This meal charity project connects restaurants with nonprofits. It needs donations
A nonprofit found a way to simultaneously help Modesto-area restaurants and people who need meals: by serving as an intermediary.
The Modesto-based AgSafe is distributing money it raises to restaurants, which then give meals to organizations supporting vulnerable residents during the coronavirus pandemic.
So far the Coming Together Project has provided 150 meals to neighbors and $1,500 to participating eateries, but AgSafe needs donations to continue, said President and CEO Amy Wolfe. Every $10 provides one meal, Wolfe said, and all donations are tax-deductible.
“ If you’re looking for a way to make sure that restaurants still have a source of revenue and nonprofits are able to provide prepared meals, this is a really good way within our own community to help both groups,” Wolfe said.
Senior calls meal deliveries a ‘blessing’
Modesto resident Judi Short, 73, lives alone and said she has been afraid to go out because she is immunocompromised. Her osteoporosis, arthritis, knee replacements and shoulder pain also make frequently cooking difficult.
So when she received meals from the Coming Together project inside her Interfaith Ministries food delivery, she was delighted.
“All I have to do is heat them in the microwave and it’s wonderful that I can make those into two meals,” Short said of the Wednesday delivery. “I received two of them so that’s four meals. That’s really awesome and I think it’s a blessing.”
Before the pandemic, Short said food staples from Interfaith Ministries of Greater Modesto already made the difference between eating and skipping meals. Now, she is one of the 100 senior households in the nonprofit’s home-bound delivery program, said CEO Elizabeth Greenlee-Wight. To meet needs during the pandemic, Greenlee-Wight said the nonprofit will deliver once a week instead of the previous once a month.
Rich Ison, a volunteer with the home-bound delivery program, helps make the service possible. For clients who can’t lift boxes on their own, Ison still helps carry the food into houses. Otherwise he drops off packages at the door, knocks, takes several steps back and asks if they need help with anything.
“Several people have said I’m the only person that they’ve been able to interact with for a while,” Ison said. “It’s sad and it’s scary.”
But many of the seniors lit up Wednesday when they saw the delivery of prepared lasagna, soups and enchiladas, Ison said. As he explained how Greens on Tenth prepared the food through the Coming Together project, several seniors recognized the name.
“It’s different than just getting a box of some of the commodities,” Ison said. “This is like gourmet stuff...I’ve never had a reaction to (any food deliveries) like I did yesterday, which is really cool.”
How to get involved with the charity program
Since AgSafe began the project three weeks ago, the restaurants Fina’s and Greens on Tenth have joined along with the nonprofits Turlock Gospel Mission, Family Promise of Greater Modesto, West Modesto Community Collaborative and Interfaith Ministries. Other interested businesses and charities can contact Wolfe to join, but on Thursday she said AgSafe needs to fundraise about another $1,200 to provide meals again.
AgSafe is accepting donations at Agsafe.org/coming-together/ with credit card. Checks or money orders can be mailed to 429 California Street, Escalon, CA 95320. All donations will go toward participating restaurants preparing meals that nonprofits deliver to people in need.
Other ways to get help with meals, food in Stanislaus County
- Turlock Gospel Mission is accepting referrals to its senior meal delivery program that delivers Monday, Wednesday and Friday, said Executive Director Christian Curby. The nonprofit’s main line is 209-656-1033.
- United Samaritans Foundation is delivering weekly senior grocery essentials and five frozen entrees to Turlock, Keyes, and Denair residents age 60 and older. Call 209-668-4853 to reserve a box as supply is limited. The mobile lunch truck program is also continuing services in Turlock, Ceres and Keyes.
- Interfaith Ministries of Greater Modesto is shifting to delivering food staples to home-bound seniors once a week instead of once a month. To apply, call 209-572-3117 or email npulido@interfaithmodesto.org.
- Love Our Neighbors services include delivering groceries and household supplies. Visit www.loveourneighbors.org for more information.
This story was originally published April 13, 2020 at 1:08 PM.
