Oakley food program helps those in need

By Roni Gehlke
For the Contra Costa Times

When 14-year-old Victoria Barce of Brentwood heard that her tennis coach, Thurston Brice, spent his free time running the local Loaves and Fishes meal program in Oakley, she decided that it would be fun to spend some of her summer helping, too.

Barce talked her friends Bianca and Tristian Morales, also members of Brice's team, into helping as well. The brother and sister in turn roped their mom, Mercedes, into helping out.

"It is a very good idea what they are doing here," Barce said after three days of volunteering. "I'm glad I'm having a chance to help."

Oakley's Loaves and Fishes program is affiliated with Loaves and Fishes of Contra Costa, and offers free daily lunch to anyone who needs it. The program currently serves more than 9,000 free meals to Contra Costa County residents per month.

A few weeks ago, Oakley's program moved from St. Anthony Catholic Church, its location of more than five years, to the Red Man Pocahontas Hall. After building a new parking lot, the church found that health codes required that it build new water facilities to allow outside organizations to use its building for food services.

After putting so much money into the new parking lot, the church just couldn't afford the added cost at this time, Brice said.

"It is really a shame," he said, "since we were in the heart of town at the church."

The program was lucky to find a new location quickly, Brice said. The Red Man Pocahontas Hall, near Live Oak Road on Main Street, offers a full kitchen and room for seating all who come in.
Loaves and Fishes serves lunch from 11 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. Monday through Friday. No names, documents or papers are necessary to get a free meal, Brice said.

"Any human can come in and get a meal. We don't care if you make a million dollars or are homeless," Brice said.

Brice said the Oakley lunch program served 61 people, a few more than usual, on a recent Monday. The organization has seen a significant increase in demand over the past six months.

"People really need to know, though, that they aren't taking food away from the poor when they come in," Brice said.

He said that even those who need the services the most worry that they are taking away from others.
Some people may not consider themselves needy, just down on their luck. They may be too proud to come in and accept help and might go hungry instead.

"We make the food no matter what, and it needs to be eaten, so they should come in if they're hungry," Brice said.

The group relies heavily on monetary donations. The food is catered through a kitchen in Pittsburg. Some of it is purchased through the Contra Costa Food Bank at cheaper prices than found through normal channels.

Each meal includes a main course, vegetables, salad, bread and dessert.

"The food is much better than people think," Brice said.
Brice said the new location has resulted in a slight drop in the number of people who come daily. He was disappointed when he realized that the local bus service didn't offer a bus stop closer to the hall.

He's hoping that Tri Delta Transit might consider stopping closer during lunchtime.

"We get a lot of seniors and young children that come in," he said.

Brice is proud of his students for giving up some of their summer to volunteer for the cause. When not serving as dining room manager, Brice coaches a Pittsburg tennis team for the East County Tennis Association. During the school year, he is the tennis coach at Pittsburg High School.