Category: Volunteers & Donors

At Webster-Eddy Pantry, Neighbors Feed Neighbors

September 18, 2025

Katie, who leads the Webster-Eddy Pantry, on opening day

On the Webster-Eddy food pantry’s opening morning, Japantown was cool and foggy, typical for San Francisco summer. Neighbors lined up along the chain link fence, eager to pick up fresh fruits and vegetables within walking distance of their homes. San Francisco-Marin Food Bank volunteers buzzed with first-day jitters, but operations ran smoothly under lead volunteer Katie’s steady hand. 

She kept her cool through the bustle, checking in with Food Bank staff to confirm registration was ready and guiding volunteers on where unboxed produce should go. Katie even found time to set up a hand-lettered sign with the pantry’s name, a small touch that made the site feel welcoming from the start. 

Her commitment to helping her community started long before that morning.  

As a child, Katie’s mom encouraged her and her siblings to volunteer at their hometown food bank, planting the seed for a lifelong passion for giving back. About five years after moving to San Francisco, she felt compelled to spring into action again during the COVID-19 pandemic, when the Food Bank launched Pop-Up Pantries across the city in response to surging need. 

Those early days, she remembers, were hectic but vital for her neighbors. “It was busy, but it was really great,” Katie says. “A lot of people were getting access to food who hadn’t had it before.” 

When Katie learned that Pop-Up Pantries would be closing due to funding cuts, she and her fellow volunteers worried about where their neighbors would turn for food. Instead of walking away, they decided to act. 

“We were disappointed and just asked, ‘Hey, what would it take to keep this going?’” she recalls. 

With the Food Bank’s guidance and a church partner providing space, Katie helped lead the effort to create a permanent food pantry. 

“Food is a basic need,” she says. “Everyone should have access to food. It’s important to me to be able to support that.” 

While she’s grateful to be able to meet the urgent need she sees now, she’s also thinking about the future: Congress voted to slash $186 billion from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) over the next decade, and the weight of those cuts is already being felt. 

“I think the one that’s really tough for me to understand is cutting food access,” Katie says. “Most people, if you talk to them, would say they support people having access to food. The thing that’s unfortunate is seeing politics hamper that. A lot of people don’t understand that cutting dollars to food banks means people will not be eating. This isn’t just stuff happening in Washington, D.C. These are decisions affecting my town, my city, my block, my neighbors.” 

Despite her frustration, Katie remains hopeful. She believes her neighbors want to help, and that once they move past the fear of committing to something, they’ll feel proud of their impact. She also sees group volunteer opportunities, like those at the Food Bank, as a way to ease the pressure. 

“If you know you won’t be alone, it’s a lot less scary,” she says. “And what’s the worst that can happen? Even if it doesn’t go perfectly, you’ve still helped more people than if you did nothing.” 

 That belief is one of the many reasons Katie keeps showing up without fail.  

“Honestly, it’s been a huge help for my mental health to feel like I am part of something,” she says. “And the Food Bank’s support has made it all possible. I’m running this site, but I couldn’t do it without them. They’re the ones making sure the food is here every week.” 

At Bolinas Inc., Everyone is Welcome

September 9, 2025

When people think about seaside towns in Marin County, they often conjure up visions of luxury. But nestled just below the Point Reyes National Seashore is the tight-knit town of Bolinas, where the reality is quite different. 

“People think that Marin is very wealthy, and certainly there are really wealthy parts of Marin,” says Kathleen O’Neill, the lead volunteer coordinator for the Bolinas Community Inc. food pantry. “But Bolinas has a lot of elderly residents and a lot of poor people. Our town is considered a poverty town.” 

Bolinas is home to older adults living on fixed incomes, working-class families juggling high costs, and longtime residents navigating impossible choices between food, rent, and other necessities. The poverty rate here is 12.76 percent — higher than the 11 percent national average. So, in a town of just 1,200 people, that means everyone knows someone who’s food insecure. And that means many of the same people who volunteer — and even work — at the Bolinas Community Inc. food pantry also rely on it themselves. Kathleen is one of them. 

“Feeding people is important,” she says. “I think the world is better when people are fed. And I needed food myself. I’m retired and living on Social Security, so having this [pantry] makes a huge, huge difference.” 

The steady supply of food is what makes the 13-year partnership between the Bolinas Community Inc. food pantry and the San Francisco-Marin Food Bank essential. More than 200 people come through the pantry each Thursday, relying on the shelf-stable staples and fresh produce. And for many, the chance to connect is just as much of a lifeline. 

