The Dorothy Day Center in Berkeley is ministering to several homeless encampments around the East Bay. Here’s the truck and trailer. I drive the truck. Jadyne and I park, climb into the trailer and hand out socks, cookies, pastries, tampons, canned ravioli, sliced peaches, beef stew, tunafish, pre-made sandwiches, peanut butter, razors, toothbrushes, toiletries, soap, water, fruit juice, toilet paper, lentils, milk, cereal, brown rice, whatever is available.
Our guests are both polite and grateful.
What We Drive
Where They Live
Who They Are
More donuts. Castro Street encampment. 7/12/22
A garden.
Downtown. We brought donuts to these folks today. Met a girl with a badge on her dress. Left in the BMW for work. It’s not all that people think it is.
Not so appropriate for “polite society.”Yes, it’s a contrast. People unashamed of who they are, friendly, welcoming, grateful.
8th and Harrison. At the corner next to the Tesla Service Center.
The homes
A resident.
Grilling sweet potatoes. He’s Tone.
“Can I have a box for my baby? I have a four year old and an eight month old baby. I paid $4000 for my car, and it was stolen, so I have to live here. I’m 24. I’ll be okay.”
Saturday was clean-up day. A caterer came to the Castro Street Encampment
Nurses arrived, providing vaccines and flu shots.
Residents were given big yellow bags and paid to remove garbage
Homes and grounds were swept, and residents were given incentives to keep their places clean.
A local resident. We brought dog chews and bones a day earlier. Many residents own dogs.
Tow trucks were lined up to remove the immovable.
Residents were enlisted to help with the cleanup.
Christmas at Castro Street
Cooking in the Rain