May 2020
Caring for One Another  
Community Responds to the Need for Food
It all started with two compassionate St. Leo neighbors….. What would you do if you knew a family that had lost its income due to the COVID-19 shelter-in-place restrictions? When two parishioners from St. Leo discovered the hardships one family was facing, they didn’t think twice. They drove to the store, bought groceries, and delivered them to the family. That incredibly grateful family in turn shared the gift they had received with three other families in need. At that point, the two St. Leo parishioners realized how great the need for food had become and decided to start a food drive. When they called Fr. Gerard, Pastor of St. James-St. Leo Parish, for permission to ask parishioners for food donations, Fr. Gerard gave the OK. He then reached out to Catholic Charities which agreed to establish St. Leo Mission as one of its food distribution points.
         Jannet Diaz, the Parish Spanish Religious Education Director, has jumped in to help families in need. The COVID-19 pandemic is affecting everyone especially those who were already living month-to-month on minimum wage jobs that cannot be done from home. Having lost their jobs, many families have difficulty providing for even the most basic needs of their families. Diaz organized the first food distribution at St. Leo at the end of March and then when a team of parishioners completed the Covid-19 training required by Catholic Charities she organized the first distribution of food from Catholic Charities on April 6 th . The food distribution program has since benefitted more than 100 families.

HOW THE FOOD DISTRIBUTION WORKS:
Every Monday, Antonio Mendoza, St. James-St. Leo Facilities Manager, drives the Mission Circle truck to Cathedral Catholic High School to pick up food provided by Catholic Charities. Helpful volunteers stand by to unload the food at St. Leo Mission. On Tuesday through Friday, packing assistant volunteers arrive at 5:30 pm to sort and pack the food to be distributed that day. Between 6:00-8:00 pm, food distribution assistant volunteers check in the pre-qualified participants in their cars via the parking lot drive thru.  Participants drive to the food table, get out of their car, and pick up their food. (For the safety of all, volunteers and participants have no physical contact.) Food is also delivered to participants who don't drive or cannot leave their homes.  
Vicente Leal: Food Distribution Assistant
Antonio Mendoza-Food pick up
HOW TO APPLY TO RECEIVE FOOD:
All people in need of food must register at the following link:   https://www.ccdsd.org/food-pick-up
Catholic Charities created the Emergency Food Distribution Network to distribute food in a safe, effective, and reliable manner that complies with COVID-19 social distancing requirements. The chart below shows the income guidelines to qualify for food assistance :
Jorge Fernandez, Beth Dammeye:  Packing Assistants
Eva Rios, Marisol Sotelo, Antonia Ramirez, Evelia Perez: Packing Assistants      
Jannet and Antonio Diaz
Bernardino Vasquez: Unloading
HOW TO VOLUNTEER AT THE ST. LEO FOOD DISTRIBUTION:
All volunteers must be registered with Catholic Charities. To register, go to this link:  https://www.ccdsd.org/efdn-volunteers
Volunteers must wear protective face cover/masks as well as disposable gloves and respect the 6 feet social distance requirements. Volunteers are needed Tuesday through Friday; 4 to 6 volunteers are needed each day. The packing assistants complete their job in about 30 minutes. Two food distribution assistants help Diaz for about 2 hours. In addition, volunteer drivers deliver food to participants in the home delivery program. More than 40 volunteers have already registered with Catholic Charities in order to help.
Eva Rios and Evelia Perez: Packing
Eva Rios and Bernardino Vasquez
HOW CAN I HELP?
Prayers are needed for those suffering from the disease and from financial hardship, for those caring for the sick, and for those working to find solutions for the current hardships. Volunteers who would like to help with the food distribution can register with Catholic Charities. Another way to help is to donate the following foods:  dried pinto beans, white rice, cooking oil, fideo pasta, and breakfast cereal. Each week, hundreds of pounds of each are needed to help feed our local families. Food donations can be dropped off at the drive thru at St. Leo Mission, Tuesday through Friday between 6:00-8:00 pm. If you prefer to purchase online, food donations may be shipped to St. Leo Mission, 936 Genevieve Street, Solana Beach, CA 92075. These food donations are kept on a separate table so recipients know the food is from our parishioners. Cash donations to help purchase food can be sent to the St. James-St. Leo office c/o Deacon Peter Hodsdon. Please write Food Distribution Program on the check memo line. Your gifts of prayer, time, and food will help spread the love and compassion these two neighbors began by reaching out to one family in need.

If you have questions or need help registering to receive food from Catholic Charities, contact Jannet Diaz jdiaz@stjames-stleo.org.
In Memoriam
Jan Nelte
Novena Prayer for an End to the Coronavirus Pandemic
O Mary, full of grace, Patroness of this nation and Mother of the Church, in this time of illness and worldwide need we seek your intercession for the human family before your Son’s throne of grace and mercy. We ask for strength in adversity, health in weakness, and comfort in sorrow. Help us, O Blessed Mother, to be filled with confidence and trust in the tender compassion of our God. Let us not be afraid, like our own Saint Marianne Cope, who entrusted her life and ministry among the outcasts of society into the care of our Divine Physician. Continue to watch over all who are sick as well as those who care for them and give wisdom to all who are seeking a cure. We ask this through Christ, our Lord. Amen.
We Can Still Serve During Shelter-in-Place Guidelines
How can we serve when our regular programs serving those in need are temporarily cancelled? The need for help is growing as the COVID-19 pandemic continues.  But how can we serve while we shelter in place and observe physical distancing? Everyone is suffering and experiencing loss during this unprecedented time whether it be from the loss of a job, an illness, or not being able to gather with family and friends. Below is the beginning of a list of ways we can still serve and help others:

  • Follow the Shelter in Place and physical distancing guidelines for the safety and well being of all
  •  Regularly call or facetime family, friends, and neighbors
  • Support local businesses to help them stay open and provide jobs
  • Continue weekly donations to your church
  • Sew facemasks for others, including organizations that need them
  • Make an appointment to donate blood
  • Support nonprofits that are struggling to keep up with the increased demand for food, healthcare, and shelter
  • Even when feeling stressed and anxious, be kind and respectful of others
  • Continue paying those who provide you with support services such as your housekeeper, gardener etc. when they must stay home
  • Be an agent of love and healing in your neighborhood: check on your neighbors to make sure they’re doing okay and ask if they need anything, leave friendly hope-filled sidewalk messages with chalk or post signs in your windows
  • Eat and use what you have and share if you have extra
  • Show your appreciation to those who continue to work for the benefit of others: grocery store clerks, nurses & doctors, delivery people, police officers, fire fighters, sanitation workers, mail carriers, etc.
  • As always, pray daily and often
Mission Circle can help you connect with like-minded people
to make a difference!
Simply contact us at pres@missioncircle.com
or
Visit us at missioncircle.com and contact the chairperson
of our programs and events.

We look forward to seeing you soon!