The COVID-19 pandemic continues to pose an unprecedented threat to Marin’s at-risk communities including low-income families residing in San Rafael’s Canal Area. Some of these multi-generational families, with limited or no access to government sponsored relief programs, are being disproportionately impacted by economic and health issues, including food insecurity. Vivalon (formerly Whistlestop) is proud to support Vivalon Family Dinners, a program designed to help feed struggling families during the current crisis, providing healthy pre-cooked family dinners to Canal Area residents with the help of Stacy Scott, culinary director at Jackson Café, who prepares and packages 100 family meals weekly.  When staff and volunteers realized that some people were turning down the meals because they couldn’t carry all the food back to their homes, Vivalon raised money to buy rolling carts. For information about the meal program or how to donate, go to whistlestop.org/nutrition/family.                   -Photos courtesy of Vivalon

On June 11, the Marin IJ printed a letter to the editor inviting volunteers to reach out to Marin’s 59 convalescent centers and assisted living communities. Within 24 hours of the day the letter was printed, Betsy Best-Martini, author of the letter, received several volunteer offers. To date, Lions Club of Terra Linda, Las Gallinas Lions Club, Corte Madera Women’s Club and many individuals have donated their time, crafts, new and used materials to Marin Post Acute, Novato Healthcare Center, Marin Terrace Assisted Living and Kaiser Permanente. Elders and recovering patients continue to be isolated. For suggestions of new and used materials to donate, contact Dr. Sally Gelardin, outreach coordinator at Marin Activity Professionals, sgelardin@gmail.com.  -Photo  of volunteers courtesy of Sally Gerald