County Office of Education Organizes Emergency Food Drive to Help Families Facing Food Insecurity

Redwood City, CA — San Mateo County Office of Education announced that it is working in partnership with the San Mateo County Human Services Agency (HSA), school districts, and local food recovery partners to help families facing food insecurity. The County Office has organized an emergency food drive designed to help school communities share surplus food safely and responsibly with families in need, while connecting San Mateo County families to trusted sources of support.

Recognizing that schools remain among the most trusted community spaces, the County Office and HSA jointly released guidance to all 23 school districts outlining ways to redistribute unused food generated through California’s universal meals program. The guidance outlines two options for districts to consider: 1) Making surplus food available to families, and 2) Partnering with local food recovery organizations and the San Mateo County Food Recovery Program. The guidance also emphasizes that schools are legally protected when donating food in good faith and that these actions also fulfill state requirements under SB 1383 to recover edible food.

“Addressing food insecurity takes all of us — public agencies, schools, and community partners — working together,” said Claire Cunningham, director of the San Mateo County Human Services Agency. “This partnership reflects how San Mateo County comes together to build systems of care that support families where they live, learn, and grow.”

The County Office of Education has also organized an emergency food drive in partnership with Second Harvest of Silicon Valley food bank to collect nonperishable items. The food drive will last at least through Thanksgiving, and may be extended to the end of the year.

Members of the public may also deliver food donations to the County Office at 101 Twin Dolphin Drive in Redwood City between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. Those who would like to make a financial contribution can do so directly through Second Harvest of Silicon Valley at shfb.org/give-help/donate-funds.

“As we approach the holiday season, we recognize the challenges that may arise if 35,000 people are affected by changes in benefit programs such as SNAP and CalFresh,” said Marco Chavez, Deputy Superintendent of Educational Services at the San Mateo County Office of Education. “In response, the County Office and the San Mateo County Human Services Agency have partnered to find ways to alleviate the impact on families. These important collective efforts connect education, public health, and sustainability and reflect San Mateo County’s shared commitment to supporting children and families both inside and beyond the classroom.”

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About the County Office of Education

The San Mateo County Office of Education is committed to ensuring that every child, regardless of background, receives excellence and equity in education. The County Office of Education supports 84,000 students across 23 local school districts by providing services that can be done more efficiently and economically at the county level. These include instructional and technical support, instruction for students with significant disabilities and those in the juvenile court system, and development of the education workforce. A leader in environmental literacy, the County Office of Education delivers innovative, high-impact lessons that empower students to address real-world sustainability challenges. Through the Coalition for Safe Schools and Communities, which reflects a broad collaboration of community partners, the County Office of Education provides safe and supportive school services that benefit students, families, and the broader community.