Loaves and Fishes Mobile Hot Meal Delivery Initiative
Approximately one out of every six people in Contra Costa County lacks access to affordable and nutritious food to support a healthy life, according to Contra Costa Health. For nearly 40 years, Loaves and Fishes of Contra Costa (LFCC) has responded to this need by providing food insecurity relief to individuals, families, seniors, veterans, disadvantaged youth and people with disabilities in the county.
In 2019, with CHF support, LFCC and Healthcare Careers Pathway (HCP) partnered to pilot a hot meal delivery program for students at Mt. Diablo Adult Education Center, Cal State East Bay Concord Campus and Opportunity Junction. This successful pilot, which is ongoing, gave LFCC the opportunity to think about how to expand beyond its five brick and mortar dining rooms.
In August 2020, concerned by the way the COVID-19 pandemic accelerated food insecurity in the county, LFCC approached the CHF for help determining the best way to expand LFCC’s efforts to get more food to more people. Over the next two years, the CHF awarded LFCC two Executive Director discretionary grants to support LFCC working with La Piana Consulting to explore this challenge. In the end, LFCC prioritized purchasing a mobile unit that would allow the organization to reach geographic areas that have the greatest unmet needs.
In December 2021, the CHF awarded LFCC an $80,000 grant to help support the purchase of the vehicle. In March 2022, the CHF awarded LFCC an additional $153,025 grant to implement Phase II of its business plan, which focused on piloting the hot meal delivery program at two sites serving diverse, underserved communities:
- Delta Landing (in partnership with Bay Area Community Services) Interim Housing Program to serve 200 formerly homeless residents
- West Pittsburg Community Church (in partnership with Bay Area Community Resources), which is a member of Bay Point Community All in One (a coalition comprised of member organizations pulling together support services) to provide 70-100 residents with grocery distribution, mobile shower service, a mobile health clinic and enrollment in public aid programs on a weekly basis
Key achievements to date include:
- Providing more than 29,296 meals at Delta Landing & West Pittsburg Community Church sites
- Expanding its central kitchen operation in Pittsburg by adding afternoon hours
- Adding new equipment to its kitchens
- BACR hiring an intern to oversee the West Pittsburg Church site
- LFCC hiring a sous chef for the Pittsburg kitchen and a driver/server to operate the mobile vehicle
In October 2023, the CHF awarded LFCC $75,000 for Phase III implementation. Expected activities and outcomes include:
- Hiring and training two more mobile unit drivers/servers
- Hiring and training a prep cook
- Purchasing additional kitchen equipment and supplies
- Developing MOUs with 2-6 additional partners for mobile meal distribution
- Implementing additional mobile meal deliveries with new partners
- Evaluation
In addition, LFCC is actively seeking public, private foundation, individual donor base support, and fundraising events to support the expansion plan. It will also continue efforts to explore ways to share costs with partners to offset food, labor and supply expenses.