For the first time since 三月-四月 2020, it feels as if The Covid-19 Pandemic is truly in the rearview mirror.  I am feeling hopeful and excited about the future for Davis Street.

While we continue to see more families-in-need than we did before the Pandemic, I believe this may be the “new normal” for the Bay Area.  The cost of living, here, is such that it requires families with lower incomes to routinely seek out support to get through the month.  Before the Pandemic, a family may have had a car break down, or an illness/injury that caused mom or dad to miss work.  In those rare months, a family would need help from our Food Pantry, for example.  Today, this family may need help more often because their monthly earnings are not enough to sustain a family in the San Francisco Bay Area.

What’s behind my sense of my hopefulness?  It is the fact that Davis Street is up for the challenge of meeting the increased needs of our community.  I do not deny that the Pandemic was difficult for us, organizationally.  The day after the Shelter-In-Place order was instituted, only 12 employees showed up for work.  It really was frightening.  But today – our Dental Clinic has expanded to accommodate an increased need and our Food Pantry is able to serve all of the families that come to us on a weekly basis.  Also, the number of individual donors has increased significantly.  Those who can help, do help – and they help multiple times during the year, when necessary.

In my 32 years at the helm of Davis Street, I’ve always known that the community cares about our organization.  Our Annual Fundraising Gala was completely sold out.  This level of support means so much to me.  To have built an organization that exists only to help anyone who is in need is one of the greatest achievements of my life.

I want to thank all of our supporters who turned out last month for the Gala; and also thank those who could not attend.  Were it not for all of you, Davis Street could not be the hub of love and support that it is today.

Again, I am so hopeful and very excited about our Davis Street future, and I know all of you will be with me along the journey.

From my heart to yours,

蔷薇