Programs and results
What we aim to solve
The need that our organization addresses is to provide senior citizens residing in San Francisco low-income apartments with a free weekly bag of groceries delivered to the lobby of their apartment buildings. By so doing, we are not only getting much needed food to residents in need, but are also addressing the issue of "food insecurity". To get food for one day is a good thing - but to not know where your next meals are coming from is beyond distressing. So, by providing weekly delivery of free groceries to the individuals we serve, we not only address they're needs for a given day - they know we will be back the following week - and the week after that, and so on.
Our programs
What are the organization's current programs, how do they measure success, and who do the programs serve?
Groceries for Seniors - free delivery
We provide home delivery of over 1000 bags of wholesome groceries to low-income seniors residing in apartment buildings in San Francisco, CA
Where we work
External reviews

Photos
Our results
How does this organization measure their results? It's a hard question but an important one.
Weekly distribution of one thousand free bags of groceries to low-income senior apartment buildings in San Francisco, CA
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Related Program
Groceries for Seniors - free delivery
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Holding steady
Context Notes
Shows weekly delivery numbers of free bags of groceries to low-income seniors residing in San Francisco, CA apartment buildings
Goals & Strategy
Learn about the organization's key goals, strategies, capabilities, and progress.
Charting impact
Four powerful questions that require reflection about what really matters - results.
What is the organization aiming to accomplish?
Our organization is aiming to (and does) provide over 1000 free bags of groceries weekly to seniors living in low-income apartments throughout San Francisco, CA on an ongoing basis (and as we have for 20 years) week after week.
We are hoping to, at the very least, relive those we serve from suffering from food insecurity and allow them to spend what little money they have in staying healthy and engaged in their communities.
What are the organization's key strategies for making this happen?
Our strategies for making this happen include:
Maintaining our relationship with the providers of our work space - which is at Old Saint Mary's Cathedral in San Francisco's vibrant Chinatown. While we are a non-denominational organization, we are the beneficiaries of having Old Saint Mary's Cathedral's auditorium space in the church basement in which to receive bulk food and break it down into individual grocery bags. We do this by being great stewards of the space we use and have provided kitchen cleaning and floor maintenance assistance as needed as thanks for use of the space we are granted.
Maintaining our long-standing and great association with the San Francisco-Marin Food Bank. We get the bulk of our food from the SF-Marin Food Bank and they are incredible partners in our efforts,
Maintaining and BUILDING our relationships with individual and Foundation donors in order to keep our hard cost overhead (delivery van, 2 part time salaries, supplies, etc.) covered.
What are the organization's capabilities for doing this?
We have met our goals for the last nineteen years and I am confident we can do so moving forward. We have the support structures in place to continue our mission into our 20th year (in 2019) and beyond.
When our sole delivery van was rendered un-drivable by a hit and run driver in 2016, we rented a van that morning and made our deliveries - we found a way.
When our workspace was rendered unusable due to required renovations, we moved to another church who let us use their space for a time - we found a way.
Recently, when one of the refrigerators we use to maintain the food we distribute correctly went out, we were able to find a location to preserve the food until the $1,400.00 repair was made - we found a way.
At the end of our day, it is truly the support of the donors who understand what we do and help us by providing the funds we need for things as mundane as the daily supplies, keep gas in the delivery van - or fixing the refrigerator. And we have been fortunate to have that!
What have they accomplished so far and what's next?
Our organization was built by our late founder, John Meehan. A gentleman who underwent a difficult childhood which included periods of food deprivation based on financial constraints. He moved to San Francisco in the late 1960's and got on the wrong side of the law in a petty theft situation. In jail for a short period of time, he vowed that when he got out he would do something good - and he did.
He graduated from SF State and in 1983 he founder the precursor to Groceries for Seniors - "the Haight Ashbury Soup Kitchen". That organization morphed into the home delivery model of Groceries for Seniors in 1999.
John, most unfortunately, died in 2013 and the organization staggered for a bit, but our current program director came on board in 2014 and we have been meeting our goals throughout those challenges
What's next for us, after achieving our 20th year of service in 2019 - - with your support, 20 more years!
Financials
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Operations
The people, governance practices, and partners that make the organization tick.
Connect with nonprofit leaders
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- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
- Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
- Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations
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Connect with nonprofit leaders
SubscribeBuild relationships with key people who manage and lead nonprofit organizations with GuideStar Pro. Try a low commitment monthly plan today.
- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
- Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
- Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations
Want to see how you can enhance your nonprofit research and unlock more insights? Learn More about GuideStar Pro.
Groceries for Seniors
Board of directorsas of 10/15/2020
David Philpott
David Phillpott
Shawn Calhoun
Lynwood Russell
Kevin Leong
Sean Brooks
Todd Sayres
Carl Gayden
Michael Morgan
Patrick Daly
Cindy Short
Molly Conklin
Board leadership practices
GuideStar worked with BoardSource, the national leader in nonprofit board leadership and governance, to create this section.
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Board orientation and education
Does the board conduct a formal orientation for new board members and require all board members to sign a written agreement regarding their roles, responsibilities, and expectations? Yes -
CEO oversight
Has the board conducted a formal, written assessment of the chief executive within the past year ? Yes -
Ethics and transparency
Have the board and senior staff reviewed the conflict-of-interest policy and completed and signed disclosure statements in the past year? Yes -
Board composition
Does the board ensure an inclusive board member recruitment process that results in diversity of thought and leadership? Yes -
Board performance
Has the board conducted a formal, written self-assessment of its performance within the past three years? Yes