How We're Serving Silicon Valley During COVID-19
Thanks to the tremendous support of our donors and volunteers, the COVID-19 pandemic hasn’t slowed us down in any way. In fact, we’ve transitioned, pivoted, and begun serving more people than ever before.
Since the start of the coronavirus outbreak, we have helped over 80,000 people. Yes, 80,000! That’s four times the volume of services we generally provide during this time frame.
We are still providing shelter and housing at our Emmanuel House Men’s Shelter and Adult Rehabilitation Center (ARC) and continue to offer meals and supportive services or referrals to homeless clients who remain unsheltered.
Each weekday at our San Jose location, we provide 300+ families with drive-thru food boxes and give 50 bags of non-cooking food for the unhoused. We also provide hot meals to the homeless and deliver food to seniors and other home-bound individuals.
We continue to provide on-site emotional support and spiritual care. We also have an emotional support hotline for individuals suffering from isolation and depression—nobody should feel alone. Our churches have transitioned all youth groups, bible studies, and Sunday church services to an online format.
In addition, here are a few highlights since the shelter-in-place order was announced:
On May 22, we partnered with Mayor Lisa Gillmor, Councilmembers Kathy Watanabe and Teresa O’Neill and joined members of the Santa Clara CA Fire Department and the City Manager’s Office for a special delivery of food baskets to seniors at John Burns Gardens. Each senior received a box with a week's worth of produce and food staples.
We also received a beautiful gift from one of our youngest church members. Five-year-old Joseph mailed us this handmade envelope with $85 worth of Safeway gift cards. Every night, he prays for us and those who are sick. Joseph's mother, Juana, has been volunteering with us sorting food and creating hygiene kits for the homeless. We are so thankful for beautiful souls like Joseph, who give with an open heart.
Our partnership with Second Harvest Silicon Valley has benefited tens of thousands of individuals. Second Harvest sends us three semi-trucks full of food every week, including great produce boxes. We’ve also received the BEST bonus boxes of dry goods, along with fresh dairy products and chicken. This is an awesome community collaboration and we are so grateful for all the “food-care” specialists at Second Harvest.
The need in Silicon Valley is great, and we will meet the growing demand and shifting concerns of our community as they arise. We are also in the midst of developing long-term solutions which will include a housing component and programming rooted in a holistic approach that is focused on helping our most vulnerable populations become more self-sufficient.
If you need help, please click here to find the most up-to-date information on our food programs and social services.
If you are able and would like to help us make a difference in Silicon Valley, please donate today.