It’s the Monday before Thanksgiving and a small crew of four volunteers is spread across the Coast Café kitchen, piecing together ingredients for nearly 100 households. In one corner, coordinator Robin Ahlgren dips her finger into the industrial-sized Hobart mixer that’s been slowly converting potatoes into mash to test its progress. Her prognosis was quick: “Needs more salt,” she says to the helper by her side.
By 4:30 p.m. roasted carrot-coconut soup, beet and kale salad, turkey, gravy, stuffing, mashed potatoes and apple-blueberry crisp are en route to homes in Bolinas, Stinson Beach and beyond, all at no cost.
It’s the result of a community service program called Food for Families, which has pulled together volunteers every Monday since 2011 to make and deliver weekly meals to seniors, ill people, the impoverished and families with newborns. The service has been sustained through grants and gifts, including donated veggies and the use of the restaurant’s kitchen, but as it approaches its sixth year in operation, its core volunteers are retiring and the program’s future is uncertain.
Founder Serita Brooke, who mostly retired three years ago, is hoping people will step forward to take the reins. “They can do whatever they want with the existing infrastructure: [for example,] make it a pick-up system and not a delivery,” she said.
But if no volunteers come forward, Food for Families will fold in January. Ms. Brooke said if that’s the case, West Marin Senior Services will be able to continue serving the elderly, but there are no programs that support the longtime ill or new families.
Bolinas resident Tony Onorato and his family have received weekly meals for the past two years. He has known Ms. Brooke since they attended Tamalpais High School together, and said she approached him about the program following the birth of his second child.
“My first reaction was to put on an apron. But it was absolutely free,” he said. “It’s been really nice on a Monday night to have them deliver; it’s really great food and they spend a lot of time and effort with fresh vegetables. But I have kind of thought, how long this can happen?”
Ms. Brooke, who began Food for Families following the help and support she received as she was caring for her ailing mother, accepts the fact that it may reach its close.
“It’s important to let a good idea go,” she said. “We’ve had a beautiful six years and maybe it’s time. But that would come at the expense of the people who get the food and I wouldn’t want to see that.”
Those interested in learning more about volunteering can call email Serita Brooke at [email protected].