TODCO’s Senior Food Box Program Continues

Delivering Dignity: How TODCO’s Senior Food Box Program Continues to Nourish the SOMA Community

TODCO maintenance and support staff work together to sort and load food boxes onto carts for delivery to residents.

In San Francisco’s South of Market (SOMA) neighborhood, community care is more than an idea — it’s an action. At TODCO Group, we believe that dignity, safety, and nourishment should be within reach for every resident we serve.

That’s why, every month, our team helps deliver food boxes to low-income seniors living in TODCO’s affordable housing communities. Each box, filled with canned goods and pantry staples from the Food Bank, represents more than just a meal — it’s a reminder that someone cares.

From Pickup to Doorstep: How the Program Evolved

Before the COVID-19 pandemic, seniors would come to a central location to pick up their monthly boxes. But as crowd sizes grew, managing the process became challenging — especially for residents with mobility limitations.

When the pandemic arrived, TODCO staff decided to adapt. To protect residents’ health and make the process easier, the team began delivering the boxes directly to residents’ doors. What started as a temporary adjustment quickly became a lasting practice of care.

Today, TODCO continues the tradition of door-to-door delivery, ensuring that each senior receives their food safely and personally. It’s an effort that combines logistical coordination, teamwork, and heart — and it’s made possible by the dedication of TODCO’s maintenance and community services staff.

A TODCO staff member pushes a red dolly stacked with food boxes down a hallway toward an apartment delivery area.
A food box and small package labeled “401” sit outside a bright orange apartment door, representing TODCO’s door-to-door senior food delivery program.

Meeting Seniors Where They Are

Food insecurity is a reality for many low-income seniors in San Francisco, especially as grocery prices and housing costs rise. For those living on fixed incomes, these monthly food boxes help bridge the gap between paychecks and provide much-needed peace of mind.

By delivering boxes directly to residents’ doors, TODCO helps remove barriers like transportation, limited mobility, and safety concerns — allowing seniors to focus on what matters most: their well-being and independence.

TODCO staff organize large stacks of cardboard boxes from the Food Bank in a community hallway, preparing for senior grocery deliveries.

A Program on Pause, But Not Forgotten

While the Food Bank’s Senior Food Box Program is currently on hold for new participants, TODCO remains steadfast in its commitment to serving existing residents. Our staff continues to coordinate monthly deliveries, manage storage and distribution, and provide personal support to ensure no one is left behind.

This continued effort reflects TODCO’s mission to build not only housing but also community — a place where residents feel supported, respected, and seen.

Building Community Beyond Housing

Woolf House is one of TODCO's eight affordable housing residences located in San Francisco's South of Market neighborhood.

TODCO’s mission has always extended beyond providing affordable homes. From arts programming and cultural events to health and wellness initiatives, our goal is to strengthen the social fabric of San Francisco’s SOMA neighborhood.

The Senior Food Box Program is one of many ways TODCO brings that mission to life — ensuring that our residents have access to both essential needs and meaningful connection.

“We don’t just deliver food,” says a TODCO staff member. “We deliver care, consistency, and a reminder that this community looks out for one another.”

Looking Ahead

As TODCO continues to serve residents in the SOMA area, programs like the Food Bank deliveries remind us that true community impact happens in everyday moments — one box, one knock on a door, one shared smile at a time.

Even as the world changes, TODCO’s promise stays the same: to uplift, empower, and care for the people who call our neighborhoods home.