SCI - Golden Gate

Dining Room for the Needy

SCI Golden Gate began supporting St. Vincent’s de Paul Society “Dining Room for the Needy” San Rafael in 2005 with an annual donation of processed, packaged game meat from Chapter members. The appreciation has been heartwarming and has led to the Chapters’ continued effort. It also caught the attention of SCI leaders of this effort – i.e. Steve Rilenge, Gene Rurka and Eva Wilson. They offered to supply a commercial Hobart Meat Grinder to St. Vincent’s and Golden Gate Chapter elected to move the date of our planned collection to coincide with the Grinder delivery and set up.

On July 15, Gene Rurka, Steve Rilenge, Ted Pryor and Mike Borel arrived at St. Vincent’s with 630# of bison, elk, salmon, halibut and deer meat along with a new in the box Hobart commercial grinder (40#/min!!). Steve Boyer, Director of the St. Vincent’s center, Christine Paquette, Director of Development, the Chef and several “diners” received us with open arms and helped us unload. We set up the Hobart, took some pictures and sent the caped crusaders – Rurka and Rilenge, to Reno where they could duplicate the effort! It’s sure heartwarming and fun to help others and have it be appreciated!

This brings the total game donated to St. Vincent’s to over 1 ½ tons (yes tons) of quality game meat. We learned that April – October is their period of greatest need and we made a plan for an earlier donation in 2009.