for the Immigrant Food Assistance program. Nov. 11, 2013. San Francisco, Calif. Photo Lavinia Pisani
Many of the admirers of the majestic, recently repainted Maestra Peace Mural that fronts the Women’s Building in the heart of the Mission District are unaware of the valuable social services offered inside.
Every Monday morning inside the brightly lit Audre Lorde Room, on the second floor of the building, a farmers’ market-like scene unfolds as up to 10 and 15 Latino and Cantonese volunteers unpack and hand out fresh fruit, vegetables, rice, eggs and more to approximately 200 fellow immigrants from 9:45-11 a.m.
This service, known as the Immigrant Food Assistance program, has taken place at the Women’s building for five years. According to their website, the
intent of the Immigrant Food Assistance (IFA) program, “is to address the needs of a multicultural community of immigrants by providing services that would otherwise be unaffordable.”
Historically, the Women’s Building Food Pantry has served the Latino population in the Mission. In recent years the food program has shown a majority of
Cantonese people that travel from outside of the neighborhood.
“My mission and my goal is to serve locally and if traditionally it has been Latino immigrants […] I want to target more,” said IFA
coordinator, Acacia Woods-Chan.
The Immigrant Food Assistance program is one of the many food pantries San Francisco offers. Still, it differs from other San Francisco food pantries as it does not only provide food but also invites hosts to provide information to immigrants such as about nutrition, health and more. As an example, Olivia DeGracia, voter information community outreach coordinator, attended the pantry on Oct. 21 to explain immigrants their rights to vote.
The Immigrant Food Assistance program also focuses on building community.
“I want to help them, so that I can live with a smile,” said Margarito Real, food pantry organizer.
Members appreciate volunteer’s work.
“My experience is magnificent,” said Mari Zamora, who is from Nicaragua. “(Volunteers) are polite and they treat me well.”
Zamora cooks the food she gets from the pantry and shares it with her daughters, who are currently unemployed. Every six months it is registration day. April 28 will be next date. The intention is to switch time slots of immigrants to get food, as there are always more families wanting food pantry
cards than there is food.
“They are on time, they have good manners,” said member Dilip Saha from Bangladesh said sharing his 4-years experience of participating in the program.
The food arrives as a donation from the San Francisco Food Bank. On Nov. 25, the Immigrant Food Assistance program received 4,611.73 pounds of food.
Quality is always important, but it lacks sometimes.
“Last time we received green bell pepper that smelled very bad, so we couldn’t give this out,” Woods-Chan said.