Though the program honors the confidentiality of its clientele, none seems embarrassed about their personal situation and no one sits alone. Indeed, any menu that includes spaghetti, green and fruit salad, broccoli and carrots, garlic and foccacia bread with drinks and dessert is hard to beat by any standard. Jane Matteson, the volunteer in charge of the meals program, stressed the role that local businesses and volunteers play in supporting the program. Businesses in Davis donate food in the form of canned goods and loaves of bread too old to sell. These loaves are in turn given away to anyone who wants an extra loaf.
Additional food is given away without a second thought.
This reporter, against his protests, received two pies, apple and pumpkin. Most of the donations come from grocery stores but local families also contribute food and money. In fact, there is often too much food. Matteson explained that it is often difficult to give away all that is donated. Cooks decide what they are going to make and then purchase the meat themselves.