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

“The relief programs have allowed us to bring together food communities in even more powerful and profound ways; allowing for food businesses to survive through supporting those in need,” said Matt Cohen, CEO of Off the Grid (OTG), a Bay Area mobile food company providing COVID-19 relief food and meals in San José.

“It’s really just bringing us back to our core mission and values of supporting the community and amplifying local food businesses on the fringes.”

As recipients of the City of San José’s Collective Impact Grant, OTG has pivoted from organizing mobile food truck events to providing food for San José residents facing food insecurity.

The San José COVID Food Relief Program procures food from local sources and distributes boxes of fresh produce to residents in need. Photo courtesy of Off The Grid.

The San José COVID Food Relief Program is a temporary food program providing locally-sourced produce and groceries to San José residents impacted by economic hardship or belong to a high-risk populating.

In collaboration with the City of San José, Veggielution, Fresh Approach and San José conservation Corps, OTG’s focus has shifted to a regional effort to feed the City's most vulnerable residents.

According to Feeding America’s report on “The Impact of Coronavirus on Food Insecurity”, California is expected to see the largest increase in the number of people living in food-insecure households.

As the City continues to feed at-risk residents in 2021, collaborations between nonprofits, city organizations, and private-sector parties are crucial to ongoing food distribution efforts.

“By putting all of our tools in place, we’re able to create channels that target the most affected individuals effectively while simultaneously supporting local businesses in need of new revenue streams,” Cohen explained during an email exchange.

“Community-based organizations with a clear lead, like Off the Grid, are well suited to support these efforts by having dedicated teams to ensure efficient follow-through and achieve maximum results.”

Boxes of fresh produce are packed into boxes before going out for delivery. Volunteers and nonprofits are vital to food distribution efforts in the City of San José. Photo courtesy of Veggielution.

Since OTG has transitioned to emergency relief, the mobile food provider has delivered tens of thousands of meals to high-risk seniors and food insecure individuals throughout San José.

With the help of volunteers, community-based organizations, and nonprofits, the City is working with a several partners to increase meal access.

However, programs like the San José COVID Food Relief Program aim to not only help residents find food, it also provides a blueprint on helping businesses recover from the economic impact of COVID-19.

Similar programs like Great Plates Delivered and Chef’s Market in San José are popping up across the South Bay to find solutions for business partners and residents alike.

In tandem with local food banks like Second Harvest Food Bank and numerous food distribution locations throughout San José, initiatives like the San José COVID Food Relief Program has contributed to nearly 172,175 daily meals for residents in need, according to City Food dashboard data.

“Through our programs, we were able to connect all stakeholders, provide targeted outreach, and offer comprehensive insights into the hardest-hit areas,” said Cohen.

“The tools to support this space were there all along at OTG, and we’re humbled that we can use them now in new and impactful ways.”

Residents in need of food assistance can access resources and services by visiting www.mysourcewise.com/meals. Residents in need of GPD services can call 211, 408-30-3230, option 1 and visit www.SiliconValleyStrong.org/GPD 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".