In the heart of Los Gatos, a bright blue van is changing how residents access food during tough economic times. West Valley Community Services has launched a revolutionary “park-it market” that provides free groceries to anyone who needs them, no questions asked.

The mobile market, funded by a $180,000 grant from Sutter Health, parks outside the Los Gatos Library every second and fourth Thursday, offering everything from fresh produce to eggs and even specialty items like Cinnamon Toast Crunch waffles. This innovative approach is helping combat rising food costs and federal assistance program cuts that could impact nearly 500 households in the area.

For retired residents like George Aza, the market is a lifeline. “It helps everybody,” he says. “I don’t care what your dollar’s worth, you come here and get something because right now the economy’s tight”. International students like Sonia Smart from Santa Clara University are also benefiting, using the saved money to focus on their education.

Donald Akimoto, the nonprofit’s mobile operations manager, emphasizes that the market serves a diverse community. “We welcome people and hope they tell a friend, and it grows from there,” he explains. The service is particularly crucial as anticipated federal food assistance cuts could reach $186 billion over the next decade.

Beyond just providing food, West Valley Community Services is expanding its reach. They plan to deploy more vans this fall to serve Title 1 schools in San Jose and Sunnyvale, ensuring that low-income students and families have access to essential groceries.

This grassroots approach to addressing food insecurity demonstrates how local organizations can make a significant impact, one free grocery bag at a time.