One afternoon as I came in from the food room, I walked into the
main office and found two kindly-looking men walking through the
offices.
“One afternoon as I came in from the food room, I walked into the main office and found two kindly-looking men walking through the offices. They were talking quietly and seemed to approve of all that they heard and saw. I said hello and they nodded and kept walking and shortly left our offices. I pondered awhile and tried to place them. One of the men seemed quite familiar. It wasn’t until I got home that night and was looking through the newspaper and saw his picture that I realized the gentleman was the great activist, Cesar Chavez. It made my day to know that he had seemed to approve of St. Joseph’s Family Center.”
So goes one of Marge Albaugh’s favorite stories from her 18 years of serving as Executive Director of St. Joseph’s Family Center, from 1982 to 2001, when current Executive Director, David Cox, was hired. Albaugh has many stories to tell of this non-profit charitable organization that has served the Gilroy community since 1962.
When Albaugh retired, she and her husband John went on a trip to Rome. Arriving to tour the Vatican, they learned that even the Pope had heard of their work at SJFC and had asked to meet them. To their surprise, they were granted an audience with Pope John Paul II!
Strangers began telling Albaugh their stories: “One day at a local restaurant, one of the waiters came up to me and said, ‘Do you remember me?’ I apologized and said I was sorry, but I didn’t. He said, ‘I came to St. Joseph’s and I was hungry and had no place to go. You fed me, put me on a food program and gave me a place to sleep. I now have a good job and I am able to take care of my family. I just want to say thank you.’ This happened to me often.”
SJFC is a collaboration between many businesses, organizations, churches, and individuals working together to provide a central location for people to come to when in a crisis or emergency situation.
Gilroy has the largest homeless population per capita of any city in Santa Clara County. In just one month last year, St. Joseph’s services helped almost 5 percent of the entire population of Gilroy.
Because of your gifts last year, 279 homeless children and their parents had a safe, warm place to stay during the cold winter months. Because you cared, more than 15,000 hot meals were served to homeless and very low-income members of our community. Your donations enabled 1,700 children and adults to receive enough food to stave off hunger each month.
“I would like to thank you for your wonderful organization,” reads one of the many letters of gratitude SJFC regularly receives. “I was so discouraged about job search agencies until I found yours. Agencies have become so impersonal. And those with computers limit your use. I was so disappointed until I met Jeff Fishback (SJFC Employment Services Coordinator). He renewed my hope, and he found me a job. His professional manner and kindness made me feel like somebody really cared. Please let him know his work is greatly appreciated.”
SJFC is currently teaming with the Gilroy Foundation to seek funding in order to save the Senior Shuttle and keep it running, which is a great service many seniors depend upon who have no other way to go shopping for groceries on such fixed incomes. SJFC will be holding its annual St. Patrick’s Dinner fundraiser soon, and your support will help keep the many services provided by SJFC alive in our community, including the shuttle.
Mark your calendars now for the St. Patrick’s Dinner March 17 at St. Mary Auditorium, beginning with a no host bar at 6pm and dinner served by City Council members at 7pm. To purchase dinner tickets, to donate a raffle prize or silent auction item, or to make a donation of any size, please contact SJFC at (408) 842-6662 OR e-mail me.
