Since its inception in 2013, Peninsula Food Runners has been on a mission to nourish families while lowering food waste. This Thanksgiving, they aim to provide over 2,000 holiday meals for families and individuals facing homelessness in Santa Clara and San Mateo counties.
Founder Maria Yap grew up in Malaysia, where she witnessed her mother, a social worker, helping people facing tough times. Watching her mother’s clients struggle with losing homes and food insecurity inspired her deeply.
Maria’s journey in food philanthropy began when she attended Tante Marie’s Culinary School and volunteered for San Francisco Food Runners, founded by Marie Risley. Motivated by this experience, she expanded their mission into the Peninsula and South Bay.
In 2024 alone, Peninsula Food Runners delivered over 3.7 million meals to those in need and diverted more than 4.45 million pounds of food from waste. They serve soup kitchens, schools, homeless shelters, and more.
Despite their success, Maria noted they need more help. “Our volunteers make a huge impact. Just one hour of their time can feed over ten people,” she shared. The organization especially rallied to deliver over 338,000 meals in October during uncertainty surrounding food aid and benefits.
But challenges remain. With rising food costs and decreasing SNAP benefits, meeting the growing demand for food delivery is tough. Currently, they serve 223 recipients, with some receiving food three times a week.
Peninsula Food Runners operates with a small team: one part-time employee and two full-time, including Maria. “With more support, we could engage more community volunteers and extend our reach,” she added.
To address the increasing need, Peninsula Food Runners welcomes both monetary donations and volunteers. They are part of The Almanac’s Holiday Fund, which provides equal support to 11 local nonprofits. Every donation goes directly to help those in need. For more details, visit Peninsula Food Runners and learn more about the Holiday Fund at The Almanac.
As social media trends continue to highlight food insecurity, more people are becoming engaged in local support efforts, spotlighting the urgent need for services like those offered by Peninsula Food Runners.
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