“All the elders line up together,” says Kate Ryan Ross, general manager of the Bolinas Community Center, where the pantry is hosted. “It’s their [time] once a week they get to talk. It’s like sitting around in a coffee shop, but it’s the food bank every week.” 

Randi Arnold, executive director of the Bolinas Community Center, says the partnership with the Food Bank changed everything. Before, volunteers collected whatever extra food they could find from local stores, and that was the extent of what they could offer. 

“When this partnership began, we were astounded,” Randi says. “We get anywhere from 4,000 to 8,000 pounds of food [each month].” 

Thanks to the Food Bank’s support, the pantry stocks fresh produce, culturally meaningful foods and shelf-stable staples that help families stay nourished all week. That’s no small feat in a town like Bolinas, which has just two small markets — both expensive — and no full grocery store. The nearest affordable option is at least 15 miles away, and gas to get there isn’t cheap. 

Kate says her own family has depended on the pantry since it began. “Now that my parents are both retired, they need it even more,” she says. 

Produce from the pantry was especially important for Kate during her pregnancy, when meeting prenatal health needs was critical for both her and her baby. “I could get what I needed here, and then fill in the rest at the market,” she said. 

For Alfonz, a longtime participant managing serious health conditions, the pantry is essential to his stability. “I used to go in every day to the emergency room because something went wrong every day,” he recalls. But now that he’s able to eat the healthy food he needs to manage his symptoms, his quality of life has improved. 

It means regular access to fresh, nutritious food. “Chicken, turkey, fish with omega-3s, organic fruit. Turkey’s my favorite,” he says. ‘This place is great because you can pick and choose,” he says. “Otherwise, I wouldn’t eat. Food’s so expensive.” 

And it’s only gotten harder. 

“Since COVID I see people come through our pantry now that never came before,” Randi says. “I have a lot of people that come [and say], ‘Well, no, I’d rather have people who need it.’ And I tell them, everybody needs to eat.” 

That sense of welcome is intentional. 

“Randi and Kathleen have their finger on the pulse and go above and beyond to make sure participants not only receive service with dignity, but they also feel safe,” says Marisol Ramirez, the Food Bank’s neighborhood representative for West Marin. 

Marisol recounted how, when the pantry’s bilingual “All Are Welcome” sign started to fade, Randi and Kathleen were quick to ask for a new one to make sure immigrant families knew they had every right to come and get food, regardless of their documentation status. That simple request ended up prompting the Food Bank to print a whole new round of signs for partner sites across the region. 

People don’t always see the full picture of life in Marin. But Kate, who grew up in Bolinas, wants people to understand who is often left out. 

“Yes, Marin has a very high population of rich people,” she continues, “but there’s also those of us that clean those houses, do the landscaping, the childcare. We go to the same high school… but we are the ones managing those places, doing their laundry and their housekeeping.” 

Despite doing all this work, the reality is many still can’t make ends meet in Bolinas, Kate observed. “We need this extra food.” The Food Bank is proud to partner with the Bolinas Inc. pantry, helping to put nutritious food on the table so families here can thrive.  

Still Going Strong at 95: Meet Angelo

September 5, 2025

It’s early Friday morning, and the weather is gray. Wind and fog roll off the San Francisco Bay and settle over the San Francisco-Marin Food Bank’s warehouse in San Rafael. But inside, the well-oiled machine of regular volunteers — packing, sorting, and distributing produce and groceries for neighbors in need, laughing and joking to upbeat music — radiates warmth. This team has been working together since the early days of COVID, showing up week after week to help those who need it. A crucial member of the team is Angelo Siracusa, known for his hard work and friendly, jovial spirit.  

Angelo greets everyone by name, shares hugs and jokes, lifts heavy boxes of cauliflower over his head, and slices open cartons of potatoes with ease. You wouldn’t guess it, but he recently turned 95. His fellow volunteers brought him cake and the hat he’s wearing today, which reads, “Vintage 1930.”  

“Everybody here knows Angelo,” says Randy Rollman, Senior Warehouse Volunteer Coordinator for the Food Bank. “He drives himself here three times a week, not just Friday. He comes on Tuesdays and works in our repack room, packaging large quantities of grain or pasta into small, family-sized packages. On Thursday, he’s one of my specialized meat crew. We usually go through about 3,000 pounds of donated meat that we’ve accumulated over the course of the week. Angelo’s integral to that part of the crew.”  

