Parks, Recreation & Neighborhood Services News

#SILICONVALLEYSTRONGHEROES - Off The Grid Provides Emergency Food Services & Community Connection Bringing Restaurants Together

Post Date:08/26/2021 12:00 PM

*This is a special feature from the City of San José, Department of Parks, Recreation and Neighborhood Services 
“We’re promoting community connection and community creation by finding new foods & cultures, and bringing restaurants together that wouldn’t normally have the opportunity to do so,” says Dylan Lester, Head of Operations for Community Care and Food Responder program with Off The Grid (OTG).

OTG, founded in June of 2010, is a local organization whose mission is to bring people together through the shared love of food. They are driven to help communities in need by connecting them to local food businesses throughout the Bay Area.

This week’s #SiliconValleyStrongHeroes is the team at Off The Grid and the individuals who make it possible to provide delicious and nutritious meals to residents in the community that need food assistance.

Since the start of the pandemic, OTG has emphasized their focus in bringing food resources to members of the community. They rely on “Food Responders”-- food truck operators, local catering companies, and restaurants who are dedicated to quickly deploy food in the wake of any emergency—to accomplish their mission.

Off the Grid staff preparing meals in food containers
“Food Responders” prepare hot meals for residents in need.

Beginning last year at the start of the pandemic to now, Off The Grid has served approximately 340,000 meals to San José residents in this program. During this time, they have partnered with at nearly 20 local restaurants & food businesses, as well as 34 different couriers to deliver the food resources to the residents.

Veggielution, one of their non-profit partners, has been key in bringing the grocery program at Off The Grid, to life. They have helped bring fresh ingredients through delivery boxes as well as prepping meals for those who may not have access to a kitchen. This partnership with Veggielution has served 172,000 individuals.

In addition, they have added to their emergency programs. With events such as wildfires and earthquakes common in California, they also aid food insecure individuals by expanding their network of Food Responders in-case of all types of natural disasters.

Firefighters holding meals from Off the Grid
CalFire Firefighters with well-appreciated meals while fighting fires.

While providing emergency services, they can provide “cool-looking” food trucks that serve delicious street foods. Residents are able to enjoy the outdoors with a fun ambience and even cater for bigger events if they would like to.

“I think what makes a community unique and vibrant is to have diversity in those that operate and live there. It’s core to our DNA here at Off The Grid”, says Ashleigh Bilodeaux, VP of Community Care

Thank you to all the #SiliconValleyStrongHeroes at Off The Grid and their community partners, who are bringing meals to those in need in our community.

Off the Grid food in boxes ready for food distribution
Individuals at the American Red Cross pictured next to boxes of prepared meals for those in need.

If you're a local restaurant or food business who would like to partner with Off The Grid and help those in need visit offthegrid.com/food-responders/ to signup and become an Official Off the Grid Food Responder.

If you're interested in finding the Bay Area's top Food Trucks visit Off the Grid's food truck locator page here offthegrid.com/events/

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

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