Some Sacramento-area businesses affected by the coronavirus eligible to get food donations

Shelter-in-place policies due to the coronavirus pandemic have led to a plunge in business for retailers and restaurants, as many people have lost jobs.

To provide some temporary relief in Sacramento, community members will distribute food care packages on April 28 for those employed by a business impacted by COVID-19 on Stockton Boulevard.

The event is organized by the Stockton Boulevard Partnership, an an association that advocates on public policies and economic development on behalf of property and business owners. It will be held at the shopping center at the corner of Stockton Boulevard and Fruitridge Road from 1 to 5 p.m. Partnership staff members will distribute packages with 50 pounds of rice, bottled drinks and carrots, broccoli and oranges for about 350 families.

All small businesses on Stockton Boulevard can apply. Tickets are required for the packages: each household can get one ticket at community organizations such as ARI Community Services, Iu-Mien Community Services, Greater Sacramento Vietnamese American Chamber of Commerce and the Sacramento Chinese of IndoChina Friendship Association.

To ensure safety in light of preventive measures to curb the spread of COVID-19, the respiratory illness caused by the coronavirus, the event will be set up as a drive-through station, said Frank Louie, president of the Stockton Boulevard Partnership. Recipients can pick up their packages at the time slot indicated on their ticket. They can line up and stay in their vehicles while masked-and-gloved staffers load packages in the trunk.

The packages could provide temporary relief to employees impacted by COVID-19, Louie said.

“We are all better for it as a community and we want to do our small part,” he said.

Dan Chan, founder of General Produce, a locally owned-and-operated fresh produce company, said he wanted to help out amid tough times for businesses, which the company has also suffered from. To combat a sales loss from regular clientele, including restaurants and casinos, Chan said the company pivoted to focus on retail and exports to keep going.

“We have to watch everything closely, but it has been difficult,” Chan said. “We will get through this and it’s a matter of how fast they (businesses) will come back after COVID-19.”

SunFoods LLC, which operates a rice milling and packaging operation in Woodland, is donating 17,500 pounds of rice. CEO Matt Alonso said it was an easy decision to help, given the pandemic and the longstanding commitment of supporting the Asian Pacific Islander Community.

“This community has supported our brand and the broader California rice industry for literally generations,” Alonso said. “We were delighted to be a small part of this very genuine effort.”

While the company sees a sharp decline in food services sales due to restaurant closures, there is a sharp increase in demand and sales from the retail and grocery sector, with consumers cooking more for their families at home, Alonso added.

Roy Grant Deary, executive vice president of Nor-Cal Beverage Co., said the company is donating 1,200 sports hydration drinks to the packages. While the company isn’t reporting a loss in sales, it wants to support those who are struggling economically.

“This pandemic has created incredible difficulties and thrusted people into unpredictable situations economically,” Deary said. “We have been in the business for 83 years and are connected in every way, shape and form to the community that has been impacted, whether they are customers or employees. We are trying to do our part to give back and get involved and help people get through this.”

This story was originally published April 23, 2020 at 5:00 AM.