Today, that crew is packing around 574 bags filled with fresh produce and groceries, about 25 to 30 pounds each. Later, 30 volunteer drivers will each take 20 bags and deliver them to seniors across Marin.   

“It’s my favorite day of the week,” Angelo says, “because the food goes to the people.”  

He’s a firm believer in giving back to the people around him. He also believes in staying active, both mentally and physically.  

“I would be going crazy if I weren’t doing stuff like this,” he says. “A lot of people get very, very lonely when they retire. So, this is one way to keep active and to keep happy.”  

Angelo was born in San Francisco, the child of Italian immigrants. His family moved to San Mateo County when he was two, and in 1970, he settled in Marin, where he’s lived ever since. He now lives in Larkspur.  

“This is truly home,” he says.  

Still, he knows that many people don’t associate Marin with struggling to make ends meet. 

“A lot of people think of poverty as something that exists somewhere else, not in Marin” Angelo says. “I think people understand poverty in theory, but they don’t see it directly, so they don’t feel like they need to engage… poverty is [actually] shaping life all around us.”  

And because this is home, and because he knows the need is real, he wanted to help.  

“I always wanted to volunteer, but I just didn’t find the right fit for me,” Angelo says.  

When he first tried signing up for a shift, every spot was full. But he didn’t give up.  

“One day, I decided to just come down and work,” he recalls. He immediately felt at home. “I said, ‘Well, I can do this all the time,’” he laughed, “and that made it easy.”  

It also helped that he clicked with the people around him and trusted the way things were run. “We’ve got a great crew here,” he says. “And Randy does a great job. I’ve been involved in a lot of nonprofits, but [the Food Bank] is very well run.”  

In addition to his time, Angelo makes sure to donate each year.  

“This is great mission,” he says. “A lot of people can’t afford to buy food, and this gives them a way to get fed. And the food here is good. Like so many charitable organizations, we’re serving the underserved and the poor. And especially with what’s going on now in the country… there’s going to be a lot of abandoning of those people.”  

He worries about the future and what the brutal cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) will mean for the people who rely on it. But he hopes it pushes his neighbors to act.  

“If we have, we need to share,” he continues. “It doesn’t have to mean suffering or sacrifice. Just little things that can make a big difference. I think more people understand the crisis we’re in, and that brings them out.”  

Angelo is grateful for the opportunity to keep active, stay connected, and give back to the place he calls home. And here at the Food Bank, we’re grateful to have him. 

Planning for Tomorrow, Feeding People Today: Linda and Bill’s Story

August 15, 2025

Every Friday afternoon, Linda delivers groceries for the Food Bank to neighbors along the same route in Central Marin — something she’s done for more than many years. 

In that time, she’s seen the community change. But her weekly volunteer shift, part of the Food Bank’s Home-Delivered Groceries program, has remained a constant, rooted in connection and care for the people she serves. 

“We don’t plan anything else on Friday afternoon,” she says. “It’s blocked off for the Food Bank, and we love looking forward to it.” 

Many of the people Linda visits are older adults or have limited mobility, making it hard to get to a pantry or store. And, in some ways, the visit from Linda means just as much as the food itself. 

“I’ve gotten to know the people I deliver to,” she says. “It’s not just about the food. It’s about showing up. And that connection goes both ways.” 

For Linda and her husband Bill, supporting the San Francisco Marin Food Bank has always been personal. They’ve seen how hunger shows up in their own community and they’ve made it their mission to help. 

That’s why they decided to include the Food Bank in their estate plans. 

“We don’t have children,” Linda explains. “So, when we thought about what we wanted our legacy to be, we knew we wanted to support organizations doing work that truly matters. The Food Bank does that.” 

When they learned that Marin has one of the highest poverty rates in the Bay Area (a 17% child poverty rate and a 14.4% overall rate, according to the Public Policy Institute of California), they were stunned. “People think this is a wealthy county,” Linda says. “But hunger is here. You don’t have to be [visibly] poor to be hungry, and a lot of people are struggling silently.” 

Bill, a former financial analyst, says they carefully vetted every organization in their trust, and the Food Bank stands out. “We looked at the impact, the transparency, how far every dollar goes,” he says. “The Food Bank does the work and makes a real difference.” 

