by Christine Salinas, Manager of Grants and Communications

Our friends at the Junior League of San Jose have been ardent supporters of both transition-age foster youth and women entrepreneurs for years. When they read our newsletters about Pivotal scholars' Covid-19 emergency needs, they came up with a plan to blend support for both populations. The group decided to assist foster youth and their immediate family members who were facing food insecurity by providing them with free prepared meals. They paired up with Eat Simplified, a local woman-owned business in San Jose. The choice to work with Eat Simplified was symbolic too because Eat Simplified is an Asian-American business. With the recent discrimination against Asian Americans, the Junior League felt supporting this company was a great choice.

While the Junior League's budget planned to cover a certain number of youth meals each week for four weeks, Thach Le, Eat Simplified's owner, wanted to do something extra in honor of National Foster Care Month this month. She offered free meals to Pivotal youth in Santa Clara County during the month of May. In the first week, Eat Simplified prepared and delivered more than 200 delicious meals like chicken pho, honey glazed ribs, and chicken curry to Pivotal youth and their immediate family members. 

Our scholars were floored and touched by the Junior League's and Eat Simplified's generosity during such a hard time. Mo, a Pivotal scholar, wrote, "Your act of kindness provided me with such a sense of relief for the day. My adopted mom passed away last week, so I have been overwhelmed. I hadn't eaten much because just the thought of making something, took effort. With the shelter in place, I'm sure there are many others like me who are feeling grief and stress. So, thank you!"