Show Up And Make a Difference!

I learnt, at Glide, that one out of four people are homeless or food insecure. I also learnt that a lot of those who eat at Glide, have some sort of shelter, but can not afford enough food to feed themselves, or their families.  What everybody needs to know about Glide, is that it's a part of a community, it is not scary, the people are just normal people who turned out to be less fortune then ourselves.  My favorite part of my three shifts at Glide had to be throwing sandwiches at Sadie Ray so she could put them in the sandwich box. I made a difference today, by just showing up, serving food, preparing the food, as well a sharing my smile. Everybody needs a smile, so the smile can spread around the room. I really want to be a vet, or work at a food pantry like Glide. It may be difficult to open a food pantry by myself though.

~  Laura

Food Insecurity in San Francisco

Yesterday, while we were serving at Glide, we learned about food insecurity and how it affects people across America. Food insecurity is when someone is not sure about when or where their next meal is coming from. At Glide, my favorite part about the day was seeing the happiness around the dining hall. It shows everyone that homeless people are not "scary" nor are they "creepy". I also enjoyed making sandwiches and racing with Aracely trying to make sandwiches faster. My entire group changed and touched people's lives. Glide needs 60-80 volunteers per day so if we weren't there, people would have gone hungry and been left feeling like they hadn't connected to all the people that they could have. I think that Glide is an amazing opportunity for everyone. We get the chance to experience how people deal with food insecurity. 

~ Charly

Day Three - Faithful Fools' Street Retreat

We are called to a life of presence that acknowledges each human's incredible worth.

Aware of our judgments, we seek to meet people where they are through the Arts, Education, Advocacy, and Accompaniment.

We participate in shattering myths about those living in poverty, seeing the light, courage, intelligence, strength, and creativity of the people we encounter.

We discover on the streets our common humanity through which celebration, community, and healing occur.

Meeting People at Glide

People need to know that they can always go to Glide for free food and they will be welcomed there. My favorite part of the day was when I was busing tables at breakfast. I met a lot of people. I made a difference today by not letting people go hungry. Now that I have been to Glide I will acknowledge how there are so many home and food insecure people in the world. I will hopefully volunteer and donate money to charity organizations related to helping less fortunate people.

~ Jay

Ordinary People Give

I learned that the people at Glide aren't all homeless, actually half of them have a home, they just can't afford to pay for food and housing. Everybody needs to know that Glide is mostly sustained by ordinary people donating money. My favorite part of the day was during Food Prep, when we were making the sandwiches because we were all talking and having fun together. I made a difference today by making sure that someone went home with a full stomach, instead of an empty one. I want to continue to volunteer at organizations like Glide or the Food Bank, and help people who are food insecure to become food secure.

~ Henry

GLIDE Opens Doors

While serving at Glide I learned that so many people, not just homeless people, are not food secure. Everyone needs to know that Glide opens doors in your personal life and also in you mantle state. You learn that a lot of people are less fortunate and helping others just lets you see these people. My favorite part of the day was eating at Glide’s Mo’s Kitchen. The food was amazing and the people there where really nice. I made a difference as I served people who didn't have food security. I will try to go back to Glide and serve again.

~ Max

I Made a Difference Today - I Will Be Respectful

I learned that people struggling with hunger and homelessness need financial help, and have to go to Glide to get a meal or two. This does not mean that they are homeless. Something that everyone needs to know about Glide is that it is a really welcoming environment and everyone is super friendly, and the food is amazing. My favorite part of the day was preparing food, because the whole group was working together as a team making sandwiches. It was really fun because we were able to talk to each other, while making a difference in San Francisco's Tenderloin community. I made a difference because my first job was collecting tickets from gusts, and I made sure to always have a smile on my face and greet the guests with enthusiasm and respect. All of the clients did the same thing for me, and it put both of us in a good mood. In my life I am always going to be respectful to others around me and to those less fortunate than me.

~ Sophia

GLIDE: Day One at SF Food Bank

Reflecting on Our Day at SF Food Bank

Question: What does everyone need to know about the day our team shared at San Francisco's Food Bank?

Charly: People need to know that we went to the SF Food Bank, met great and important people there,  worked measuring and packaging rice to be given to people at food bazaars all over the bay area, the Food Banks are open 7 days a week, and the Food Banks need people of all ages to help.

Sadie Ray: One in 4 people in SF are food insecure. People expect to see nothing but cans and boxes but more than 60% of food shipped out is fresh produce.  The Food Bank is the main supplier to more than 400 food pantries and soup kitchens like Glide in San Francisco.

Aracely: We went because there are people all over SF who are food insecure. Last year the Food Bank gave out more than 46 million lbs of food and expect to give more than 47 million pounds this year.

Nika: People need to know that we are helping out people who are food insecure. We are helping those who are not as fortunate as we are. People need to know that it is not boring -- it is really fun to do this work.

Laura: We bagged over 2100 lbs of rice... The food bank happens because the volunteers make it happen. Without volunteers the Food Bank would not survive.

Sophia: We had a lot of  FUN. The Food Bank has 200 partnerships and 200 food pantries that they serve. If you are food insecure call 211 and you will get the help you need

Max: On a project like this, you will learn more than you can at school. The Food Bank gives opportunities to children who would not have access to fresh produce. The warehouse smells of oranges and onions... Bring money for snacks...

Jay: People in SF and Marin can get free food, if they have a need. It is a nice warehouse and great place to work.

Rou Rou: Most of the food is donated or the Food Bank might pay $.86/lb for their fresh produce

Todd: There are 3 to 4 million lbs of food in the Food Bank's warehouse that require teams of volunteers to process and to get to people in need.

Question: How did your work make you feel and what was a favorite moment?

Henry: Sealing the bags of rice was really fun. It felt good that our packages would go to help people who couldn't help themselves and weren't as fortunate as we are.

Laura: Similar to Henry's... All our hard work and effort were great... I like to think that if we went to one of the hundreds of distribution food bazaars I could say that I made this packet of rice happen... I helped the person who is going to get it... I helped people who weren't as fortunate as we are.

Nika: It is great feeling that I was able to help someone...

Aracely: I really enjoyed weighing, measuring, packaging and labeling the rice. The people from Twitter who were working next us couldn't get as precise measurements. They were puzzled as to why.

Sadie Ray: It is so satisfying when you finish each box and took it to be closed and weighed. I was pleased when the annoying singing guy who thought he could rap finally got off our bus as we made our way back to PHS and today's assembly.

Charly: Filling a box was really gratifying -- feeling that you got things accomplished.  I am grateful that I go to a school that gives me opportunities to help people throughout the Bay Area.

Todd: I loved seeing everyone working so hard... being so enthusiastic and having so much fun working hard. This is truly an authentic learning experience... and when people are at their best.  I loved the journey across the City, listening to student stories which shows us how smart and funny all of them are.

Rou Rou: Didn't get to go but has been several times before. Loved counting and seeing how much everyone packaged in the collaborative effort.

Jay: I liked talking to various people on the bus like the guy who wasn't a fan of Jerry Brown.

Max: Getting measures of exactly one pound was always a pleasing thing... The man we met and talked with on Muni - "Fracking Guy " was a Vet and he was really intriguing. 

Sophia: Today felt really good. When I woke up this morning I didn't want to come because I was tired but I had a lot of fun with friends.  We had good conversations while packing rice... I ripped a couple of bags but it was no big deal we packed a ton of rice to be given to people in need.