Their legacy gift will help the Food Bank continue meeting immediate needs while investing in long-term change — like providing even more neighbors with home-delivered groceries and advocating for policy solutions that address the root causes of hunger. 

Linda says she and Bill often talk about planned giving with friends, hoping to plant a seed and a sense of urgency. 

“A lot of folks say, ‘I’ll get to it someday,’” Linda says. “But it doesn’t work that way. You have to put it in writing, spell it out, and make it real. It was easy for us because we feel so strongly about it.” 

Learn more about legacy giving

 

 

Carolyn & Stephen’s Smart Giving

August 8, 2025

A lot has changed since Carolyn and Stephen started giving to the Food Bank in 1995, but their commitment to making an impact — and Carolyn’s passion for smart financial giving — hasn’t wavered. 

“I’m obsessed with learning about financial tactics and trends,” says Carolyn, a former financial professional with Wells Fargo and Charles Schwab.  

This expertise drove her to ensure her donations had the greatest impact, and the Food Bank stood out as one of the most efficient ways to help. 

“We feel like our dollars really make a difference here,” Carolyn says. “The Food Bank is one of the most efficient ways to get aid to people. With all the food given to the community, our contributions go even further. We were like, wow, this is even more than we thought in terms of efficiency and really giving directly to people who need help.” 

After touring the Food Bank’s San Francisco location, Carolyn and her husband, Stephen, felt even more invested in its mission. And, when the pandemic hit, they wanted to do more than donate. 

“I’m a high-energy person, and I wanted to help,” Carolyn says. “And there were so many people who needed it.”

Over the course of lockdown and social distancing, she and Stephen spent hundreds of volunteer hours packing bags of food to ensure that no one went hungry. 

“The Food Bank is a great way to donate with your hands,” Stephen says. “It’s one of the few organizations where you can actually be on the ground with the people receiving services.” He loves that the Food Bank “encourages donors to be part of the action.” 

Stephen and Carolyn are also inspired by how far their donations go at the Food Bank. Since only about 6% of food is directly purchased by the Food Bank, donated food provides most of the supply, allowing us to operate more efficiently.  

Making Donations Go Further 

Given her financial know-how, Carolyn knows a good deal when she sees one. That’s why she donates to the Food Bank in stock instead of cash. 

“It’s good for the Food Bank, and it’s good for me too,” she says. 

Donating stock lets you avoid capital gains taxes while still getting a full tax deduction for the total market value. That means the Food Bank gets more, and you save money. 

An Easy Way to Make an Impact 

Donating appreciated stocks, bonds, or mutual funds is one of the smartest ways to give: it’s tax-efficient, fully deductible, and helps get more food to neighbors in need. And with the Food Bank’s online tool, making a stock donation takes less than five minutes. 

For anyone feeling nervous about trying a new way to donate, Carolyn offers a reassuring message:

“If it sounds complicated, give it a try once,” she says, “and you’ll realize it’s really not that difficult.”

Nourishing the Neighborhood: Mary Elizabeth Inn

April 14, 2025

“This is amazing — more than amazing, honestly, because eating is a human right.” – Ebony Green, Property Manager

At the Food Bank, we know that food insecurity doesn’t happen by chance. It’s the result of deeper issues like poverty, housing insecurity, and systemic inequality. That’s why we’re proud to partner with Mary Elizabeth Inn, an organization that knows it takes more than meals to create lasting change.

Founded in 1914 by Lizzie Glide, a trailblazing philanthropist and advocate for women, Mary Elizabeth Inn has long provided housing and supportive services to women who have experienced homelessness and domestic violence.

Before COVID-19, Mary Elizabeth Inn partnered with the Food Bank to operate an on-site pantry for women living in the building. Closed during the pandemic, the pantry is now back with renewed support from the Food Bank — serving not only women living at Mary Elizabeth Inn, but also neighbors in the Tenderloin and Nob Hill.

Ebony Green, Mary Elizabeth Inn’s property manager and pantry coordinator, says the return of the pantry has brought much-needed support and stability. While many residents receive CalFresh benefits, it rarely stretches far enough for those living on fixed incomes. “A lot of the tenants here don’t have much money,” she said. “Sometimes they’ll go a day or two without eating because they live solely off Social Security or food stamps, and it’s not always enough.”

Having a pantry in the building has also made a meaningful difference for those with mobility challenges. “Some tenants can’t get on the bus because they’re bedridden or use a walker,” said Ebony. “Now they can just take the elevator down and get food. It’s a huge thing.”

