Bringing Fresh Groceries and Connection Directly to Saratoga Seniors
It’s a particularly sunny morning at Fellowship Plaza, one of our 11 Park-It Market locations, and the
community at this affordable senior housing complex in Saratoga is buzzing with excitement.
Twice a month, the center plaza transforms into a vibrant, popup farmer’s market complete with blue trucks loaded with fresh produce. The best part? The groceries are available at no cost.
Our Park-It Market provides free fresh and nutritious groceries to seniors on fixed incomes, as well as to community members who have limited mobility. Providing this essential grocery access helps stretch their budgets to better afford critical items like prescriptions and their monthly rent.
More Than Groceries: A Highlight of the Social Calendar
For many residents, market day is about far more than just picking up produce.
"This operation is an exciting part of the seniors’ social calendar," notes Donald Akimoto, Manager of Park-It Market Operations.
Long before Donald’s team even arrives, seniors are already waiting at the plaza in their best attire and shopping bags at the ready. They socialize excitedly while holding out their QR codes—a "special badge of honor" that allows the team to track how much food is distributed.
Powered by Community Partnership
An operation like this requires a village. The success of Park-It Market relies on seamless collaboration between West Valley Community Services (WVCS), property management of the senior housing, local grocery stores, volunteers, and the residents themselves:
On-Site Management: Property managers coordinate directly with Donald’s team to share preliminary headcount numbers and ensure setup goes smoothly.
Grocery Overflow & Waste Reduction: The market collaborates with local grocery stores to repurpose surplus food, minimizing environmental waste while actively fighting hunger in the community.
Dedicated Volunteers: Local volunteers arrive eager to clock in, greeting neighbors alongside the WVCS team.
Resident Leadership: One dedicated volunteer is also a resident at the complex. Her Mandarin translation skills ensure clear communication for non-English speakers, making the entire operation warmer and more accessible.
"Donald warmly credits everyone except himself for making the operation possible," notes a team member. Whether greeting residents by name or practicing his Spanish with a shopper, Donald and his team meet people right where they are.
Listening to the Neighbors We Serve
This client-informed approach sits at the very heart of WVCS’s mission.
While walking through the lines at the Park-It Market, Sujatha Venkatraman, Executive Director of West Valley Community Services, warmly greets a shopping client.
"He is why we are here," Sujatha explains. She recalls how this client once shared how difficult it was to transport heavy groceries on public transit between his home and the main Vista office, asking her directly if she "would carry his groceries home" for him.
Venkatraman credits that moment of the client’s self-advocacy as part of the inspiration that led to the mobile market. By centering programs on neighbor feedback and cultural competency—such as tailoring produce choices to fit the culinary preferences of the local community—WVCS provides client-centered dignity and creates opportunities for self-sustainability. This is also why WVCS has a member on the board who has lived experience and can help make decisions from a client perspective.
Join Us in Supporting Our Community
Partnership at WVCS begins with the individuals we serve. From language translation to mobile grocery popups, involved community members and volunteers make our mission possible every day.
To learn more about the Park-It Market or how to get involved as a volunteer or donor, visit our website today.
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