How do I Download our ChowMatch Phone App?

Our phone app (ChowMatch) is incredibly convenient. You can sign up for “available” food runs, view your upcoming runs, gather details provided in the instructions,  pre-set your app to receive reminders and cancellations and  finally put your regular food run  on vacation so others  can help to service your customers until you come back. 

These download links will ONLY work from your phone:

FROM YOUR PHONE, tap:  iPhone download   or   Android download

You can log in with your email address. If you don’t know or remember your password, go to your computer and go to ChowMatch.com. Click Login at the top right. Enter your email address, then click Forgot Password, and follow the directions to change your password to whatever you’d like.

Available Runs

Once you login to the phone app with your email address, tap Available at the top to view the available runs and sign up.

My Runs

Tap My Runs at the top: You can see your upcoming/scheduled food runs. It will show the date, time, donor and recipient name of your upcoming runs. You can also tap the Details blue button to view the DETAILED information & contact info on the runs you are signed up for. You can even tap a phone number in the Detailed Instructions to make a phone call. 

Turn on Text Notifications for Cancellations 

Recommended:  If you verify your phone number via the phone app, you can turn on text reminders, text notifications of cancellations (HIGHLY recommended!), and also texts for last-minutelast minute runs. To verify your phone number, tap Available at the top of the phone app. Tap Please verify your phone number at the top (in pink). Enter the code that was texted to you. Then tap Verify.

Once you verify your phone number, tap Profile at the top of the app. Scroll down and choose the text notifications you want. Click Submit.

Please let us know if you need any help with the phone app. Thanks!

What are some of the best practices for a wonderful and successful food run experience?

• Use the ChowMatch phone app.
• Read the confirmation email to gather details about the Donor, Recipient, and Back-Up Recipient.

• Please use GPS or Google Maps to route your food runs before heading out.

• To save time and gas, consider doing personal errands before and after the food run. Or consider doubling up on food runs in proximity being delivered to the same end recipient.

• Please read the instructions carefully. Donors may request a call or text in advance (15-30 minutes) to confirm food availability. This prevents unnecessary trips. Supply your estimated arrival time so food can be packed up and ready for you. Ask if a cart is available or if you need to load the food into your trunk.

• Consider lining your trunk with a liner or towel in case the food packages or trays leak during the delivery.  To avoid leaks best to remind Donors to drain out liquids i.e. black beans, Indian food, etc.

• The Health Department suggests Donors indicate on their packaging or trays of food the following information: Type of food, Donor name, and the date and time of donation. This label information should be visible to the recipients.

• Holiday Schedules often vary. Please take note to check for the following if you are a Regular Runner.

• Is the Donor still donating during the holidays?  Is this Food Run being routed to the same recipient?

• If the Donor informs you of upcoming schedule changes, please immediately email support@peninsulafoodrunners.org. This will allow the program manager to take action due to the changes and notify the parties involved.

What happens if I assigned myself to a food run but changed my mind?

You can access your account with your email and password—-> click on Volunteer —> click on “ My Active Food Run” —-> Click on Release.  You can release the food run anytime before 2 days or 48 HOURS before the food run is to be accomplished. 

You can also NOTIFY the program manager by sending an email to support@peninsulafoodrunners.org  (please attach your food run confirmation email to your request). 

Please check to see if the food run is still posted in your account

• Check in ChowMatch, under “Volunteer” and go to “My food runs” Scroll to see if the food run still exists in your food run list. If it’s no longer in your account, it has been removed from your responsibility and has been released back into the ChowMatch platform. If it is still in your account, send another reminder email to support@peninsulafoodrunners.org

I have an emergency and cannot carry out the food run.  What next?

YOU PASSED THE DEADLINE OF 2 DAYS OR 48 HOURS,  PLEASE TEXT Maria at (415) 203-8389 SO THAT ANOTHER RUNNER CAN BE NOTIFIED TO HELP SUPPORT THIS FOOD RUN. 

What other supplies should I consider having on the food runs?