What sets the pantry apart from other food services at Mary Elizabeth Inn is an abundance of fresh options. Nearly 70 percent of what the Food Bank provides is fruits and vegetables, offering participants nutritious and high-quality food. “The best part about the pantry is that we can tell them where the food is coming from,” said Ebony. “It’s farm fresh, and it’s not going to expire tomorrow. Tables and tables full of vegetables, protein, milk, and more. Way better.”

For neighbors as well, the reopened pantry is a critical resource. With the Food Bank’s Pop-Up Pantries (PUPs) set to close in June 2025 due to the end of government funding for pandemic food programs, Mary Elizabeth Inn is now serving neighbors from nearby PUPs to ensure they don’t lose access to food.

“Historically, it’s been difficult for the Food Bank to find open-to-the-public partners in the Tenderloin,” said Lucia Ruiz, Senior Program Manager. “With one closing in 2023 and the end of PUPs coming, this location is essential to keeping services going in a high-need area.”

Tina Gonzales, the Food Bank’s Director of Community Partnerships, shared how this pantry fits into a larger plan to maintain access for neighbors as PUPs wind down. “Since PUP pantries are closing this June, we’re working with new partners to make sure many participants can keep getting food,” she said. “Most of them live within a half-mile of the pantry, so it’s easy to reach by foot or public transit.”

The reopening of the Mary Elizabeth Inn food pantry marks a major step forward for the Tenderloin. In a neighborhood where food access remains a challenge, this partnership expands a vital lifeline. Thanks to the commitment of the Mary Elizabeth Inn and the Food Bank, residents and many PUP participants will continue to have reliable access to food when and where they need it most.

Showing Up for Her Neighbors: Why Christine Gives Monthly to the Food Bank

March 13, 2025

For Christine, a member of our Monthly Giving Circle, showing up for her neighbors is second nature. 

Growing up in a small town in New England, “we didn’t have food banks,” she recalls, “but everybody knew everybody else. When someone struggled, people showed up and brought whatever was needed. You just did it because that’s what you did for your neighbors.” 

Christine carried that sense of community to Novato, where she’s lived for 28 years. 

“These are my neighbors,” she says. “I might not know them, but I see the need. It’s very visible these days.” 

That need and desire to help led Christine to the Food Bank. She joined the Monthly Giving Circle five years ago, a decision both practical and personal. 

“It’s easy, and I know I’m making a contribution,” Christine says. “I sign up, and I don’t have to do anything else. The money goes directly to the Food Bank.” 

Christine’s experiences as a volunteer have strengthened her belief in giving. 

“We’re kind of divided these days, but a lot of us are taking care of each other,” she says. “Volunteering brought it full circle for me. I see donations going right into people’s hands.” 

Christine’s generosity embodies what it means to be part of a community: showing up, stepping in, and ensuring her neighbors can put food on their tables. 

From Pumpkin Pie to Regional Impact: Our Partnership with Brisa Ranch

March 12, 2025

The Food Bank knows food is more than fuel — it’s how we connect with our families, our histories, and each other. That’s why we’re committed to providing food that’s both nutritious and thoughtfully sourced. Thanks to the USDA’s Local Food Purchasing Assistance (LFPA) program, which provides funding to source from local and BIPOC producers, we’ve partnered with 10 small and mid-sized farms in Pescadero and the Central Coast. 

These partnerships allow pantries in our network to share fresh, culturally meaningful food. One valued partner is Brisa Ranch, whose story of regional transformation began with something as simple (and special) as pumpkin pie. 

Brisa Ranch’s founders, Cristóbal, Veronica, and Cole, met in 2018 while working at Pie Ranch, an educational nonprofit in Pescadero. Their shared passion for farming and sustainable agriculture led them to team up on a side project: growing winter squash for pumpkin pies. In a full-circle moment, those pies were then sold at the Pie Ranch, marking the beginnings of Brisa Ranch.  

For Cristóbal, Veronica, and Cole, farming is rooted in a deep reverence for the land. As a certified organic farm, Brisa Ranch avoids harmful pesticides, protecting the environment and the people who enjoy their produce. They save seeds adapted to local conditions and grow crops with distinct cultural appeal, helping the Food Bank meet the diverse needs of our communities. They’re also planning upcoming plantings to include culturally significant crops for our participants. 

“[We want] to make organic food from small and medium farms not a luxury, but something widely accessible,” says Veronica. “Our model is designed to take that step back from the final consumer, connecting small farms to institutions like the Food Bank to broaden access to fresh, local food.” 

