Issue link: https://www.ifoldsflip.com/i/1401550
One of the best parts of being the Executive Director of Grey Bears is getting to know amazing people, many in their 70s, 80s, 90s, and even 100s. If I were asked what they had in common, it would be their zest for life, staying active through volunteering and civic engagement, and an irrepressible sense of humor – especially about growing older. Artist and poet, Morgan Harper Nichols, writes how "one day you will look back and see that all along you were bloom- ing." Every stage of life is an opportunity to learn and grow. No matter our age or circumstances, by being open to something new and embracing life we are always moving forward. A fun part of the process for volunteers is learning a new task or project. "Gey Bears meets you right where you are in life," says Volunteer Coordina- tor, Rosie Otero-Foraker. "Whether you're volun- teering, donating to or browsing the thrift stores, recycling, attending a chair yoga class, picking up groceries or sharing a meal with new friends, we want you to feel better just by being here." A wonderful synergy is also created when gener- ations work together on activities that benefit our community. Sharing expe- riences, perspectives and life skills while learning something new expands our horizons. And the best part is how the sense of accom- plishment in impacting the lives of others and posi- tively stewarding resources improves our own lives. That's why volunteering is so good for us at every age. It can be both a stepping stone and a way to give back. Grey Bears has contin- ued to operate throughout COVID and the newer Delta variant that is set- ting off alarm bells here and around the country. If anything, this pandemic has clarified how essential the Healthy Food pro- gram is for those more vulnerable and justifiably concerned about being in any congregate settings – including grocery stores. The multi-faceted pro- gram now serves 5,000 seniors, families, farm- workers and volunteers, and according to Program Director, Danielle Wong, it's a team effort. "We're receiving lots of organically grown fruits and vegetables from gardens and grow- ers, especially this time of year for the weekly grocery deliveries. Plus, there are other varied items we pick up from 20 markets like meats, cheese, yogurt, cereals, produce, salads, bread and deli items for our weekday 11am grocery shopping. Our volunteer chefs get Grey Bears reminds us that joy is in the journey By Tim Brattan Provided Photos Martha's Kitchen provides 1,000,000 meals and distributes 3,000,000 pounds of groceries annu- ally to our 75 partners in nine counties. We provide food to partners located throughout the greater Bay Area and Central California. On a monthly basis this translates into nearly 100,000 meals and over 250,000 pounds of groceries that are distrib- uted to communities that are desperate for food security during these uncertain times. Recent- ly, we added a second location in Watsonville California. This location has allowed us to better serve our partners in Santa Cruz, Watsonville, Hol- lister, Monterey, Salinas, Help Us Fight Hunger! By Ryan Van Den Heuvel Development Director at Martha's Kitchen Los Banos, Merced, and Dos Palos. The need for food security in California requires the efforts of many to feed those who are currently experi- encing homelessness, joblessness, or are just down on their luck. Martha's Kitchen food resources help provide these individuals with nutritious food so that they can focus their energy on getting back on their feet. We believe in creating a network of cooperating agencies to provide multiple resourc- es to those in need when they come to Martha's Kitchen. This includes organizations such as Dignity on Wheels, Gard- ner Health, The Order of Malta. These groups provide laundry services, showers, medical care, and basic hygiene kits to our clients. We do this so that our clients do not have to decide between services on a given day. They know that they can receive a hot nutritious meal and have access to these other highly needed services. Our hope is that within this next year we can open a third location allowing us to expand our services even further to provide food security to more families, individuals, and communities. As our pres- ence in this area continues to grow, we need addition- al space to ensure that we can continue to meet the rising needs of the people we serve. Our space in San Jose, our 4,000 sq ft storage building in Hol- lister, and our 10,000 sq ft facility in Watsonville are becoming quickly taxed by the increased need for storage space and cooking facilities. This new space would allow us to continue to expand our hot meal and grocery services providing food security to those who need it most. We want to ensure that anyone need- ing food can find a safe, reliable, and healthy option close to home. If you are interested in partnering with us, make sure to visit our website: www.marthas-kitchen. org. Thank you for your support! see photo on page 5... to choose what fits best in their recipes for the 100+ meals served each day." For nearly five decades Grey Bears has shown how seniors are a hardworking asset with boundless ways to contribute, support each other and improve our community. And as we age it becomes even clearer that the joy is, indeed, in the journey. To donate, volunteer or participate in the Grey Bears Healthy Food pro- gram visit greybears.org or call 831-479-1055.