Fall 2006

Whether by cooking, serving, gardening, or interpreting, volunteers are the lifeblood of the organizations that Koret supports through its food program. In the past year, hundreds of volunteers have served thousands of hours to ease hunger in the Bay Area.

In return for their work, volunteers at Jewish Family and Children’s Services of the East Bay learned about gemilut hasadim, acts of love and kindness, as they engaged in the physical aspects of bringing food to the table.

At Samaritan House, volunteers are taking on more responsibility and assuming positions of leadership, running the food pantry and organic garden. Executive Director Kitty Lopez explains that Samaritan House aims to “enhance the volunteer experience so volunteers can feel more invested in the organization.” Samaritan House hosts special events to target young volunteers and encourages businesses to join their team of corporate volunteers. Close to 250 volunteers from local businesses spent time sorting, packing, delivering, and distributing holiday food and gifts.

Debbie Farson has been helping with the Samaritan House garden for three or four years.

“It’s been a wonderful way to couple my interest in sustainable gardens with wanting to make a little bit of difference in the world,” Debbie said.

Margarida Austregesilo, a native of Brazil, volunteers as a Spanish and Portuguese interpreter.

“Life has been good to me,” she said. “I don’t starve, I have food, I am warm. I have everything, so I want to share.”