Jack said he has come to depend on the food he gets from SVdP after an injury left him with a broken back and lasting difficulties.

Jack is in his late 60s. For most of his life, he worked as a tow truck driver. He still helps as an assistant when he can. Then a work crash changed everything.

“I was hit by a truck, and broke my spine in two places,” Jack said. “I can still work, though I can’t do everything I use to be able to.”

Today, Jack lives with pain and a much smaller income. He also cares for his sister, so every dollar has to stretch for two. That is where St. Vincent de Paul of Contra Costa County (SVdP) steps in with steady, practical help.

Jack is a regular at the SVdP Food Pantry in Pittsburg and at the Loaves and Fishes of Contra Costa Dining Room at St. Vincent de Paul. The pantry gives him basic foods – rice, beans, pasta, canned goods – so his budget can last through the month. The dining room offers a hot meal made with care each day.

“The food I get is such a big help,” Jack said. “I take care of my sister, so we get by on just what we have, but the dining room and the food pantry really help us when times are tough.”

At both places, volunteers greet Jack by name and with a smile. That welcome matters. It turns a hard day into a manageable one. It tells Jack he is not alone.

“Everyone here is so kind, I can’t say enough how much I love everyone at the dining room and food pantry, they are really doing important work,” Jack said. “I don’t know how we would get by sometimes if it wasn’t for the help available here. It may seem small, but a plate of food and something in the cupboard is a blessing.”

This is what SVdP does across Contra Costa County – neighbor to neighbor, week after week. Volunteers sort food, pack bags, and serve with dignity. Donors make sure shelves are stocked and the doors stay open. Partners like Loaves and Fishes of Contra Costa cook nourishing meals that bring comfort and calm.

Jack said he just wants for a fair chance to get by and to care for his sister and is thankful to SVdP for helping to provide it.

“When the pantry in Pittsburg helps us, I thank God. It means my sister eats, and I can breathe a little easier,” Jack said. “It’s hard sometimes, asking for help, but I’m thankful everyone here is so kind and considerate, they’re really great people.”

Thanks to the SVdP Pittsburg Food Pantry and the Loaves and Fishes Dining Room at St. Vincent de Paul, Jack said he can care for himself and his sister.