of 2020.

Since the program’s creation, GPD has helped support local restaurant partners by providing economic stimulus for the local businesses preparing meals for seniors.

And when it comes to serving our most vulnerable populations, GPD’s impact in East San José has helped participants living in Santa Clara County’s most impacted region access nutritious meals in their time of need.

Humanitarian chef José Andrés’ nonprofit organization, World Central Kitchen, helps select restaurant partners by working with local city agencies and community-based organizations to determine areas of high need. Photo courtesy of World Central Kitchen.

“I am grateful and give thanks for your kindness in starting this program, given that COVID has destroyed many lives and abilities to survive as before,” said our anonymous interviewee.

“I look forward to the meals and not having to worry about when my next meal will come from.”

As of this story’s publication, there are 1,361 total participants receiving delivered meals from GPD, with a total of 1,937 meal recipients since the end of 2020.

GPD clients are supported by community resource specialists from Sourcewise, a Santa Clara-based 501 (c)(3) nonprofit organization providing resources and services for adults and their caregivers.

Residents in need of GPD services can call 211, 408-30-3230, option 1 and visit www.SiliconValleyStrong.org/GPD or www.mysourcewise.com  to sign up today.

To find out how you can access food resources in your neighborhood, please visit bit.ly/SCCFoodMap. You can also visit siliconvalleystrong.org, call 2-1-1, a 24-hour multilingual service or text your zip code to "898211".