Food Security

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Food Security *

Hot meals, grocery bags

and more! 

VACCEB’s Food Security program which includes both our congregate (hot meals) and meal bag programs (for fresh fruits/vegetables) serves low-income seniors across Alameda County, particularly hard-to-reach folks residing in Alameda, Oakland, San Leandro, San Lorenzo and Hayward. On average we serve 2,400 meals monthly three days a week to our community members.

Applicants must meet at least one of the following eligibility criteria: qualify as low-income, participate in public assistance program(s) (e.g., SNAP, Medicaid/Medi-Cal, subsidized housing, TANF, SSI, etc.), attend VACCEB ESL classes, or be a senior citizen (aged 65+).

  • VACCEB collaborates with a range of partners, including the County of Alameda, Area Agency (AAA) for the Elderly, Mercy Church and Regeneration Church, and Alameda Community Food Bank for initiatives such as AAA Congregate Meals and AAA CalFresh. Through coordinated efforts, we provide State-compliant nutritious meals three days a week to vulnerable populations, promoting health and well-being in our communities.

    What differentiates our food security program is that we provide complete wrap around services to our seniors. In addition to food, we also provide opportunities for social engagement and community building, senior activities, health and wellness education workshops, and information and assistance including translation services and social service navigation for public benefits. While our core competency is providing culturally relevant services in the region’s entire Asian population, we welcome all seniors at our Regional Resource Center.

  • In collaboration with Alameda Food Bank, VACCEB hands out grocery bags 3x a week at the center with enough ingredients in the bags to make at least 3 meals!

  • CURRENTLY INACTIVE.

    VACCEB’s Mobile Meal Program (MMP) addresses the Bay Area's heightened food insecurity amid the COVID-19 pandemic, targeting vulnerable groups like homebound seniors, low-income households, medically vulnerable individuals, and limited English speakers. Since spring 2020, MMP has delivered nutritionally balanced meal bags and fresh produce to over 3,500 residents in Alameda County, totaling 70,000 meals monthly (84,000 lbs of food). Distribution occurs onsite biweekly, with contact-free delivery for those lacking transportation or with compromised immunity.

    To combat hunger in our diverse San Francisco Bay Area, MMP collaborates with local ethnic markets, preserving cultural integrity and supporting small businesses during the pandemic. For non-Asian communities, we include lentils, ghee, teff, and shiro mitten for Habesha families, and hominy, beans, fideo noodles, and fresh tomatillos for Latino families. All MMP meal bags adhere to the Older Americans Act and daily dietary standards.

“This program is much needed. I always visit [the community center] twice every month. The program has helped me reduce my monthly grocery expenses.”

Check it out

An inside look at how VACCEB’s Mobile Meal Program team addresses food insecurity amid a pandemic. In this video our team discusses the scope of the program, client diversity, the culturally relevant bags produced, and how the program is utilized as an informational tool for the immigrants and refugees we serve. Throughout, MMP staff illustrate that MMP is much more than a program that distributes food. We hope you enjoy the video, made by our very own Lanica Garcia.