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Restaurants and School Districts Step Up to Feed People During Coronavirus Crisis

Updated: Apr 20, 2020 11:51
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In trying times such as what we’re nationally and globally experiencing with the coronavirus threat, our friends, families and neighbors will all need our help from time to time, and there is no better way to help than to feed those who are hungry. There are a handful of Bay Area restaurants giving away food either for free or for serious discounted prices, and considering how hard hit the industry has been, it’s an amazing thing to see them be so generous.

In addition, school districts are feeding kids through the week, regardless of whether students are already enrolled in free or reduced meal programs.

You can help by donating to any of these restaurants or districts so we can keep the good deeds going and the bellies full.


Che Fico Alimentari of San Francisco’s Che Fico is leaning on investors and supporters to help San Francisco families in need. They’ve managed to pull together enough funds to provide dinners for 120 families of up to three people every night this week. The meals cost about $50 per family and if you’re sitting on a couple bucks you can spare, you can help them keep up the momentum.

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ATTENTION: In an effort to feed people in need during shelter in place we are partnering with Some of our dear investors and supporters who along with some of our regulars will be buying dinner for families every night! So far we have enough this week for 120 meals EACH NIGHT for 2-3 people ($50 per family dinner). If you were ill prepared or are in need of a meal please call us at 415-416-6980 starting 3/17/20 at 5:30pm we will be offering a $50 meal for 2-3 people. PLEASE ONLY USE THE PROMO IF YOU NEED IT. This will be done by the honor system. If you are in good shape and feel like buying someone else’s dinner you can also add a $50 to your bill to pay it forward to someone else in need. Just reference the #CheFicoFamilyDinnerFund and we will add the charge to your bill!

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Contact Che Fico by phone at 415.416.6959 or by email at  CONTACT@CHEFICO.COM to see how you can help.


MIXT and Split are offering discounted and free meals despite their own challenges and uncertainty. In a press release, founders Leslie and David Silverglide said:

We don’t have a great way to implement this, nor do we know how long we will be able to do this, but the one thing we know is that we need to pull together as a community and help one another.”

Hungry customers can use the following codes when ordering at mixt.com or spliteats.com as appropriate: but please reserve their graciousness for people seriously in need.

  • wegotyou25 for 25% off
  • wegotyou50 for 50% off
  • wegotyou100 for a free meal

The founders added:

“We know this community and we trust that people are good and will only use the code they need. Please share this with those who need it. And pay it forward. We will get through this together.”


Two restaurants in Martinez stepped up this week to help feed students as a way to supplement what the school district can provide. Vic’s gave out grilled cheese sandwiches and fries Tuesday and Slice of Italeigh is providing cheese slices Thursday and Friday between 11:00 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. 

If you can support their efforts, hit up Vic’s by email at rosie@vicsmartinez.com  and the Slice shop by calling 925-229-0455.


School districts have been setting up free meal pickup for students at select campuses, many offering curbside brown bags to all school-aged kids that come by. 

Some restaurants and all school districts are giving away free food to help people through the coronavirus crisis. Photo courtesy of pxfuel.

San Francisco Unified School District:

Find meal pickup locations here.

Donate to help them keep up with demand here.

Oakland Unified School District:

Find meal pickup locations here.

West Contra Costa Unified School District:

Find meal pickup locations here.

Mount Diablo Unified School District:

Find meal pickup locations here.

Berkeley Unified School District:

Find meal pickup locations here 


Donating blood, if you’re healthy, is another great way to help those who need or will need it most.

Blood banks in the Bay Area are facing a critical shortage and are urging healthy donors to “turn out in force.” People can donate at several locations, including Vitalant, the American Red Cross and the Stanford Blood Center. All blood types are desperately needed but Type-O negative is especially important right now.

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Nik Wojcik - East Bay Editor

Nik Wojcik - East Bay Editor

Journalist, editor, student, single mom to a pack of wolves, foodie, music lover, resident smart ass, and champion of vulgarity and human kindness.