Provide healthy ingredients and meals for families in need

Since 2008, 18 Reasons has offered free healthy cooking classes and grocery donations for food-insecure families throughout the Bay Area through our Cooking Matters program. While we are all impacted by COVID-19, the effects of this global pandemic on the 3,500 food-insecure Cooking Matters students we serve are devastating.

How the coronavirus pandemic affects our Cooking Matters students

We are hearing from our low-income students that as many of 75% of them have experienced income reduction and/or job loss since this crisis began. 1 in 4 children and 1 in 6 adults in the Bay Area are at risk of food insecurity because of COVID-19. We are hearing from our longtime partners at local food banks and food pantries that they are struggling to keep up with the skyrocketing demand for food assistance during this crisis.

How we are helping our community eat well

Despite any challenges that may lie in our way, we are committed to being here for our Cooking Matters students every step of the way throughout this crisis, making sure that they are fed and have the confidence and creativity they need to eat good food every day.

To do so, we are working with school districts, low-income housing sites, and community clinics to distribute thousands of pounds of healthy grocery donations to low-income households every week. We are delivering food to low-income families who can no longer afford to buy groceries and to home-bound seniors and other vulnerable neighbors who can’t risk going to the store. Currently, we're delivering more than 16,500 pounds of healthy ingredients each month.

Together, we can take care of our neighbors in need

Donate today to allow us to deliver free groceries and meals and offer free online food education to low-income families as they shelter in place. Your gift will have an immediate impact on a neighbor facing food insecurity as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.

Thank you for being part of our 18 Reasons family. We can't wait to share our table with you again. Until then, thank you for sharing what you can, so that everyone in our community has access to the healthy food they need to stay healthy.

PS: if you are interested in making a lasting commitment to 18 Reasons and our Cooking Matters students, check out our monthly donation options here.