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

“The work we do is so helpful to so many,” said Therese Lehane, Pastoral Care Director at St. Martin of Tours Church in San José. “It feels good to be so close to the clients—actually handing the food we have, into the hands of someone in need.”

The Food Box program at St. Martin of Tours is a monthly food distribution initiative that helps residents in need receive essential food resources.

Distribution is on the 3rd Friday of every month, where participants can pick up pre-packed boxes of non-perishable items, as well as pre-packed portions of fresh produce, dairy products, and meat from 4 – 5 pm at the St. Martin of Tours parking lot in San José.

The program has transitioned into a contactless, drive up service to ensure the safety of volunteers and participants while adhering to all Santa Clara County COVID-19 safety regulations.

The Food Box offers pre-packed boxes of food to anyone in the community who is in need of a helping hand.

Established under the Families First Coronavirus Response Act in March, the USDA recently announced a 15 percent increase in the amount of daily benefit amounts to continue supporting low-income households last month.

Since March, The Food Box program has seen an increase in participation and are aware that more members in our community are facing food insecurity than ever before.

“During COVID, we have seen many new faces at our distributions,” added Karen Guldan, Food Box Program Coordinator. “So many of our neighbors have been impacted during the pandemic, so we are fortunate to be able to continue to serve this growing population of food-insecure clients.”

Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, The Food Box program offered a Wellness Pantry, where residents in need could “shop” for specific items they needed. Through partnership with Second Harvest Food Bank, they were able to offer a variety of nutritious foods, including fresh produce, dairy, and meat.

Through years of being a vital resource for so many, Food Box program at St. Martin of Tours has proven their dedication to our community and will continue offering food resources to any and all residents in need.

The Food Box requires the help of volunteers to continue their essential operations. Volunteers work from 3 pm- 5:30 pm on the day of distribution and assist by bagging produce, setting up the designated drive through area, and distributing boxes.

All who are interested, from seasoned volunteers to first-time participators, are encouraged to sign up to assist one the upcoming food distributions. To volunteer, contact kguldan@gmail.com or (408) 410-3222.

For more information on how you can access and find food resources in your neighborhood, visit bit.ly/SCCFoodMap. #SiliconValleyStrong #SVEats #KeepSVHealthy