Because seniors face elevated risks from the COVID-19 virus, Kern County and the Community Action Partnership of Kern (CAPK) have teamed up to launch the Food2Door program.

The program aims to  help seniors get critical food supplies delivered to their door to minimize trips to grocery stores and other public places in search of a meal, helping them to protect their health.

“This program is important because it minimizes the risk of elders contracting COVID-19” said James Burger, CAPK’s Outreach and Advocacy Coordinator. 

Food2Door will serve seniors 65 and older. Each participant will get a 70-pound food box once a  month dropped off at their home by Food2Door drivers. 

The boxes of food will contain non-perishable food items that don’t require refrigeration, such as  rice, beans, peanut butter, canned foods and vegetables, cereal, pasta and milk, according to Burger.

“Community Action Partnership of Kern has always been passionate about increasing our capacity to deliver food to those facing crisis,” said Chief Executive Officer Jeremy Tobias. “Since the COVID-19 pandemic began, we have doubled food distribution through our network of partner sites to around 2.5 million pounds a month. Now, through this collaboration with Kern County, we can deliver food directly to at-risk seniors in their homes.”

Burger said the program is estimated to help about 600 households. Those interested in enrolling in the program can do so by calling CAPK’s 2-1-1 Resource and Referral line.

The program is set to launch in the beginning of August.

Food2Door is a $2 million program funded by the federal government through the CARES Act and is a partnership between Kern County and CAPK.