GIVING CHRISTMAS CARE TO HOMELESS, FOOD INSECURE
Father Joe’s Villages continues tradition after namesake’s death
Father Joe’s Villages fed more than 1,200 people experiencing homelessness and food insecurity at three locations Friday during its annual Christmas Eve dinner celebration.
Guests received a prepackaged turkey dinner complete with a mixed berry pie or cookies and a steaming hot chocolate, along with a care package filled with hygiene products, masks, new socks, a blanket and a poncho to ward off the rain. The meals were served at the Franklin Antonio Public Lunch Program and Golden Hall downtown, and at the Joan Kroc Center in Rolando.
The nonprofit expected to serve at least 500 guests at the lunch program site Friday, which included Roberto Rodriguez, who has experienced homelessness on and off since he and his wife got divorced 15 years ago.
The 67-year-old lived in the homeless shelter at the San Diego Convention Center before it closed down in March, then was back living on the streets for several months before moving into transitional housing at Saint Vincent de Paul five months ago.
Although he feels thankful for the meal Friday, Rodriguez said it can also be a little lonely.
“I thank God — right now this is like a party, we get things for free, we get to eat and everything else,” he said. “It feels very special, but also lonely to me because I’m by myself right here, even though I’m with a lot of people.”
The organizers strived to make it a cheerful event, with volunteers and staff donning Santa hats and live musicians playing Christmas carols.
This year’s holiday celebration is the first since the death of Father Joe Carroll in July, who grew the assistance network now known as Father Joe’s Villages from what was once a small charity handing out peanut butter sandwiches downtown in the early 1980s.
It’s also the second time the nonprofit has held it during the pandemic, which increased rates of hunger and the need for food assistance.
Deacon Jim Vargas said that the level of food insecurity locally has become exacerbated due to the economic and health impacts of the pandemic. Vargas is the president and CEO for Father Joe’s Villages.
“Nutritious meals are so extremely important because it