”
If a free society cannot help the many who are poor, it cannot
save the few who are rich.
”
– John F. Kennedy
“If a free society cannot help the many who are poor, it cannot save the few who are rich.” – John F. Kennedy
When I accidentally crashed the meeting of the executive officers last Thursday, I gained insight into just what kind of people run the charitable organization we know around town as St. Joseph’s. I was recently nominated to possibly join St. Joseph’s Board of Directors, and while they are considering me for membership, I decided to make a stellar first impression by showing them how fallible and human I am. When I misread my own datebook, I showed up for what I thought was a nominating meeting, but was actually a completely different meeting. Naturally, this did not really dawn on me until the end of the meeting. I took notes and added my own two cents; I got to experience firsthand the refreshing lack of ego dominating the executive officers’ committee. Everyone was so kind; they offered me a soda and not only let me stay for the duration but listened to what I had to say, even though I had no business even being there, much less talking!
I always try to learn a lot from my mistakes, and this was no exception. Thanks to what one member jokingly referred to as my “big power play,” I had the opportunity to witness the collaborative effort in the way these board members work together in a no-profit organization that for over 38 years has been the primary source in our area for families, seniors, and individuals in need of urgent assistance. They approach their job with a genuine desire to leave biases and stereotypes behind and pinpoint areas of greatest need. St. Joseph’s includes board members of various denominations and affiliations, such as Baptist, Catholic, Presbyterian, South Valley Church members, etc., and from what I understand, there is still room for other denominations. This ecumenical nature is one of the most appealing things about St. Joseph’s. Gilroy is unique in my experience as far as the degree of willingness of various individuals with different beliefs to work together to help those who most need it.
Each year, St. Joseph’s serves over 11,000 hot meals, provides rental and utility assistance for 200 households, transitional housing for 75 homeless or at risk families, and assists over 50,000 individuals in receiving nutritious food. Many of us live only a paycheck away from some unexpected circumstance or emergency causing us to need the assistance of someone like the dedicated volunteers of St. Joseph’s. It takes the participation of the community at large to keep an operation like St. Joseph’s going, and their upcoming St. Patrick’s fundraiser is a great example of how the Gilroy community keeps the work of St. Joseph’s possible year after year. Currently, St. Joseph’s is seeking sponsors throughout the community as they prepare for this gala event which will feature Irish dancers as part of the entertainment this year. Board member Karen Titus (847-7062 for more info) tells me that any donations for raffle prizes, cash donations, or silent auction items are welcome (nothing is too small). Sponsorships of $750.00 guarantee that you will be recognized in newsletters, flyers, and print ads. The benefit dinner itself will be $25.00, and a table for eight can be purchased for $200.00. This includes the live entertainment, a great meal, and the personal satisfaction of knowing that what you are giving will help someone in our community when they need it most.
The challenge facing agencies like St. Joseph’s is finding ways to change what causes the poverty in the first place. It reminds me of the old proverb, “Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day; teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime.” As a volunteer in the soup line at the Armory, I see some of the same faces this year that I saw last year, and I wonder, what would it take to break the cycle of poverty? “Poverty is created by the way society treats its least well-favoured members. It is inescapably wedded to the degree and consequences of social inequality we are prepared to tolerate or even encourage.” (The Child Action Poverty Group). Gilroy’s future transitional center is a right step in that direction, but in this time of economic downturn, our support of agencies like St. Joseph’s is even more crucial than ever. St. Joseph’s will continue to fight the odds in order to feed the hungry.
As director David Cox put it this holiday season, “We are getting a lot of people coming here for the first time this year, people who have never had to go to a social service for help before.” There has been a 20 percent increase in families applying for food assistance. Let’s mark March 15 at 6 p.m. on our calendars as a time to celebrate the St. Patrick’s Holiday this year while helping the homeless and low-income families in our community at the same time.
Kat Teraji’s column is published every Thursday in The Dispatch. You can reach her at
ka****@ea*******.net
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