Philanthropy

• Striving for Real Change

  

  “Hey! Hey! Golden State! Take a look at your poverty rate!” On May 8th, our executive director, Krista Lucchesi, traveled with a group of our senior volunteers to Sacramento, California, the state capitol. They went to advocate for an increase in SSI, which stands for “Supplemental Security Income.” According to the Social Security Administration, SSI……

  May 9, 2018
• Food is Medicine

  

  At Mercy Brown Bag, we provide our recipients with 20lb bags of food twice a month. Here is the breakdown of one of our bags.. Fresh Produce and Fruit (53%) Items can include salad mix, potatoes, yams, onions, strawberries, apples, oranges, carrots, cabbage, squash, pears, plums, cauliflower, celery, brussel sprouts and more… Canned/Frozen Foods (12%)……

  April 2, 2018
• Community

  

  One of my favorite parts about working for Mercy Brown Bag is working with all of the amazing volunteers and seeing them work together. There is so much joy, collaboration, and love that fills the sites and makes everyone feel welcome. And it’s fun! I think about places like Eden Issei Terrace that has a fantastic……

  March 19, 2018
• The Reality of Injustice

  

  My time with Mercy Brown Bag has further opened my eyes to the realities of injustice and the ways that the systems in our country leave people out. Being born within a certain context should not make the difference between whether or not I will have enough resources to survive. Taking the time to step……

  January 31, 2018
• Update on Brown Bag Program

  

  The Mercy Brown Bag Program continues to expand its reach to seniors in need following the addition of its Mobile Grocery Truck last summer. The Mobile Grocery Truck now serves seven buildings throughout Oakland and Hayward, notes Mercy Brown Bag Program Director Krista Lucchesi. More than 375 seniors come to the sites to freely shop……

  November 21, 2017
• How to Support a Legacy of Caring

  

  What does it mean to leave a legacy? In its strictest definition, “legacy” can refer to anything handed down from the past or to gifts that are left in a will. While the concept can remind us of death, the truth is that leaving a legacy is one of the best ways you can continue……

  August 3, 2017
• Help Goes Mobile for Alameda County’s Starving, Aging Population

  

  Thanks KQED News and Journalist Jenee Darden for the great coverage of our Mercy Brown Bag Program and new mobile truck! The article includes photos of our wonderful volunteers and recipients, as well as insight from Mercy Brown Bag Program Director Krista Lucchesi. Read the full article here. Listen to the radio broadcast. .

  July 7, 2017
• New Website, Mobile Grocery Truck Support Mercy Brown Bag Program

  Our Mercy Brown Bag Program is getting the word — and the groceries — out to more seniors than ever before. On April 19, Oakland city officials participated in a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new Mercy Brown Bag Mobile Grocery Truck. The event took place at Mercy Retirement & Care Center during Senior Hunger Awareness……

  April 26, 2017
• Fighting Senior Hunger with the Mercy Brown Bag Program

  

  The Mercy Brown Bag Program distributes wholesome bags of groceries to Bay Area seniors living on fixed incomes. In 1982, Mercy Retirement & Care Center launched the Mercy Brown Bag Program to distribute wholesome bags of groceries to Bay Area seniors living on fixed incomes. The Mercy Brown Bag Program is vital to our community and……

  January 17, 2017
• Seniors Helping Seniors: The Fight to End Senior Hunger

  The Mercy Brown Bag Program not only helps fight hunger in the Bay Area—it enriches the lives of senior volunteers. Bill Shabbas and Bernice Smith aren’t used to asking for help. But when their car broke down two years ago, they didn’t know how they were going to get to the grocery store. At 71……

  January 17, 2017