Chinmaya Mission San Jose
Community Service

[Homeless Feeding] [Sandwich Program]

CMSJ currently runs two regular programs to serve the community. The first is a hot lunch/breakfast program for a homeless shelter in San Jose. The second is a bag lunch program run from the Lincoln High School in San Jose.

CMSJ members are encouraged to take this opportunity to volunteer their time for this community service. They can also sponsor this event. Interested members should contact Shrikrishna Bhamre (408) 733-4612 or sign up to volunteer by clicking here


Feeding program at the homeless shelter in San Jose

We have been preparing hot lunches for the homeless for the last 7 - 8 years. We do this about 4-6 times every year. Adult members as well as teenagers in the Yuva Kendra classes have been volunteering for this program. We cook and serve a vegetarian meal for the homeless people staying in the shelter. This shelter houses families as well as single people. We usually serve about 50-70 people. About 10-15 volunteers are needed to handle this task. This is a great way to give back to the community and is much appreciated by the staff running the shelter.

The dates for the feeding program are as follows (Updated Sep. 2007):

Type Date Time Location & Directions
Breakfast Saturday, Sept. 22, 2007 5.00 a.m. James F. Boccardo Regional Reception Center
Breakfast Saturday, Oct. 13, 2007 5.00 a.m. James F. Boccardo Regional Reception Center
Breakfast Saturday, Nov. 10, 2007 5.00 a.m. James F. Boccardo Regional Reception Center
Breakfast Saturday, Dec. 8, 2007 5.00 a.m. James F. Boccardo Regional Reception Center
Breakfast Saturday, Jan. 19, 2008 5.00 a.m. James F. Boccardo Regional Reception Center
Breakfast Saturday, Feb. 16, 2008 5.00 a.m. James F. Boccardo Regional Reception Center
Breakfast Saturday, Mar. 22, 2008 5.00 a.m. James F. Boccardo Regional Reception Center
Breakfast Saturday, Apr. 19, 2008 5.00 a.m. James F. Boccardo Regional Reception Center
Breakfast Saturday, May. 24, 2008 5.00 a.m. James F. Boccardo Regional Reception Center

Over the years we have developed a vegetarian menu that we know is popular - soups, pasta, pizza, taco casserole, stir fry vegetables, desserts. We buy the groceries the previous day. On the day of the hot lunch we meet around 9:45 am in the kitchen at the shelter. We prepare the meal and then start serving by noon. We are normally done by 1 pm.

Here are the address, and directions for the shelter: The map highlights the way from Sandeepany to the shelter.

James F. Boccardo Regional Reception Center
2011 Little Orchard Street, San Jose, CA 95125

Directions:

From 280 & 87
- Take the CA-87 South/GUADALUPE PKY ramp.
- Take the CURTNER AVENUE exit.
- Turn LEFT onto CURTNER AVE.
- Turn LEFT onto LITTLE ORCHARD ST.


San Jose Youth Sandwich Preparation Program

Schedule for 2007-2008 Session

Date Time Location & Directions
Sunday, Sept. 30, 2007 8.00 a.m. - 8.45 a.m. Lincoln High, San Jose
Sunday, Oct. 28, 2007 8.00 a.m. - 8.45 a.m. Lincoln High, San Jose
Sunday, Nov. 18, 2007 8.00 a.m. - 8.45 a.m. Lincoln High, San Jose
Sunday, Dec. 9, 2007 8.00 a.m. - 8.45 a.m. Lincoln High, San Jose
Sunday, Jan. 27, 2008 8.00 a.m. - 8.45 a.m. Lincoln High, San Jose
Sunday, Feb. 24, 2008 8.00 a.m. - 8.45 a.m. Lincoln High, San Jose
Sunday, Mar. 30, 2008 8.00 a.m. - 8.45 a.m. Lincoln High, San Jose
Sunday, Apr. 27, 2008 8.00 a.m. - 8.45 a.m. Lincoln High, San Jose

The Sandwich Bag program is targeted for Yuvakendra (14 yrs & above). We have been doing this for many years once a month on the last Sunday of the month. We prepare sandwich bags (approximately 75 bags or 150 sandwiches) and deliver them to the Julian Inn in San Jose. We require about eight youth volunteers and three adult volunteers. We generally select one balavihar class - 8th, 9th, 10th, 11th or 12th - on rotation basis every month. Youth volunteers will receive community service credit.

We meet at 8:00 am at the following location to make the sandwiches and are done by 9:00 am.

Room 6, First Floor
Lincoln High School
555 Dana Avenue
San Jose, CA 95126

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