Special Delivery

by Darryl Chinn, Volunteer
Regular Runner

Grocery store donations awaiting pick up by Darryl

Greetings to all fellow Food Runners and donation pickup and drop-off clients. I am Darryl C.  I am a retired Army veteran, volunteering with the Food Runners organization for about 3 years (Thank you Dave for bringing me aboard and Nancy for guiding me with excellent directions).  It has been one of my beneficial coping mechanisms in dealing with PTSD. 

Unloading donations from Darryl's pick up truck

During my weekly Sunday drop-offs at HealthRIGHT 360's Walden House, which is known as 'the mother ship of the HealthRIGHT 360 locations in San Francisco," (there are two more smaller sites located at lower Hayes St. and on Buena Vista St. in the Haight among others), one will experience assembly line efficiency when delivering. It seems like “Santa elves” stream out from the huge building to offload the donations.  They have to do it quickly because you are offloading in a marked Muni bus zone.  You will always hear them give you a hearty “Thank you” plus a warm smile.

Darryl and Vera unload at HealthRIGHT 360 "Mother Ship."

During the week, I have met Danny, the Executive chef of all the HealthRIGHT 360 locations. I see Vera, the kitchen manager on the weekends at the Mothership and “Big Al,” the kitchen manager at Buena Vista on the weekends. We happened to know some of the same folks in San Francisco. That's part of the beauty of Food Runners. How it creates community.

Unloading with Lisa at the Neighborhood Food Program at All Saints'

For my Saturday drop-off at All Saints Episcopal Church on Waller St., I always look forward to my “bear” hug from Lisa M. who organizes the meal for the Neighborhood Food Program, serving a hot dinner for up to 200 guests in need every Satruday. She may be small in stature, but she exudes a bubbly personality bringing out the sunshine in everyone. All Saint's volunteer, the dependable William “Bill” V., rivals the abilities of workers at the grocery stores I pick up from in the transfer of donated items.