Deepening Roots: SOS Reflects on Two Years Serving the Tri-Cities

This autumn, SOS joyfully reflects on two years of direct service to our older neighbors in Fremont, Newark, and Union City. Our formal presence in the Tri-Cities began in 2023, when we seamlessly continued the home-delivered meal program following the closure of Life ElderCare. This was a logical next step in a long partnership, as SOS had been quietly preparing meals for Life ElderCare clients since 2018.

We are energized by this deepened connection and have spent the last two years weaving the Tri-Cities into our system of care, which includes not only meals, but social interaction and access to referrals. The integration has preserved vital community ties, exemplified by staff like Tammy Duran, a former Life ElderCare employee who now serves as a Client Services Manager with SOS.

“We’re working with a larger group of people to do what we’ve always done, but now we have more input and support,” said Duran. “Had SOS not been willing to take our contract, the time it would have taken to find a different, qualified provider could have been devastating for our clients.”

Bringing our services to the Tri-Cities represents the most recent chapter in SOS’s growth. Our story began in 1966 with our founder, Emma Vargas, serving ten meals a day from a Hayward church kitchen. We later extended service to San Leandro, Castro Valley, and San Lorenzo.

A key partnership began in 2014 when we took over service in Oakland from Bay Area Community Services (BACS). SOS is now the largest senior nutrition provider in Alameda County and serves approximately 75% of home-delivered meals.

“It’s a testament to our reputation that we’re approached directly by providers looking to pass the baton,” said Kim Palacios, SOS’s Director of Development and inhouse archivist and historian. “In this line of work, you really care about your clients and you want to see them in good hands. We’re proud of the legacy we’ve built.”