Welcome to WRO

We hope that you are staying  healthy and safe.   We want to update and share with you the City of San José’s efforts  in providing available food resources for our community.   

Participating non-profits, faith-based and City nutrition sites are updated as information becomes available to us.  Residents can access information regarding food distribution every Monday by using the City’s Food distribution map (bit.ly/SVStrongFood).  We strongly encourage you to check in advance with the site for current days and hours of food distribution as information may have changed or updated by the food-providing agency. 

TO GET FOOD:  
• Call 2-1-1, a 24-hour, multi-lingual service  
• Text your zip code to 89821  
• Call 800-984-3663, Second Harvest of Silicon Valley’s toll-free hotline or   
• Text GETFOOD to 408-455-5181 to request assistance from Second Harvest  

You can access all of the Meal Information flyers in English, Spanish, Vietnamese and Chinese at the following link: FOOD DISTRIBUTION TOOLKIT AND INFORMATION

SAN JOSE FOOD DISTRIBUTION DURING INDIGENOUS PEOPLES’ DAY HOLIDAY:
With the Indigenous Peoples’ Day Holiday next week (October 11), please note the following food and meal distribution changes:
• SENIOR NUTRITIONAL PROGRAM (SNP) sites will be closed (as well as San José Community Centers).  Shelf Stable meals will be available from your SNP on October 8, in advance of the Indigenous People’s Day Holiday.  Please check with your SNP program in advance.
• • MEALS ON WHEELS will deliver as normal on the Indigenous People’s Day Holiday.  

DO YOUR PART TO SLOW THE SPREAD - COVID-19 VACCINE INFORMATION
RESIDENTS AGES 12 AND OVER MAY BE ABLE TO GET FREE VACCINE
San José residents ages 12 and over are now eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine.  
IMPORTANT UPDATES:  For more info, contact your medical provider or visit sccfreevax.org

COMMUNITY GROUPS PROVIDE FOOD AND NECESSITIES
The following is a partial list of organizations that are providing food and necessities. Participation may be based on several factors including qualifications and program space availability.
We strongly encourage you to check in advance with the organization for eligibility requirements, availability, current days and hours of food distribution as information may have changed or updated by the agency. 

• SECOND HARVEST OF SILICON VALLEY - www.shfb.org/get-food/
• SOURCEWISE: will provide additional opportunities for San José residents to participate in Meals on Wheels.   www.sourcewise.com
• VEGGIELUTION: will provide fresh produce and prepared meals.   www.veggielution.org
• SCHOOL OF ARTS AND CULTURE at MEXICAN HERITAGE PLAZA: Food distribution events and no-cost COVID testing. www.schoolofartsandculture.org/food-distribution
• HUNGER AT HOME: provides meals and food bags  to those in need. https://hungerathome.org/covid-response/
• LOAVES & FISHES - has an A La Carte program that brings edible foods to various neighborhoods.  For more information, please check their calendar:  https://www.loavesfishes.org/a-la-carte
o They also partner with several other agencies to provide shelf stable meals and hot prepared meals:
 MARTHA’S KITCHEN  -  https://www.marthas-kitchen.org
 GOODWILL INDUSTRIES - https://www.loavesfishes.org/goodwill
 SEVENTH DAY ADVENTIST CHURCH - https://www.loavesfishes.org/vietnamese-seventh-day...
• HEALING HEALTH GROVE CENTER: Food distribution and no-cost COVID testing. www.healinggrove.org

CALFRESH FOODS – YOU CAN QUALIFY EVEN IF TEMPORARILY IMPACTED BY COVID-19
Another program you may be able to access is the CalFresh Foods program. Food benefits are available to individuals and families who have been impacted by COVID-19. CalFresh provides monthly food benefits based on household income and expenses at the time of application. Even if temporary, individuals and families who have experienced a change in their circumstances may apply for CalFresh through one of California’s 58 counties. You can visit GetCalFresh.org to apply or call 1-877-847-3663 (FOOD) to be connected to their local county social service office.  

