Stronger Together: How Kaiser Permanente Helps SOS Clients Thrive

In the Bay Area, meaningful strategic partnerships between nonprofits and corporations have the power to transform communities. We are fortunate to have found in Kaiser Permanente a mission-aligned organization whose collaboration with SOS extends far beyond traditional volunteering and financial support. Our shared goal—understanding and serving the needs of Alameda County seniors—has forged a formidable partnership rooted in mutual respect and common purpose. 

Kaiser Permanente teams certainly support us in familiar ways. In 2025 alone, 59 Kaiser staffers have volunteered 150 hours; six employee groups visited us for days of service, including their longstanding tradition of helping in early January to honor Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. They have also been tremendous financial supporters, providing multiple grants in excess of $35,000 over time to advance our mission. Additionally, more than 100 Kaiser employees have made individual gifts to SOS over the past decade. 

Yet what distinguishes this partnership is its depth. So many of the employees who volunteer year after year are doctors, nurses, care administrators and providers. We cannot adequately describe the value of having an army of helpers within our community who thoroughly understand—and deeply connect with—our work. Thousands of eligible seniors first learn about SOS from the healthcare providers they already trust. Kaiser clinicians play an integral role in bringing clients who need us to our door, recognizing that nutritious meals are essential medicine. 

This shared enthusiasm for improving the health of Alameda County seniors is the legacy we cherish most. We are equally honored to spread the word about our services in space provided by Kaiser. Early this year, we will participate in health fairs sponsored by Kaiser—events attended by seniors and community members who either need or need to know about our offerings. These opportunities allow both organizations to advance our common interest: keeping older adults nourished, independent and well. 

We simply cannot do this work alone. It means the world to collaborate with partners whose participation transcends transactional voluntarism and becomes something far more powerful. Kaiser Permanente does not simply write checks or check boxes. They show up, they listen, and they leverage their considerable reach to ensure seniors are connected, cared for and fed. Together, we are stronger. Together, we help our neighbors thrive.