By Jennifer Modenessi, Vitals contributor
A single mother who shops for fresh fruits and vegetables for her school-aged daughter. A former East Coast resident who receives resources and referrals along with healthy food as he establishes roots in the community. Senior citizens on fixed incomes who pick up produce and canned goods. These Santa Clara County residents and many others have access to delicious, free and healthy food thanks to West Valley Community Services’ Park-It Market, a bright blue customized food truck that’s feeding those in need.
Home to Silicon Valley, Santa Clara County is one of the five wealthiest counties in the U.S. – yet many of its residents struggle to feed their families. According to the hunger-fighting organization Feeding America, more than 132,000 of Santa Clara County’s 1.89 million residents are unable to afford healthy and nutritious food. The problem spans demographics: college students, people aging out of the workforce and the working poor all face food insecurity.
That’s where the Park-It Market comes in. The 29-foot-long mobile food market provides fresh produce, dairy, meat and other staples to those who are struggling with economic hardship in West Santa Clara Valley. This year, Sutter Health has invested $180,000 to help the Park-It Market program expand its reach to more people in need of fresh food and the vital support services it offers.
Specifically, Sutter Health’s investment is helping the Cupertino-based nonprofit acquire an additional food truck to serve households who are at or below 275% of the federal poverty level. Most of those households are low-income families with children and seniors living on fixed incomes. The ever-increasing number of households in Cupertino, Saratoga, Campbell, San Jose and neighboring communities that are positively affected by the service has shown how food insecurity continues to be a massive problem in what is typically considered ‘wealthier’ cities in the Bay Area, says Sujatha Venkatraman, Executive Director, West Valley Community Services.
“The Park-it Market has had a significant, considerable and extraordinary impact on the communities it serves,” adds Donald Akimoto, Manager of Mobile Food Operations at West Valley Community Services.
While Sutter Health’s support for the mobile pantry is helping to get more food on the table, its impact reaches far beyond the plate. Increasing access to healthy and nutritious food is a key priority for Sutter Health as it works to improve healthcare access in the communities it serves.
West Valley Community Services’ Park-It Market provides access to delicious, free and healthy food for Santa Clara County residents and many others.
“Making fresh and healthy food available helps people lead healthier and happier lives while decreasing healthcare costs resulting from poor diets,” says Dr. Mat Hernandez, Chief Medical Officer of the Greater Silicon Valley division. “A healthy diet full of minimally processed and nutritionally dense food is one of the best tools people have to prevent chronic conditions such as heart disease, Type 2 diabetes, cancer and high blood pressure.”
Conceived as an extension of the brick-and-mortar West Valley Community Services Market, the Park-It Market reaches community members—including those with childcare needs and disabilities—who live in areas that lack public transportation. The truck travels to elementary schools, community colleges, senior centers and other locations where neighbors can comfortably shop for free food. Nonprofit staff and volunteers also offer case management services in a private office inside the mobile pantry where clients can access information about housing and job resources, referrals and financial assistance.
It all adds up to a unique experience that embodies West Valley Community Services and Sutter Health’s shared values of compassion and integrity and ensures that vulnerable community members have healthier and more nutritious food at the table.
