The Family Food Giveaway at NOW Hunters Point launched in April as an emergency response to the COVID-19 crisis. Joining with the Bayview Opera House and The SF Market, and with emergency assistance grants from the San Francisco Soda Tax and the USDA, we are delivering a weekly supply of fresh produce and other supplies to neighbors in need. Through additional funding from Pacific Gas & Electric Company, the sponsor of NOW Hunters Point, we also have created five fair-wage jobs for community members who provide translation services and other support at the events.

Each Thursday, our team prepares and gives away 300-350 bags of fresh produce, kids’ art kits and books, PPE and other supplies. To date, we’ve distributed over 5,560 bags of fruits and vegetables, totaling 86,238 pounds, and 2,535 bags of kids supplies, along with over 400 surgical masks and 200 bottles of hand sanitizer.

More than ever, NOW Hunters Point also is an important information hub.

in the three primary neighborhood languages help families access other local resources, including additional food pantries, COVID-19 information, medical care, and mental health support. And on-site census outreach and voter registration strives to amplify the voice of the community, beyond the the current crisis.

The program has become a core community service, bringing a touch of joy and hope during unprecedented times. Efforts are underway to ensure the program continues through the year’s end.

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