We recommend keeping a box of hand wipes, disposable gloves, and paper towels in the car when transporting food.  A folding cart is an option in case one is not available at the donor site.  Best to have one if you are planning to help out at the farmer’s market.

What should I expect to receive as a Volunteer?

Due to the transient influx of volunteers,  only Regular Food Runners who have passed the Safety Awareness Test and have signed up to be a Regular Runner (one food run a week) for up to 12 food runs or more will receive marketing gifts when available.

What is the best strategy to transport multiple trays of food i.e. 15-20 trays of food?

Here is a successful strategy used when dealing with many trays of food. Clear out your trunk, and line it with a tarp or towel.  Request the donor drains all liquid prior to loading.

Start the first layer of the heaviest trays (mostly rice, pasta, potatoes, meats…) and position the trays lined up going in the same direction.  The 2nd layer of lighter trays (breads, vegetables, salads, etc..) is then stacked perpendicular on the top of the first layer of trays. This crisscross stacking distributes the weight of the trays and will hopefully limit the leakage.

The donor or recipient has requested a change in schedule. What should I do?

Please convey the message immediately to support@peninsulafoodrunners.org. This may often occur during government, religious, and seasonal celebrations. Please encourage the Donors and the Recipients to notify Maria at (415) 203-8389.

What should I do if I cannot get in touch with the contact person at the Recipient location?

• Sometimes, another staff or client onsite may be able to assist you.

• Immediately text Maria at (415) 203-8389 

• The final option is to take the food to the recommended backup Recipient.  Below we have listed recipient agencies that are open 24 hours a day.  This information is also provided on our website. 

I called the Donor and the Donor confirmed there was no food. Do I need to contact the recipient?

• Remind the donor to cancel the food run online so that an email will notify the recipient.

• Text Maria at (415) 203-8389 to indicate that there were no donations.

• When you are completing the reporting of your food run, you will asked to reflect the correct transaction.

Can a Volunteer get a tax write-off for volunteering?

Although you cannot get a tax write-off for the time you volunteer, you can get a mileage write-off.  Please access your account on the Peninsula Food Runners website to see all the food runs that you have done for the calendar year, print the information, and then consult your accountant.  

Here are the steps to retrieve your miles from your volunteer account. 

1. Go to peninsulafoodrunners.org and click on Login.
2. After logging in, select “My Food Runs” in the drop-down menu.
3. Click on “My Past Food Runs” (the link is at the bottom of the page)
4. Scroll to the bottom to see the total mileage of all your food runs. 

Can I apply my volunteer time with Peninsula Food Runners to my employee volunteer program?

Certainly! You can retrieve all your volunteer time from your Peninsula Food Runner account and supply it to your company’s Human Resource Group.

The number of hours can be determined by the number of food runs you have done. For example, if you accomplish 5 food runs, then you receive 5 hours of volunteer hours.  Click on “Volunteer” and then “Past food runs” to determine your total number of hours.  Please consider combining your volunteer hours with your “Impact Report” to show the overall environmental and community impact you have made.

Finally, find out if your company will financially match your volunteer hours for Peninsula Food Runners.  i.e. Intel contributes $10 for every hour an Intel volunteer accomplishes.  We do rely on donations so why not double your impact.  

I am a mother of two and my time is split between sports practices, errands, etc.  Are there food runs that are suited to my schedule?

Yes!  The flexibility we provide our Volunteers is one of the features that many Volunteers like best when volunteering with us. Our system is set up to be flexible. Many on-call runs are posted between 1 and 5 pm and are available for anyone to volunteer on the spur of the moment.

What are regular food runs versus on-call food runs?

“Regular” food runs are when a Volunteer decides to support a Donor or Recipient on a regular basis.
Presently we have regular runners who support single or multiple food runs that are either weekly or twice a month. These runs can be shared among other Volunteers or friends. 

An “On Call” food run, on the other hand, is a food run that is released a short time before pick-up and usually on the same day the meal is served. This allows Donors to assess the quantity of food in order to determine if it is of sufficient volume to donate. We ask for donations that can feed 10 or more people.  The best time to check for On Call Runs is between 12 -5 pm daily.