Since its early days, Brisa Ranch has been committed to connecting produce from underrepresented farms to as many people in need as possible. They joined forces with other organizations to explore ways for farms to collaborate more effectively. They formed a regional working group to pilot the Farms Together program, a federally funded initiative creating regional food hubs to connect producers with institutions and food banks. 

Cole believes food hubs are a key to opening doors for new farmers. “Having that network of a food hub for our region means more farmers can enter the space,” he says. “There aren’t a lot of pathways for people to get involved. Having [that] outlet makes it more viable, especially for folks immigrating here.” 

At the Food Bank, we couldn’t agree more. “The LFPA provides access for smaller, diverse, and underrepresented organic farms like Brisa Ranch to bring their produce to market collectively and at a volume we can source and rely on for excellent quality,” said Barbara Abbott, Chief Supply Chain Officer for the Food Bank. “And we focus on fresh produce because that’s what our participants truly appreciate, including culturally appropriate items like cilantro, kale, collard greens, and parsley.” 

Veronica hopes Brisa Ranch will continue helping others build successful farms. 

“Access to land and resources is a major barrier for farmers of color,” she says, “and we’re working to break those barriers while paving the way for others. Farmers of color face unique challenges, but we’re here to create opportunities not just for ourselves, but for those coming after us.” 

Cristóbal agrees. He grew up in a family of farmers, first in Mexico and later in the U.S., and saw firsthand how farming brought stability and purpose to his family in a new country. Now, he’s passionate about inspiring the next generation farmers. But he knows overcoming systemic issues — like accessing land and competing with more stable career paths — is key to ensuring farming’s future is open to everyone. 

He recalls meeting with a group of high schoolers. “I remember [them saying], ‘I don’t want to be a farmer. I am living with my parents in my house with no money,’” he says. “The challenge for me is, who will follow me as a farmer? In the future, we need to create different approaches.”  

For Veronica, Brisa Ranch is that possible new pathway. “As farmers, we’re not just growing food; we’re feeding communities, creating opportunities, and building a future we all can share.” 

Standing in a field on the verge of a new bounty, we are inspired by the trio’s commitment to the land, their fellow farmers, and the future of their community. It’s a powerful reminder of what’s possible when shared dreams bring people together — and it can start over a little bit of pie. 

“Kindness is Strength”: Sam’s Story

September 24, 2024

Coming from an Italian family where a full belly was the highest compliment, Food Bank volunteer Sam grew up knowing that food was “a big deal.” 

 “Without food, I feel like life would be boring,” he shared. “Food is a way for people to show how much they care about people, without knowing how to say it or show it otherwise. I feel like you can solve a lot of problems with food.” 

 In July of 2021, food helped Sam solve a problem of his own: how to occupy his time as a newly sober person. Meditating on the value of food in his own life, and as a safety net and springboard for others, he decided to volunteer with the Food Bank.

 “Trying to Make a Life” 

 After a short stint packing grocery bags at the San Francisco warehouse, Sam began delivering fresh food to the doorsteps of homebound neighbors. But soon, he was wondering how he could make an even greater impact. Eager to build a consistent routine and establish a connection with folks on his route, Sam “adopted a building” to deliver food to the same families in the Tenderloin each week.  

 Reflecting on his experiences over the past three years, Sam was quick to counter common misperceptions about food insecurity in the Tenderloin: “I deliver food to not just folks who are in from the cold, but a lot of people who are trying to make a life and get back on their feet,” he shared. “There are families in these neighborhoods that need this service. They’ve got children they have to feed.” 

 Underscoring Sam’s point, only 3% of Food Bank participants are unhoused and 60% have at least one member of the family working. It’s clear that homelessness and unemployment are not the drivers of food insecurity in our community. That’s why we’re working with partners, advocates and volunteers like Sam to address hunger at its root: income inequality, the sky-high cost of living, systemic inequities and an insufficient social safety net. 

Haircuts and Healthy Groceries  

Born and raised in Potrero Hill, Sam is determined to keep making a difference in the city that he loves. “I believe that whatever small thing I can do is still a note better than nothing,” he told us.  

 But Sam’s dedication is no “small thing” by any measure. To date, he’s shared more than 130,000 pounds of food with neighbors and volunteered more than 700 hours of his time. He delivers to 75 households weekly. And he’s even picked up some unlikely tools – scissors and a razor – to better meet the needs of his neighbors.  

