Newsletter - 10-01-08

Boyz 2 Men

Topaz sunlight poured out of the sapphire sky before shattering into a million sparkles skittering across the tourmaline bay. Just another gorgeous September Saturday in San Francisco. The Ferry Building Farmer's Market bustled with shoppers in their shirtsleeves enjoying a toasty afternoon. Tomato season was at its peak. Succulent spheres of many sizes, shapes and colors graced the tables at almost every booth. Piled high purple plums and fat peaches were also in abundance. Jeremy waited just outside the door of Food Runners' regular donor, Frog Hollow Cafe. He was reaching for his cell phone when he saw me pull up in the Food Runners truck. He waved and walked in my direction. A Market assistant cleared the way as I inched my way through the foot traffic before parking next to the vendors area in the back. "Hi Jeremy," I said as I descended from the driver's seat. "I'm so glad you could make it. Are you ready to work hard?" He nodded, eager to get started. I grabbed the handcart from the back of the truck. Jeremy stacked it high with empty boxes. We were on our way. Jeremy's mother was one of the first people I bonded with when my son started elementary school. Jeremy was in fourth grade that year and the first of his three younger brothers was in my son's class. Jeremy is thirteen now, no longer a boy, but a thoughtful, fallow young man attending a well known private boy's school where he's an excellent student. His soft blue eyes shine with keen intelligence and curiosity. He's at that gangly adolescent stage where legs seem to extend to chins and arms appear to reach almost to the ground. Jeremy's newfound fascination with sustainability, especially when it comes to food, gave his mother the idea to call me. Jeremy chose to volunteer for Food Runners independently of any school community service requirements. He tagged along with me that Saturday helping lift boxes, asking intelligent questions about what we were doing and making even more intelligent suggestions on improving our collection route at the market. By them time we'd finished the rounds, the Food Runners truck was full. Jeremy was amazed. He climbed into the cab beside me and off we trundled to deliver the haul to Martin DePorres and three other shelters. Jeremy's face glowed with excitement and pride when his dad came to pick him up at the end of the day. Jeremy's mother emailed me last week saying Jeremy wanted to do the market again. This time, I set him up with the pro, long time Food Runners volunteer Keith G. who's been doing the Saturday Market run in the Food Runners truck for the past fifteen years. I was just filling in for Keith who was away on business. Jeremy and Keith must have made quite a pair. The old generation and the new. The tall and the taller. Working together to make a better community. Give that kid a pat on the back!

Food Runners picked up and delivered 116,750 pounds of food in the month of September. Volunteers performed 794 runs and the truck did 246. September 21-25 marked the busiest week of the year to date due to the Oracle Convention. Food Runners truck driver Brian M. picked up and delivered over 1,000 sandwiches per day that week at Moscone West. In addition to the sandwiches the downtown Marriott, the Four Seasons, the Sheraton Palace and the Westin San Francisco Market Street Hotel also made generous donations generated by Oracle activities. Please welcome new donors Academy of Science Cafe and St. Mary's Medical Center. I am thrilled to announce Food Runners the long overdue renewed partnership with McCall Catering. McCall Catering caters many of the highly visible events around town such as the Opera and Symphony Galas and more. When McCall's donates they donate big and the food is always high end and nutritious. Delivering food from McCall's is most gratifying. Please welcome new volunteers Don G. and Sarah M. Don took on a weekly run right out of the gate and Sarah has not only sallied forth on runs, but one week in, she set up a weekly donation of the excess food from the Friday in-house lunches at her office.

Holiday season is almost here. Are you planning/attending a catered event over the holidays or know a friend who is? Don't let the caterers toss the excess food because they don't know what else to do with it or think they can't donate it. Tell them about Food Runners. Donating to Food Runners is safe and it’s legal. If you insist, they will follow.

Happy Halloween,

Nancy

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