Food insecurity can affect people even when they are working. One young Venice resident shares how St. Joseph Center Food Pantry has helped ease the pressure of rising food costs while giving her greater stability and hope.

Deacon Kevin McCardle has spent more than two decades serving St. Joseph Center as a volunteer, Board Chair, and advocate for the “dear neighbor.” His story reflects a lifelong commitment to dignity, compassion, and community.

Volunteer and community advocate Claire found a sense of belonging at St. Joseph Center’s Bread & Roses Café. Now, through her service and leadership, she is helping inspire the next generation of volunteers and supporters while strengthening the community one meal at a time.

For more than 25 years, Emi Carvell has dedicated her time, wisdom, and resilience to serving others. From teaching sustainable gardening to supporting neighbors through the Food Pantry, her story is a reminder that healing, growth, and community are deeply connected.

What started as filling in for a friend became a meaningful weekly commitment for Yvette. Now a dedicated volunteer at Bread & Roses Café, she shares how service has enriched her life, strengthened her connection to the community and reminded her of the power of kindness, dignity and human connection.

Malik reflects on how St. Joseph Center’s Youth Resource Team helped him build trust, find community, graduate high school, and create a more stable future for himself and his daughter.