Volunteer Community at the Center for Spiritual Living, Santa Rosa

When my firstborn grandson turned 18, he decided to live outside, creating beautiful meditation camps high above big River in Mendocino. He is a beautiful soul, Wise beyond his years, kind, generous, compassionate, fun. Last summer when he was 21, while riding his skateboard, he was hit and killed by a hit-and-run driver. While I was on the coast for his funeral, his unSheltered friends reverently escorted me to one of his camps. After our visit, we were crossing the highway where he was killed. a car stopped us, A bedraggled group of perhaps 11. The people rolled down the window of the car. They handed us takeout boxes of hot gourmet Mendocino food… Quiche, bagels, quesadillas, scones! Receiving it with gratitude, we stood together on the side of the street,sharing it with one another, eating with our hands passing it back-and-forth ( pre-Covid) it was true communion. Before his death I had been somewhat uncomfortable hanging out with his homeless friends, probably concerned what othe...

I joined the group of earnest, big-hearted souls at CSLSR committed to addressing the issue of hunger for our neighbors across the way on the Joe Rodoto Trail. There was such a blatant need, I couldn't turn my back on it. After all, I was a child of the Kennedy era where we were asked what we can do for our country. It was a lively meeting with ideas flying like meteors through the air. Not being a real group-person, I almost left. But this was bigger than my little introverted self. We all wanted to do something but needed leadership. I think we sort of volunteered Kathryn to organize us into what became a streamlined assemblage of food (donated and homemade) in the Social Hall to be carried and distributed across the highway to the trail-dwellers. Then the trail was closed and the residents were dispersed throughout the county. People still need to eat. We were able to continue cooking, gathering, preparing food for those newly sheltered at Los Guillicos where we were able to int...

I've been cooking on Fridays with our Center for Spiritual Living, Santa Rosa group. The joy I get from this community participation is beyond measure. We all show up and start chopping, peeling, mixing, baking, roasting---whatever is available from the generous donations of food and supplies which keep appearing at the Grange in Sebastopol!  Miraculously, at the end of several hours, 140+ meals miraculously appear to be distributed to those who are in need of a healthy home cooked meal. The colors and textures are a feast for the eyes and the abundance is joyous to behold. And though we are masked and keeping our distance from one another, the camaraderie and sense of community is so palpable. It's just a great feeling-- doing a little piece of Good in the world which at this time is so needed. I feel so blessed to be able to participate with this group.

I cook because my mom one day brought me to one of the cooking days, and after being there one time, I wanted to come back and continue to cook with the group from the Center. The first time I cooked was at St. Vincent's. That day we were making a meat dish with mashed potatoes, and I helped make the potatoes, which was really satisfying. I also helped with icing cupcakes, which I also found to be very calming, almost like meditation. When I cook, I do whatever is needed, squishing garlic to chopping carrots. I find that when the group I cook in works, we work together very well, and we make it fun for each other, which makes it even more fun to be with them. The people I cook for are the homeless that live in LGV and on the streets. I work with a group that is organized through the Center for Spiritual Living. I've learned that cooking can be a great stress reliever.