The Impact Of SF New Deal’s Rapid Response in the 7x7
By Vinny Eng
At SF New Deal, we work with local restaurants to create meals for neighbors in need, providing income for wage workers and food for our community. Through community partnerships we address the immediate health and economic crisis brought on by Covid-19, and build infrastructure to sustain San Francisco into the future.
As the initial shelter in place guidance was enacted to reduce community transmission of Covid-19, waves of local businesses faced immediate economic hardship. Without a reliable source of revenue, local businesses laid off wage workers en masse. Steps were being taken to protect the health of everyone in the community but it would be weeks - even months - before government programs would be established to keep workers protected, families fed, and small businesses from shuttering.
Indisputably, restaurants are an important part of any neighborhood landscapes. SF New Deal rallied like-minded hospitality professionals to come together in an unprecedented rapid relief response. SF New Deal has partnered with 106 restaurants, in every district of San Francisco. In 6 months SF New Deal has delivered over 800,000 meals, and local restaurants have received over $8,000,000 in direct financial relief.
This map shows the distribution of meals and dollars across SF New Deal programs. One of our goals was to reach every district of San Francisco. Indisputably, restaurants are an important part of any neighborhood landscape. SF New Deal rallied like-minded local businesses to come together in an unprecedented meal relief response: 106 restaurant partners across every district of San Francisco. In six months, SF New Deal has delivered over 800,000 meals and local small businesses have received over $8,000,000 in direct financial relief. SF New Deal restaurants are geographically concentrated in the major commercial corridors in the Eastern neighborhoods of San Francisco, notably in the Mission District (24), Bayview (16), Tenderloin/SOMA (16) and Chinatown (13). Meals were prepared and delivered to residents throughout the entire city, with the largest volume of meals going to locations in District 2, 3, 6, and 10.
To view the full interactive map HERE
SF New Deal targeted outreach in an effort to direct relief to small businesses owned by underrepresented groups and likely to experience disproportionate hardship securing financing during Covid-19. As a result, of the 106 restaurants that have participated in the program, 65% of SF New Deal restaurant owners identify themselves as Female/LGBTQ and/or BIPOC. Participating restaurants average over 8 years of operations. The most tenured small business, Betty Zlatchin Catering, opened shop in 1980, and continues to serve the SF community 41 years later.
SF New Deal programs provide businesses with reliable steady income while dining rooms remain shut until community transmissions fall below an acceptable rate, allowing restaurants to utilize existing infrastructure in service of community needs while evolving business models to ensure workers and guests are safe.
With food insecurity growing and a 18-26 month road to recovery ahead, meeting the essential needs of San Franciscans is still a persistent and urgent matter. Engaging local businesses to help keep San Francisco nourished is pragmatic, crucial, and necessary in order to preserve the fabric of our neighborhoods.
Join us by volunteering or donating today.
Learn more about:
SF Department of Public Health Food Security Task Force policy recommendations for 2020
SF New Deal recommendations for increasing food access in San Francisco
You may also support us by writing to your local Supervisor to express your support for solutions such as SF New Deal.
District 1 - Supervisor Sandra Fewer (contact)
District 2 - Supervisor Catherine Stefani (contact)
District 3 - Supervisor Aaron Peskin (contact)
District 4 - Supervisor Gordon Mar (contact)
District 5 - Supervisor Dean Preston (contact)
District 6 - Supervisor Matt Haney (contact)
District 7 - Board President Norman Yee (contact)
District 8 - Supervisor Rafael Mandelman (contact)
District 9 - Supervisor Hillary Ronen (contact)
District 10 - Supervisor Shamann Walton (contact)
District 11 - Supervisor Ahsha Safai (contact)
SF New Deal efforts are possible with special thanks to private support from individuals who value the contributions of a thriving ecosystem of neighbors, workers, and local operators. Our efforts are funded through a combination of private contributions and contracts with the City and County of San Francisco Human Rights Commission, Human Services Agency, and Department of Aging and Disability Services. SF New Deal is also proud to be a part of the State of California’s Great Plates Delivered program.