While these last two years have had their challenges, to say the least, our volunteers and supporters continue to make a difference to Oakland’s Saint Vincent’s Day Home’s children and families. We wanted to take a moment and share one program that has ensured our families have nourishing staples and fresh produce.
In January 2021, John Quinn (pictured below), a member of the Board of Directors, brought together a team of volunteers to shop, sort, and bag amazing food from the Alameda County Community Food Bank to supplement Day Home families’ monthly food supply. John said, “We regularly provide them with items like canned goods, beans, pasta, rice, fruit drinks, breakfast cereals, lots of fresh fruits, vegetables, and an occasional treat!”
We currently have 14 very dedicated volunteers who come together twice a month: Lucie Bauquier, Jocelyn Burton, Joan Cannon, Guille Cecil, Alice Chen, Katherine Glassner, Adam Lamoreaux, Benita Quinn, John Quinn, Ed Renteria, Zeina Saad, Barbara Shoop, Jackie Svensson, and Doug Svensson.
Three volunteers meet at the Food Bank early in the morning to do the shopping. They load up on cases of food and produce and bring it all back to the Day Home.
There, more volunteers (such as Lucie Bauquier, Ed Renteria, and Guille Cecile from left to right) have set up tables, either in the cafeteria or, weather permitting, outside. They form a production line where each bag is filled to the brim with food items to be taken home. A big thank you to Target, which has generously been providing the program with large, strong plastic bags.
The bags are placed near reception. As the children are picked up at the end of the day, each family is given a bag of food.
Since we started this program 14 months ago, we have distributed approximately 1,600 bags of food! This group of amazing volunteers has donated an estimated 600 hours of their time. Our staff tells us that some parents have said that this extra food has carried them through, during the hardest times of the pandemic. Some families have said, “they couldn’t have done it without this help” from the Day Home.
Volunteer and Make a Difference
If you’re interested in being a volunteer for the food program or would like to participate in another way at the Day Home, email us at [email protected].