The San Francisco-based foundation will fund seven Bay Area food banks, meal sites and delivery services through 2024 as they face unprecedented demand caused by the COVID-19 pandemic
SAN FRANCISCO – The Koret Foundation today announced nearly $5 million in funding for seven Bay Area food banks and meal delivery services, to assist organizations serving the hungry as they face unprecedented demand resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic. These grants double support in the current fiscal year and provide funding through 2024. These grants will help ensure food-providing organizations are able to weather the long-term impacts of the crisis.
In recognition of Koret’s dual goals of strengthening the general and Jewish communities in the Bay Area, these funds will support food banks, as well as congregate meal sites—where families can safely pick up meals in socially distanced, outdoor facilities. The funds will also support grocery and meal delivery services for the elderly, immunocompromised, and others who are not able to leave the house or have lost in-home care. This funding will be vital for organizations that are facing increased demand for food services, a shortage of volunteers, and new strains caused by the pandemic, such as the need to move services outdoors.
Beneficiaries of the funding include:
• Alameda County Community Food Bank
• GLIDE Foundation
• Tri-Regional Jewish Community Food Program through Jewish Family and Children’s Services of San Francisco, Peninsula, Marin and Sonoma Counties
• Meals on Wheels San Francisco
• San Francisco-Marin Food Bank
• Second Harvest of Silicon Valley
• St. Anthony’s Foundation
“Koret is honored to work with these critical safety net organizations and grateful for their service to our region’s most vulnerable,” said Michael Boskin, president of the Koret Foundation. “As the pandemic has caused the number of people requiring assistance to skyrocket, we are doubling this year’s support and providing extended support so these programs have the financial stability to serve those who need it most. We hope that stepping up our funding in this way will encourage other donors to do the same.”
Since 1981, the Koret Food Program has funded major institutions that serve the community’s most vulnerable populations. Today, need for these organizations is soaring as furloughed or out-of-work Bay Area residents turn to them for help, many for the first time. At the same time, providers face new hurdles, such as the need to move away from serving people cafeteria-style and avoid clustering people into lines, due to the pandemic. The new grants will help address these and other issues raised by COVID-19.
“We are incredibly grateful to the Koret Foundation for their increased support and long-term commitment in this critical time of need,” said Leslie Bacho, chief executive officer for Second Harvest of Silicon Valley. “As this health and economic crisis evolves, we continue to see a growing proportion of the community in need. This long-term support allows us to continue to adapt to an evolving crisis and scale up to meet the soaring need in our community.”
“We anticipate that food assistance will remain one of the greatest needs of the Jewish community and the Bay Area overall for an extended period of time, requiring us to substantially increase our services,” said Nancy Masters, associate executive director of Jewish Family and Children’s Services of San Francisco, Peninsula, Marin and Sonoma Counties. “We are working closely with Bay Area synagogues, Jewish Community Centers, and many Jewish and non-Jewish organizations to connect hungry families and seniors with nutrition assistance. Koret’s support allows us to meet the community need now and in the future.”
To be connected with the Koret Foundation to discuss these grants and the issue of food insecurity in the Bay Area, please contact Tony Franquiz at [email protected] or 202-374-5393.
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About the Koret Foundation
The Koret Foundation is committed to strengthening the Bay Area and supporting the Jewish community in the U.S. and Israel through strategic grantmaking to outstanding organizations. Grounded in historical Jewish principles and traditions, and dedicated to humanitarian values, the Foundation is committed to innovation, testing new ideas, and serving as a catalyst by bringing people and organizations together to help solve societal and systemic problems of common concern. Learn more about the Koret Foundation and its grantees at koret.org.