WIC – YOU CAN QUALIFY EVEN IF YOU RECEIVE CALFRESH OR OTHER ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS
WIC provides important health resources for children up to five years of age you may be raising.  This includes women, grandparents, single fathers and foster parents who meet the income requirements.  For more information and to see if you qualify, visit myfamily.wic.ca.gov to take a simple eligibility assessment, or call (408) 792-5101 to get connected to your local WIC office.

VIRTUAL LOCAL ASSISTANCE CENTER - GET THE HELP AND INFORMATION YOU NEED
The Virtual Local Assistance Center is a one stop “go to” for information you need to help you during the Coronavirus-19 pandemic.  You can find information on Food Resources, Housing, Employment, Health & Wellness, Utilities and Immigrant Resources.  Go to www.sanjoseca.gov/vlac or call 3-1-1 and you will find links to all of these areas. If you can’t find what you’re looking for, don’t worry.  There’s information on how you can find the information you are looking for.

SJ ACCESS CAN HELP YOU GET INTERNET AND CONNECTED
SJ Access is a City of San José initiative to provide residents and students access to all things digital: internet, free Wi-Fi, and digital literacy programs and opportunities. SJ Access helps households with little or no internet access get connected by partnering with school districts and businesses, installing outdoor Wi-Fi access at City libraries and community centers, and lending new and refurbished devices at no cost. For more information, go to https://www.sjpl.org/sjaccess

BEHIND ON ENERGY BILLS?  
Electricity customers have been protected from having their power turned off due to nonpayment since the start of the pandemic (March 2020). These protections expired on September 30, 2021. After September 30, any residential customers with a balance that’s more than 60 days past due will be automatically enrolled in a 24-month payment plan. Income-qualifying residential customers can still choose to enroll in the state’s Arrearage Management Plan for debt forgiveness (up to $8,000). Visit www.SanJoseCleanEnergy.org/Discount-Programs or call 833-432-2454 for more information.

“CALLING ALL VOLUNTEERS!”  WE NEED YOUR HELP - There is still a great need for #ESSENTIALVolunteers to help nonprofits distribute food necessities to our community and to assist with vaccine site facilitation. 

START THE MONTH OFF VOLUNTEERING! Nonprofits need volunteers to help with vaccine sites, nonprofit & school site food distribution, and more. #SiliconValleyStrong

Submit an application through SV Strong to be matched where there is a high need for support. Volunteer opportunities include organizations such as Veggielution, Sourcewise, Martha's Kitchen, Second Harvest of Silicon Valley, local school districts and many others doing critical work across the region: https://siliconvalleystrong.org/volunteer/

• Second Harvest of Silicon Valley
o Help with various food distributions like sorting foods in the warehouse or delivering foods to homes.
o Sign Up: https://www.shfb.org/give-help/volunteer/

• Community Services Agency
o Prep and distribute food Monday-Fridays, 9:00am-5:30pm, 3 hours shifts.
o Email to sign up: lclark@csacares.org 

• Sacred Heart Community Service
o Sort food Monday-Thursday and Saturday for 2-3 hours
o Monday-Thursday Shift: 8:30-11:30, 11:30-2:30, 2:30-4:30
o Saturday Shift: 9am-12pm
o Sign Up: https://sacredheartcs.org/volunteer/ 

• The Health Trust
o Sort food on the 1st and 3rd Thursdays and 1st Wednesday  of the month 11am-2pm

• Sourcewise
o Build emergency first aid kits and/or become a Sourcewise Ambassador and bring companionship to a homebound senior. Minimum 1 hour a week commitment for 2 months.
o Sign Up: https://www.mysourcewise.com/commitment

• Veggielution
o Help pack farm boxes with fresh produce. Workdays are Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday at San Jose Conservation Corps & Charter School. Shifts are 8am-1pm or 9am-12pm (optional shorter shift).
o Sign Up: https://veggielution.org/farm-box

• Martha's Kitchen
o Prep and serve food Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Fridays.
o Sign Up: http://www.marthas-kitchen.org/
o Or email to sign up: volunteers@marthas-kitchen.org

• The Salvation Army, Silicon Valley
o 1) Loading cars for food box distribution OR 2) checking in individuals and families arriving for food pick-up.
o Sign Up: https://volunteer.usawest.org/OpportunityListPage.aspx