Vivalon (formerly known as Whistlestop), a San Rafael-based nonprofit that advances independence, health and quality of life for older adults and people with disabilities, announced a new partnership with Community Action Marin (CAM) to bring healthy, fresh, and affordable meals to the new Vivalon Café, to be located inside the new Vivalon Healthy Aging Campus, starting January 2, 2024. Community Action Marin, the largest nonprofit social services provider in Marin County dedicated to helping people achieve well-being by providing the vital services they need, will prepare and deliver a full menu of meals for Vivalon Café patrons.
“Vivalon and Community Action Marin’s mission of serving vulnerable populations are very closely aligned and we’re thrilled to partner with an organization that shares our values and strong commitment to our community,” said Anne Grey, Vivalon CEO. “Community Action Marin is committed to utilizing fresh, local and seasonal organic foods, and in doing so they support the health and well-being of our members and guests, as well as our local farms and food entrepreneurs.”
“Community Action Marin is proud to deepen its commitment in our community to good food for all,” said Chandra Alexandre, CAM’s CEO. “Partnering with Vivalon strengthens our approach to meeting people’s needs where they are. Nutritious food that uplifts culture and fun through connections at mealtimes is what we’re most excited about.”
Vivalon’s new Healthy Aging Campus will have a warming kitchen rather than a full commercial kitchen. This change required a new approach to providing healthy meals to Vivalon members and guests. “Stacy Scott Catering has been a valuable partner for years and we are grateful for Stacy and her team’s dedication to the Jackson Café,” said Stephanie McNally, Vivalon chief programs officer.
“Our relationship with Stacy and her team is cherished, and we plan to collaborate with her on various offerings in the near future. We’re confident Stacy will continue to do great work with her award-winning catering business and philanthropic work.”
According to Vivalon CEO Anne Grey, “While Vivalon Café is designed to be different from our beloved Jackson Café, it’s crafted with the same heart and spirit that our members and guests have always loved. The new name signifies a fresh start while still holding onto our core values and memories.”
The new Vivalon Café will offer a variety of healthy meal options prepared by chefs from Community Action Marin’s Central Kitchen and Kitchen Apprenticeship program using fresh seasonal ingredients from its Production Farm. The beautifully plated meals consisting of hot entrees, sandwiches, salads, and soups will be available to Vivalon members and Healthy Aging Campus guests starting on January 2, 2024. “I’m having fun cooking up my favorite recipes,” shares Chef Jose Rodriguez. ”People are really enjoying the Chicken and Hominy Pozole.”
Vivalon Café will serve lunch from 11:30 a.m. – 1:45 p.m., Monday through Friday, and meal pricing will be $8 for Vivalon members and $15 for non-members. The café will expand service later in the year to include light morning and afternoon fare. Vivalon Café will remain open during business hours (9 a.m. – 3 p.m., Monday, and 9 a.m. – 5 p.m., Tuesday – Friday) to serve as a gathering space for Vivalon members and guests, and to hold Vivalon activities.
The Vivalon Healthy Aging Campus will be a central gathering space for all of Marin County’s older adults and their families. Located in downtown San Rafael, the Vivalon Healthy Aging Campus will include an Integrated Care Clinic that will combine traditional medical services with coordinated care, social engagement, learning opportunities, nutrition services, and activities and programs designed to promote healthy aging. Additionally, the Vivalon Healthy Aging Campus will include 66 units of 100% affordable homes for older adults, in partnership with Eden Housing. Vivalon will officially open the doors to its new Healthy Aging Campus on January 2, 2024.
ABOUT VIVALON
Vivalon (formerly known as Whistlestop) has served as Marin County’s gathering place for healthy aging for 69 years. As the largest nonprofit serving older adults and people with disabilities in Marin County, Vivalon helps these valuable community members stay healthy, active, connected, and informed with classes, workshops, and activities at its Healthy Aging Center; nutrition services such as home-delivered meals through its Meals on Wheels and Vivalon Nourish programs, nutritious prepared meals at its Jackson Café, and groceries to prepare home cooked meals from its Brown Bag Pantry; and a variety of specialized transportation services. In addition to serving the needs of older adults and individuals living with disabilities, Vivalon provides services for other vulnerable populations, such as those with chronic health challenges. Vivalon will open the doors to its new Healthy Aging Campus on Jan. 2, 2024. For more information about Vivalon, please visit www.vivalon.org and www.vivalon.org/open.
ABOUT COMMUNITY ACTION MARIN
Community Action Marin is the largest non‐profit provider of social services to individuals and families of low income in Marin County. Designated by the Marin Board of Supervisors as the county’s official antipoverty agency, its mandate is to eliminate the causes and consequences of poverty. Community Action Marin’s mission is to make it possible for people to achieve wellbeing by providing the vital services they need. The agency has over five decades of experience rooted in the lived experience, strengths, and innovations of the communities served. Community Action Marin provides bundled services along the crisis-to-thriving continuum and takes on the challenges at the heart of poverty today. Community Action Marin reaches over 20,000 unduplicated individuals annually across a breadth of programs. For more information about Community Action Marin, please visit camarin.org.
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