If I am doing multiple food runs, should I allow the first donor to pick out only what they want?

• We would like to treat all our recipients with respect and fairness. We prefer recipients accept donations without sorting them through. If food is to be shared between two groups, the Volunteer should make an effort to divide it evenly among each recipient. A complete meal consists of protein, vegetables, and carbohydrates.

Who should I call in the event I am in the field and cannot get hold of anyone?

Please call Maria at 415-203-8389 or the office at 415-826-6903.

I am a regular runner but I am going on vacation.  What should I do?  How should I notify you?  

All Runners can set their own vacation days or breaks.  The system will release your food runs to the Chow Match platform for other volunteers to support your account and the system will post the food runs back into your account. Here are the steps to setting up your vacation time.  Please enter your vacation days no later than 3 days of your vacation date.

login email and password

Click on Volunteer (pull-down menu)

Click on the Volunteer account

Click on the Volunteer profile

Scroll down to Vacation mode  

Enter the beginning date and ending date

Save your request by clicking on Submit

Any questions email to support@peninsulafoodrunners.org.  

There is a lot of untouched food at a party that I just attended and I would like to take it somewhere so the food could be enjoyed. Where can I go?

North San Mateo County –  Daly City, Brisbane, South San Francisco, San Bruno, Millbrae, etc.

• Safe Harbor Shelter: 295 N. Access Rd., South San Francisco (24/7)

• Catholic Worker Hospitality House 555 W. San Bruno Avenue, San Bruno (4 pm-9 pm) and the house at 672@ 2nd Street, San Bruno (11 am -4 pm)

• Industrial Hotel 505 Cypress Avenue, South San Francisco. (9 am – 9 pm)

South San Mateo County -San Mateo, Belmont, San Carlos, Redwood City, etc.

• The Vendome Shelter: 415 E. 2nd Avenue, San Mateo ( 7 am-10 pm)

• First Steps for Family: 325 Villa Terrace, San Mateo ( 8 am-9 pm)

• Maple Street Shelter: 1580A Maple Street, Redwood City (24/7)

• Spring Street Shelter: 2686 Spring Street, Redwood City (8 am-9 pm)

North Santa Clara County – Palo Alto, Menlo Park, Mountain View, Sunnyvale, East Palo Alto etc.

• Project We Hope: 1858 Bay Road, East Palo Alto (4 pm – 12 pm and 11 am-4 pm by appointment only)

• East Palo Alto Senior Center: 560 Bell Street. (10 am- 5 pm. Call 650-329-5900 to set up after 5 pm deliveries)

Mid Santa Clara County – 

• Julian Street Shelter: 546 W Julian Street, San Jose (24/7)

• Home First: 2011 Little Orchard Street, San Jose (24/7)

  I am thrilled about your mission to reduce food insecurities and food waste! How can I help?

• Adopt a food run and become a regular runner.

• Share our mission: We reduce food insecurities and food waste in our communities.

• Send them to our website at www.peninsulafoodrunners.org to learn more about what we do.

• Offer an interested friend a ride with you on one of your food runs so that they can see what you do.

• Help recruit volunteers to become Food Warriors (highest needs are in Northern San Mateo and Santa Clara County)

• Solicit your favorite food businesses or companies to donate their surplus. We are always looking to rescue good eatable food that can help feed hungry bellies.

• Please provide monetary donations to help support full-time staff to manage the logistics and support our donors, volunteers, and recipients. Your donations will help us feed more people in need by educating and servicing more donors to donate and not waste their surplus food. 

How do I protect my car?

We have many types of donors. Some might donate trays of food which may drip or spill during transportation.  Please consider investing in a tarp or shower curtain to protect your trunk/seat. These items are widely available at any retail stores. If this unfortunately happens to you, please inform us so we can rectify the situation with our donors.  Thank you.  

Best Contact Info is in the DETAILED INSTRUCTIONS

All businesses have a telephone number connected to the main address. However, the contact number IN THE INSTRUCTIONs is the correct number for the staff who donated the food.