Autumn brings thoughts of cool crisp days, pumpkin patches, warm apple pie and harvest time. It also ushers in a season of gratitude and a time of reflection. Thinking about this past year at CSA and our Food & Nutrition Center (FNC), we want to take this opportunity to thank the many wonderful businesses and organizations we work with throughout the year who help bring the harvest to our clients’ tables. CSA’s program served nearly 700,000 pounds of food to over 3,600 people in our community last year – a feat we could not have done by ourselves as it truly takes a village to care.
The food resources provided by our grocery rescue partners allows our clients to see pantry shelves and coolers filled every day with amazing products and offerings such as fresh vegetables, whole grains, dairy, meat and even seafood! These donations not only ease access to food resources for many, but also help meet the nutritional needs of our two largest populations in need – children and seniors.
A special note of thanks to the partners who have donated thousands of pounds of food for CSA clients – Blossom Valley Safeway (Mountain View), Cosmopolitan Catering (Sunnyvale), Nob Hill Raley’s (Santa Clara and Mountain View), Piazza’s Fine Foods (Palo Alto), Second Harvest of Silicon Valley, Sprouts (Mountain View), Trader Joe’s (Mountain View) and Whole Foods (Los Altos).
In addition to these businesses, we also want to recognize our continued partnerships with Hidden Villa (Los Altos), Village Harvest, and the many vendors of the Mountain View and Palo Alto Farmers’ Markets. These groups help bridge the gaps in produce by providing beautiful nutritious locally sourced fruits and vegetables throughout the year, the impact of which helps our program to focus on nutritional benefits of healthier eating for our clients.
“I am continuously taken aback by the volumes of food we receive from our partners every day and the sense of commitment that they share in providing resources for our clients,” says Christine Flego, FNC Director. “It is not just about reducing food waste, but truly about making an impact on individuals’ lives each day. Our community partners truly are unsung heroes in the battle against hunger.”