THE BODEGA
As COVID-19 cases began to surge in 2020 and schools were closing their doors, Erika Cardona, the Afterschool Program Director of a local Oakland Elementary school, opened up a small Bodega in an empty classroom. Erika filled the classroom with in-kind donations from family members, friends and who ever would say yes to her ask. She worked with Alameda Food Bank to bring groceries directly to her school. When Eikon crossed paths with her, Infinite Christmas empowered her to give beyond just basic needs and generously give to her families. When students returned back to school and there were no more empty classrooms to use as a Bodega, Eikon collaborated with Erika to move the Bodega to our building. Every week, members of the Oakland community are able to shop for necessities like shelf-stable food, home goods and other donations from the community.
The Bodega thrives through a robust network of food and retail partners including Whole Foods, Trader Joe’s, Cardenas Markets, McDonald’s, Peninsula Food Runners, Alameda County Food Bank, and StopWaste. Every week, 6–8 volunteers help distribute over 100 pounds of food and essential goods to 400 families across immigrant communities, low-income schools, and vulnerable populations. In the past five years, Eikon has had the privilege of providing food and essential items to 30,000 individuals. This initiative is sustained by $10,000 in funding and ongoing in-kind support from our partners and neighbors.
The Bodega is a living example of what happens when businesses, nonprofits, and neighbors unite to restore dignity through access.