News Summary
Over 100 community members gathered at First Lutheran Church in Cortez Hill for a communal breakfast organized by TACO, assisting those without permanent homes. The event offered food, hygiene services, and vital support to about 1,400 individuals. With a newly launched shower program and key volunteers, TACO continues to address homelessness and food insecurity in the area, promoting dignity and well-being for attendees.
San Diego – More than 100 community members gathered at First Lutheran Church in Cortez Hill to take part in a communal breakfast organized by the Third Avenue Charitable Organization (TACO). Attendees enjoyed coffee and breakfast sandwiches while receiving essential services aimed at assisting those without permanent homes. TACO helps approximately 1,400 individuals by providing food, clothing, device charging, and mail holding services.
In addition to these services, TACO has implemented a shower program every other Wednesday, offering showers through a two-stall trailer. This initiative has been operational for three months, following a donation from the organization Think Dignity. The shower service is seen as a vital resource, with TACO’s director expressing a desire to expand the offering to a weekly schedule, contingent on the availability of more volunteers to assist with operations.
Maintaining hygiene is a key focus of the shower program, as cleanliness is believed to significantly enhance self-esteem among homeless individuals. Participants in the shower program are provided with a 15-minute window to bathe, during which each person receives a towel, hygiene kit, and fresh clothes. The trailer is cleaned and sanitized after each use to uphold hygiene standards.
Some individuals experiencing homelessness include seniors, many of whom find themselves living in their cars after losing their homes. This trend has led to an increase in seniors seeking assistance. TACO staff have reported that some seniors, facing homelessness for the first time, are often reluctant to confide in family members about their living situations.
TACO’s communal meals also provide critical nourishment, particularly towards the end of each month when attendance tends to spike. The organization regularly serves up to 250 people during dinners and breakfasts as part of their outreach efforts to combat food insecurity. This increase in attendance highlights the essential support that TACO offers to those in need within the community.
Volunteers are crucial to the operations at TACO, with some, such as retired nurse volunteers, dedicating significant time to help out with food distribution and meal preparation. The increase in meal attendance signals ongoing community needs and emphasizes the importance of continuing support mechanisms to assist those experiencing homelessness.
Overall, TACO plays an instrumental role in Cortez Hill by addressing not only hunger but also offering vital services that contribute to the dignity and well-being of individuals facing homelessness. As the need for these services grows, community support and engagement will remain essential to further the impact of TACO’s outreach programs.
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Additional Resources
- Times of San Diego: San Diego Charity Showers Homeless People
- San Diego Union Tribune: Mobile Shower for S.D. Homeless Now Helping North Carolina Hurricane Victims
- KSAT: Where Can People Without Shelter Take a Shower in San Antonio
- NBC San Diego: Mobile Showers Could Provide Stepping Stone for Homeless in San Diego’s South Bay
- Wikipedia: Homelessness in the United States
