EJ4.A
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Increasing Food Security. Work with grocery stores and online food service delivery and meal providers to increase access to high-quality affordable and healthy food (e.g., reduced or waived delivery service fees). Encourage and support the acceptance of SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program), CalFresh, and other governmental food assistance programs that increase food security.
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This item has not yet begun and evaluation for implementation continues. |
| EJ4.B |
Food Assistance Outreach. Inform low-income households and people experiencing homelessness about food assistance programs through multilingual fliers, community events, information at shelters and food banks, as well as other appropriate outreach methods.
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In 2025, the City continued partnering with Second Harvest of Silicon Valley for grocery distribution at BHCC on the second and fourth Thursdays of each month. Library and Community Services provides a community resource guide, including information on available housing, medical, and food support programs that is distributed to families and available at the Menlo Park Library and BHCC. Additionally, the City's Housing Resource Guide highlighted food pantries/food assistance services and shelter services such as:
- Bread Basket, Brown Bag Program, and the Samaritan House Pantry
- Mobile food programs such as Second Harvest of Silicon Valley (program is marketed to senior center attendees) and Peninsula Volunteers' Meals on Wheels
- Project WeHope Shelter and the Salvation Army Harbor House
- The Housing Resource Guide was distributed to RV dwellers regularly parked in the Bohannon Park area.
The City also collaborates with the County of San Mateo Department of Housing Encampment Resolution Funding (ERF) Program and WeHope in coordinating food assistance programs for those experiencing unsheltered homelessness in three identified homeless encampments.
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| EJ4.C |
Food Options at City Events. Encourage healthy food options, including vegan and vegetarian options, at municipal buildings and City-participating events. Encourage sourcing food from local small businesses. |
The Menlo Park Senior Center operates Monday to Friday, morning to lunchtime, and is based at the Belle Haven Community Campus. The Senior Center lunch program provides nutritionally balanced meals prepared fresh on site. The meals are paired with health, recreation, dance, creative arts, educational programs, and opportunities for conversation, fun, and connection.
In 2025 the City hosted the fifth annual Love Our Earth Festival at the Belle Haven Community Campus with a plant-based (vegan) food market.
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| EJ4.D |
Healthy Food Markets. Encourage and facilitate the establishment and operation of a farmer’s market(s), farm stands, ethnic markets, and mobile health food markets in underserved communities. Conduct widespread outreach and engagement to advertise these markets.
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This item has not yet begun and evaluation for implementation continues. |
| EJ4.D.1 |
Action Item: At existing and future farmer’s markets, or similar events, offer free or subsidized space for vendors who provide healthy, fresh, and affordable food for underserved communities. |
Farmer's market vendors participated at City events including the Love Our Earth Festival at BHCC on April 26, 2025 and Juneteenth celebrations. |
| EJ4.E |
Community Gardens. Encourage and simplify the process of developing community gardens within or adjacent to neighborhoods and housing development sites. Facilitate the creation or enhancement of one community garden within three years of Environmental Justice Element adoption.
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MidPen's Oak Gardens, a 100% affordable residential development, located on the VA Campus includes a community garden for its residents. The City continues to encourage opportunities for these amenities for its residents and beyond.
In 2025, the City helped process development-related items to support the Oak Gardens project and the project broke ground. Oak Gardens is anticipated to be completed in spring 2026.
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| EJ4.E.1 |
Action Item: Explore identifying unused City-owned property to support community gardens. Encourage community gardens as an amenity in required open space areas of new multifamily and mixed-use development projects. |
In 2025, the Environmental Quality Commission formed a Food Systems ad hoc subcommittee to begin evaluation of options to advance implementation. Their recommendation to the full commission was on Feb. 26, 2026. |
| EJ4.E.2 |
Action Item: Identify private properties suitable for community gardens on vacant or undeveloped lots, or other opportunities for community-supported agriculture within the community. Encourage community gardens as an amenity in required open space areas of new multifamily and mixed-use development projects. |
This item has not yet begun and evaluation for implementation continues. |
| EJ4.E.3 |
Action Item: Facilitate the installation of community gardens at senior centers and senior housing facilities. |
At the BHCC, planning is underway for a container garden on the back patio. This effort is being managed by the Recreation Coordinator who oversees the daily senior lunch program. The container garden will focus on cultivating edible plants that can be incorporated into the daily lunches. |
| EJ4.E.4 |
Action Item: Develop programs and encourage developments that make smaller planter boxes or garden beds accessible for apartment dwellers. |
This item has not yet begun and evaluation for implementation continues. |