EXTRAFOOD DELIVERS FOR FIRE VICTIMS

Grocers and hospitals donate meals for residents displaced in the Canal 

ExtraFood, a North Bay nonprofit organization that rescues excess fresh food from businesses, schools and backyards and delivers them to distribution partners serving vulnerable people, partnered with food donors to rescue fresh food for people displaced by the recent Canal District fire.

   On Dec. 19, a fire displaced 30 residents at the Meridian apartment complex in the Canal district of San Rafael. Supervisor Mary Sackett and Fernando Barreto, aide to Supervisor Dennis Rodoni, reached out to ExtraFood to provide fresh food for the residents temporarily living at a local hotel. ExtraFood quickly sourced fresh food and meals from Nugget Markets, Whole Foods, Safeway, United Markets, Novato Community Hospital, Kaiser Permanente Hospital and several school programs.  Another organization, San Francisco Food Runners, donated 90 meals and Taqueria Mi Pueblo in Terra Linda provided freshly cooked meals for the residents on Christmas Eve.

  “We are extremely grateful to the rapid response of the ExtraFood team. With tons of love and compassion they brought hope to the displaced victims through healthy, fresh and culturally competent food, “ Barreto said.  “It’s a real honor to have ExtraFood as a reliable source of food for the most vulnerable in Marin.”  

   ExtraFood’s vision is that food recovery will be a way of life in the North Bay, to enroll every possible business and school in their program and capture every possible pound of excess food. 

   “Using our well-coordinated and agile operations model, we are able to respond quickly to the most urgent of needs during disasters and crises. We are sourcing breakfast, lunch, dinner and fresh groceries for the people who have been displaced for as long as our help is needed,” said Will Dittmar, ExtraFood executive director.  “Being able to provide a little bit of stability and meet basic needs during this time of year and as families deal with this tragedy is just part of who we are and what we do as an organization.” 

For more information, visit extraFood.org.