“I started the barber thing in January of this year. I let everybody [on my route] know upfront: ‘I’m a student barber, but I’m totally willing to give you a free haircut.’ There was one gentleman who really sticks out to me, his name was Paul. I got him cut up looking good. His afro was looking tight, got him a good shave going. He was rocking his handlebar mustache after I was finished. He was giddy almost with excitement,” Sam laughed.

“Kindness is Strength” 

 From trims to line-ups, Sam is building his barbering repertoire while building connections with his neighbors – including a participant on his route who is a barber herself! His driving ethos is the same through it all: “What can I do to lift this person up, to empower them to take the reins and then go forward?” 

 Whether through food, friendly conversation or a solid shave, Sam’s compassion shows up in every interaction.  And when asked to make an elevator pitch for becoming a driver for Home-Delivered Groceries, his call to action is simple. 

 “In the world now, being kind to one another is the strongest thing that you can do for your fellow human being. Kindness is strength. And there are a lot of people who are stronger than they think they are.” 

Keeping Each Other Healthy: Gary’s Story

July 8, 2024

Once a week, a familiar face stops by a neighborhood food pantry in the Richmond district for an afternoon volunteer shift: coordinating the check-in process, breaking down cardboard, and helping share groceries with hundreds of neighbors each week.  

Meet Gary. He’s a retired special education teacher and a regular pantry volunteer: “I have had cordial interactions almost universally at the pantry, and I find being outside positively reinforcing,” he shared.  

But socializing and fresh air aren’t the only reasons he chose to volunteer with the Food Bank.  

“My rejoinder is that during COVID, I didn’t leave the house. I was at high risk, and you fed me. So, I see this as my responsibility to reciprocate,” Gary told us.  

High Risk and Housebound 

Gary, a long-time San Francisco resident, described his feelings in the early part of the pandemic as a sense that “the sky was falling.”  

“I’m a hypochondriac. I was in a high-risk group, so I literally did not leave my house for a long time,” he shared. As people plundered grocery store shelves for food and toilet paper, Gary said there was one thing that helped put food on the table and gave him some peace of mind.  

“The Food Bank really massaged my anxiety about the contagion. It was pivotal. I did have people who were kind enough to go shopping for me too, but my home-delivered groceries were very helpful.”  

HDG to Farmer’s Market-Style 

Gary lives on his pension income – so even before record inflation hit, his pre-pandemic grocery routine involved walking to a variety of stores and markets to get the best deals and buy food in bulk. The health risks of the pandemic made this routine impossible for him, but home-delivered Food Bank groceries helped Gary offset the pressure on his budget and stay nourished with fresh vegetables.  

“I used the produce a lot in salads and in pasta. I would sauté vegetables, add some condiments, spice it up a bit, and have a lot of pasta,” he recounted. “It was a preponderance of produce!” 

When he felt safe to do so, Gary began attending the weekly in-person food pantry near his home. Now with both experiences under his belt, he’s an enthusiastic advocate for the farmer’s market-style selection at his neighborhood food pantry, which helps avoid what he calls “lentil-bean syndrome.” 

“You would get lentil beans in every [home] delivery, and I still have them. I really like lentils, but it was a lot,” he shared. “I think that this format is far better, because people can decline [what they don’t want], and it’s just far more efficient.” 

Keeping Each Other Healthy 

Before Gary left to begin his volunteer shift, he reflected on the past four years. Thanks to his own network of support – friends, neighbors and groceries from the Food Bank – Gary was able to stay healthy and safe during the height of the pandemic. But he knows not everyone had that good fortune. 

“A real concern of mine is community healthcare,” he shared. “Had we a more empathetic government, a lot of people would be alive right now.” 

Every week, we see neighbors facing difficult choices between paying for food or healthcare. That’s why the Food Bank is tenacious in pushing for public policy that addresses the root causes of hunger, while also addressing the immediate need for food in our community. 

Forming a Support System 

As for Gary’s next steps? With the Food Bank’s Pop-up Pantries closing in June 2025 due to the end of pandemic-era funding, he’s already looking for new ways to volunteer and continue to be part of a support system for others. 

“I would be happy to work with youth. I would be happy to work with older people. I would be happy to walk people’s dogs if I can,” he laughed. “As human beings, we are empathetic. And when you [volunteer], you feel better. We all want to feel better.”