With a punch list wanting 1,500 frozen turkeys for the
fast-approaching holidays, staff at St. Joseph’s Family Center are
jonesing for a jumpstart on the collection process.
GILROY – With a punch list wanting 1,500 frozen turkeys for the fast-approaching holidays, staff at St. Joseph’s Family Center are jonesing for a jumpstart on the collection process.
“Right now, my freezer is totally empty of turkeys,” said Pantry Coordinator Vicky Martin, who oversees Gilroy’s oldest and largest food assistance program that doled out more than 1.4 million pounds of groceries to low-income families between July 2010 and June 2011. “Given the temperature of the economic climate, we need to get the word out early, just so we can be prepared,” she said. “We’re going to be serving more families than ever this year.”
On top of their ongoing outreach programs, which includes housing/employment assistance, a sack lunch provision, the Food Assistance Pantry, a bi-weekly fresh fruit and vegetable service called “Push Produce,” a dinner program for the homeless called “The Lord’s Table” and hot meals for seniors, St. Joseph’s Family Center at 7950 Church St. is aiming to gather an extra 750 birds for Thanksgiving, followed by another 750 for Christmas.
When it comes to the spirit of generosity – particularly around the holidays – Gilroy has been nothing short of fantastic, Martin said. But if the urge to give could kick in sooner than later, she emphasized timeliness makes all the difference when ensuring 1,500 families walk away with a turkey for their table.
ST. Joseph’s Executive Director David Cox pressed on how fast holidays tend to creep up on their agency, which has a modest staff of nine people.
“All of the sudden, summer’s over and October is here and holy cow, we got some holiday programs to plan,” he said. “Last year, we had over 1,500 turkeys, but a lot of the times, everything comes in at last minute. We’re always panicking, and we’re hoping to avoid some of that.”
Martin said their agency is gearing for a similar, if not higher turnout from last year, when families by the hoards arrived early to wait in line for a shopping cart filled with all the holiday trimmings. Logistically, however, Cox said St. Joseph’s does not have the space to adequately store or distribute a cadre of birds surpassing 750 – although they might find a way to accommodate the goods “if we see a plethora of donations.”
While most recipients are bequeathed with a turkey that can feed their entire family, Martin said St. Joseph’s has turned down a few folks in the past.
“We’ll give them food, but maybe not the traditional turkey,” she said. “Nobody walks away empty-handed.”
Gilroy’s unemployment rate was 16.1 percent in November and 15.4 percent in December 2010, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, which recorded a yearly average of 16.5 percent. It’s a sharp spike from 2008, when the average was just 6.9 percent.
In 2011, the monthly average has so far steadily bounced between 14 and 15 percent, with current employment data measuring in at a preliminary 14.8 percent for August, according to the BLS.
Cox said he’s noted a heightened dynamic in the types of community members showing up for hot meal at the Lord’s Table.
In addition to a surplus in adolescents and youth as old as 18, “We’re seeing a lot more families and more children,” he said. “It’s definitely the issue of homelessness.”
Giving is easy as pumpkin pie for those who want to help, as Gilroyans can donate monetarily through St. Joseph’s freshly re-designed website; stop by on the way back from Nob Hill or Safeway (just a stone’s throw away); or send a student packing to school with turkey en tow.
St. Joseph’s efforts will again be aided this year by Gilroy and Christopher High Schools, which will race to see who can collect 100 gobblers first. The tradition is the brainchild of CHS Principal John Perales, who suggested the losing principal “dresses like a turkey” this year.
Renting a turkey suit isn’t in their budget, GHS Principal Marco Sanchez is countered, so “I’m afraid we couldn’t get one for John Perales when they lose.”
Regardless, friendly rivalry in the name of giving is on.
Cox and Martin also gently reminded: Need is a year-round reality that doesn’t disappear when the Christmas lights come down.
“There’s always a heightened awareness about the needs of the community during the holiday seasons, where people tend to be generous and want to volunteer,” said Cox.
St. Joseph’s wants to instill upon Gilroyans: Giving is vastly appreciated – “but we need it as much in January and in September as we do in November and December,” Cox said.
In addition to turkey donations, the nonprofit is looking for people who might be interested in helping facilitate a special drive or for the sack lunch program, which hands out between 80 to 100 lunches a day. St. Joseph’s used to receive a stratified variety of nutritious items specifically for this service from the South County Outreach, “but it’s gotten cut back,” Cox said.
In terms of gearing for the hectic holiday season just around the corner, Cox and Martin are confident they’ll hit the turkey target.
“Gilroy is so generous, but ever year we panic a little bit because the economy is not good,” said Martin. “Every year, people come through – but earlier is better than later, so David and I don’t lose sleep.”
GET INVOLVED, DONATE OR SIGN UP
– Located at 7950 Church St., St. Joseph’s is a nonprofit agency serving the homeless and at-risk population in Gilroy and San Martin.
– To donate online, visit www.stjosephsgilroy.org. St. Joseph’s also needs to collect 1,500 frozen turkeys for Christmas and Thanksgiving. For donation questions, call at (408) 842-6662, ext. 26. or view more details about ways to get involved on St. Joseph’s website.
– Food distribution for Thanksgiving groceries will take place from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Nov. 21 and 22. Distribution for Christmas groceries will take place from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Dec. 19 and 20. Sign-ups for these holiday distributions will take place from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Nov. 1 and 2 at St. Joseph’s. Families wishing to sign up for both of these special distributions are highly encouraged to visit St. Joseph’s and enroll in the Food Assistance Pantry. This requires a valid photo ID, verification of income, verification of a local address (it must be in Gilroy or San Martin) and verification of all dependents living in their household. Details on this information can be viewed on St. Joseph’s website.
Between July 2010 – June 2011, St. Joseph’s has served the following:
– 4,013 unduplicated individuals
– 11,059 hot meals to the homeless
– 3,436 hot meals to seniors/older adults
– Close to 700,000 pounds of fresh produce to low-income families
– More than 1.4 million pounds of food to low-income families through the Food Assistance Pantry
– 19,289 sack lunches to the homeless and low-income individuals
– 679 households (2,600 individuals) for Thanksgiving and Christmas Holiday programs
