Public-private partnerships with meal distributor help cities solve food insecurity issues

Since March 2020, several cities have entered into public-private partnerships (P3s) with a meal distribution company to address food insecurity in their communities that the pandemic has exacerbated.

Partnerships with New Orleans, New York and San Jose, Calif., have allowed Revolution Foods to deliver over 60 million meals across 23 states between March 2020 and March 2021, according to a March 10 news release.

Since summer 2020, New Orleans has worked with Revolution Foods, the Federal Emergency Management Administration (FEMA) and a local coalition of over 100 restaurants to deliver over 20,000 fresh and nutritious meals to adults and seniors, according to the release. The program has also employed at least 500 residents who may have otherwise been out of work.

“We know that because of COVID-19, many of our residents are unable to put food on their tables,” New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell said in a June 30 city news release. “Local non-profit organizations have stood up in unprecedented ways to provide our people with food these last few months, and I am so grateful to them. But the need continues. That’s why we’ve partnered with FEMA and Revolution Foods to build this first-of-its-kind emergency meal program, which will help fill that gap.”

As part of New York’s Emergency Food Home Delivery Program, Revolution Foods partnered with the city to design, source, produce and deliver about 2 million meals in 2020, according to the news release. New York tax drivers delivered most of the meals door-to-door.

Meanwhile, San Jose partnered with local county officials, community-based organizations, Revolution Foods and other private sector partners to increase local meal production. As part of the partnership, Revolution Foods has distributed over 300,000 healthy meals to residents. The partnership has also enlisted food trucks in the city to conduct last-mile deliveries, which has kept operators employed.

“I am grateful to Revolution Foods and our many other food partners for providing critical help to the San José community in a time of considerable need,” San Jose Mayor Sam Liccardo said in the release. “They ensure our residents obtain freshly prepared, healthy meals, and contribute essential food to a pipeline that continues to serve our community nearly 250,000 meals each day.”