Possibly because of my profession as a real estate agent, or perhaps because of my role as a mother and grandmother, or maybe just because -- I've long supported charities working on housing and hunger issues. Usually my support has been financial.
Thanks to the San Francisco Association of Realtor's "Give Back Day" I had an opportunity last year to volunteer at Glide Memorial serving meals to the homeless and hungry. My assignment was to welcome each client who came through the line, and hand each a breakfast tray. Each tray had been filled with a variety of breakfast items, with good protein, some carbs, a sweet and fruit.
For two hours, the line never stopped. It brought home to me the immensity of the need in our city--and I know we're not unique here in San Francisco. It humbled me. It made me ever so grateful. It left me knowing I needed to come back and help again.
Glide's daily free meals program is the only one in San Francisco to provide 3 nutritious meals a day, 364 days a year, to the city's poor, homeless and hungry. This program requires 85 volunteers each day to fill the breakfast, prep, lunch and dinner shifts, 364 days a year. Starting in 1969 as a volunteer-run potluck for 50, the meals program now, 50 years later, serves around 2,000 meals a day.
While personal issues and commitments made it impossible for me to begin in January, starting the 2nd quarter of 2019, I will be volunteering on a regular basis. Today I signed up for 2 shifts in April, and will continue that throughout the quarter. I'll then assess to see if I can commit to weekly instead of bi-weekly in the 3rd and 4th quarters of the year. I hope to be able to do so.
Looking forward to rolling up my sleeves and making a difference in my city.
If you live in San Francisco and are interested in helping, you can easily and quickly sign up here for any shift, or other opportunities to help.
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