Event took place at 3 locations
helps people to remain healthy,” Vargas said. “The lack of appropriate nutrition leads to hospitalization, disease and illnesses, leads to the emergency rooms having to be used.”
The San Diego Hunger Coalition estimates that onethird of adults and two-fifths of children experience food insecurity based on poverty statistics in the region. Together, they make up just over a million San Diegans.
Vargas kicked off the event at the Franklin Antonio Public Lunch Program downtown with a prayer before a team of 20 volunteers began serving the day’s guests, including the Ellis family, who poured and doled out cups of hot cocoa.
“We just do the best we can to give out a little bit of something from home to let them know somebody cares about them,” volunteer Michael Ellis said.
For Michael and his wife, Ann, volunteering is a fundamental aspect of parenting their son Jackson, 14, and daughter Nova, 10.
“We feel blessed and we want to bless other people, and I’ve always wanted to help the homeless since I was little, so I try to bring the family,” Ann Ellis said. “It’s important to me so I want it to be important to them.”
The family has been volunteering with Father Joe’s for years, but now that Nova is 10, she was finally able to join her brother and parents.
“It makes me feel happy because I am able to help the homeless and I get to give back,” Nova said in between pouring cocoa.
Her brother Jackson added that “It makes me feel very included and important because I’m here helping out people who don’t have much.”
Friday’s meal was made possible through donations of 100 turkeys, which were served alongside 35 gallons of gravy and 250 pounds each of stuffing, mashed potatoes and green beans.
The culinary effort was led by a new addition to the Father Joe’s team, executive chef Richard Valerio, who reported for his first day of work Monday.
Planning a meal for more than a thousand people in less than a week wasn’t a challenge for Valerio, who
routinely served thousands of Marine recruits in his last job at Marine Corps Recruit Depot.
Born and raised in San Diego, he sought the job at Father Joe’s as a way to give back to the local community he calls home, especially around the holiday season.
“My main concern is giving somebody a hot meal, something to drink — just putting them in a safe environment where they can enjoy themselves for Christmas, showing people some love and compassion,” Valerio said. “If we do all that, I say it’s a good day.”