As COVID-19 has affected all residents across the Bay Area and Northern California, the virus has ushered in special challenges for hundreds of disabled Veterans, specifically those who are at risk of not receiving the daily nutrition and other necessities they need to remain healthy. Delivering nutrition and essentials to these Veterans is a growing priority for the San Francisco VA Health Care System. Sometimes Veterans do not have loved ones or caregivers nearby. Others live in remote areas or in special circumstances. Some of these Veterans have disabilities which require that they receive their VA care almost entirely at home. Many, but not all, are senior citizens. Others have immune system deficiencies, for whom shopping poses unacceptable exposure risk to COVID-19. Still other Veterans become quarantined or self-quarantined by public health order and cannot legally shop for themselves. For example, homeless Veterans quarantined by the State in hotels are high-priority candidates for nutritional assistance.

The San Francisco VA Health Care System started a program to deliver low-cost kits comprised of two-weeks of essential, non-perishable food to Veterans who nutrition is threatened by their disabilities, their distance from loved ones or VA Care providers, or by the circumstances of local or regional COVID-19 precautions.

United Veterans Services responded to their call for donations to support this program.

The pictures show the San Francisco VA Staff with the food kits which they are giving to drivers who then deliver the items to veterans in need.