SF Bayview Mission

In the Pumpkin Patch

2010-12-25T10:07:00.000-08:00

This entry originally appeared on I Live Here SF by Julie:

When I moved into the house my grandparents had purchased in the 1950′s, I began making big changes. I cleaned up the yard and replanted the vegetable garden to give the neighborhood children a safe place to play. I cleared the clutter from the garage in order to set up a food pantry that now serves over 400 families every Monday. I tidied up the old garden room in the basement to house a children’s library that includes over 2000 books. The next project is the renovation of the barn. It’s the future location of the worship space for The Bayview Mission, a ministry of Grace Cathedral that is supported by The Episcopal Diocese of California and nearby parish St. Gregory of Nyssa. For children growing up under a dark cloud of lack and despair, the rainbow inside the Crayola box is deeply meaningful. The impact of the Bayview Mission’s food pantry, community garden, and free library may be in the bringing of hope and abundance to those who have only known want and isolation.

My family home has been transformed into an outreach center in one of the most marginalized neighborhoods in San Francisco. The effects of gang activity, unemployment, drug-related crime, and industrial waste have been slowly grinding away at the residents of a once prosperous Bayview-Hunters Point.

Gaining the trust of my neighbors was the hardest part. I tried to do this years ago, and failed. Failed miserably! I had wanted to create a day-care center, and I didn’t connect to the people in the neighborhood. I just moved in and tried to set up shop. I wasn’t prepared for what happened next. There were two robberies that occurred on my property. They stole children’s toys, furniture, and clothing. So I walked away from the house and any idea of doing something in that house.

Now my relationship to the people in my community is different because my intention is different. Before, I came in thinking I was going to do something for them. This time I went in slowly, hiring homeless men from the neighborhood to help with the initial cleanup of the house. I made improvements, and showed pride in the home. And then I planted the pumpkin patch!

Children came from the surrounding blocks to pick out their very own pumpkin. This was anything but trivial for the children of Bayview. These are children for whom traveling off their block can mean crossing gang territory. This was the first time any of them had ever had a pumpkin for Halloween. These are children who do not know that there is enough paper for them to draw on, or colored pencils, or crayons. For these kids, there is never enough. And this pumpkin patch is just for them.

You can read more about Bayview Mission here: http://www.ministriesofgrace.org/bayview/

To find out how you can get involved with Bayview Mission, please contact the Rev. Nina Pickerrell at (415) 515-4059 or ninap@gracecathedral.org.

Interfaith Shelter on Thanksgiving

2010-12-20T09:40:00.000-08:00

Board and staff members--

The Interfaith Shelter, our joint project with the San Francisco Interfaith Council, opened Sunday evening, Nov. 21, at St. Boniface Church with site manager Fred Thompson in the lead and, this week, the Rev. Nina Pickerell and Grace Cathedral/Bayview Mission volunteers doing the evening meals. Credit to Nina and her crew for making it look easy despite the stove having gone out of commission Monday. (Repaired this morning, thanks to ECS board member Alex Senchak, who is coodinating the 30 congregations providing meal service during our 100 nights of operation.)

Gratitude also to Fred for leadership, good work and a nice interview on Channel 2 last night: http://www.ktvu.com/video/25903424/index.html

Happy Thanksgiving!

Ken

Message from The Vicar of Bayview

2010-11-22T18:17:00.000-08:00

Whilst sitting at my Grace Cathedral office during the quiet summer months, I received a phone call from Protiviti (one of six divisions of the Robert Half International). Their organization was looking for an outreach project during their annual conference in San Francisco. Their slogan was “To Grow, Strengthen and Succeed."

On October 8th, 2010 one hundred top executives walked from the Fairmont Hotel to Grace Cathedral to participate in a very special afternoon. Bayview Mission volunteers (including mothers from Cathedral School for Boys) rallied, and with truck-loads of tuna cans, cereals, soaps, diapers, infant clothing and children’s Halloween treats, we unloaded and setup the items in our conference rooms. Six different workstations were prepared. When the guests arrived they were divided into six groups and set about filling hundreds of bags with the items for Bayview Mission’s food pantry. It was truly amazing! They are very grateful and they continue to thank us for the opportunity in allowing them to serve.

Then, on Thursday, October 28th, Protiviti employees, Jim and Gordon came back to Grace Cathedral, along with their photographer Chris, to present Bayview Mission with a beautiful plaque, photos of the event, and a gratefully received contribution in the form of a check.

The words on the plaque say it all - “Thank you for ALLOWING the Protiviti Global Managing Directors to assist you with the Bayview Mission”. It seems the Protiviti executives that afternoon received so much from the opportunity to serve the community.

I want Grace Cathedral and every church and mission in our diocese to grow, strengthen and succeed.

How can we as a Diocese look outside of the box and “Allow others to assist?”

Bee Busy at Bayview 2010 Summer Camp Summary

2010-11-22T18:00:00.000-08:00

Bee Busy at Bayview Mission 2010 ran for the first two weeks of August. Both weeks were spent at Bayview Mission this year, and as many of our returning campers are growing older, we decided to spend a few days our first week on local field trips.

On Tuesday the 3rd we visited the relatively new Academy of Sciences in Golden Gate Park. Our campers enjoyed a full day of everything from looking at sting rays, small sharks, and sea urchins to petting a cheetah hide, watching penguins at feeding time, and spotting butterflies fluttering around a model rain forest. The looks of incredulity on some of the children’s faces were wonderful.

The very next day we took a trip to the San Francisco Zoo and took advantage of the free day on the first Wednesday of every month. We did everything from watching bears search for food in their massive enclosure to riding a tiny train around the grounds. Everyone giggled as the train let off bubbles on our second round! Everyone from campers to counselors to adult chaperones had a blast.

The following week we stayed at Bayview Mission. Monday the 9th the campers helped with the food pantry by handing out the backpacks we had made the previous Monday. Each child gets the chance to keep their own school supplies for the coming year.

The rest of the week was spent engaging in a variety of activities. We had plenty of arts and crafts projects, including mosaics (Christina made a lovely one with the words “Bayview Mission”), coloring books, painting small pottery, and of course the kids’ all-time favorite, tiny beads, which can be ironed so that they meld into various shapes. We had farm animals visit again this year (everything from horses to chickens and bunnies), and while the campers still enjoyed them, we’re thinking we won’t have them back next year, as field trips really seem to be the most engaging new activity for our growing campers. All in all it was another great year for Bee Busy at Bayview Mission!

Victoria Holt
Seattle University
Junior Year Student/Bishop’s Committee Member
Written October 5, 2010

Bayview Mission Halloween Costume Distribution

2010-11-15T18:27:00.000-08:00

This afternoon (Oct 25, 2010) Bayview Mission greeted numerous families at our fourth annual Halloween costume party. Else Holt welcomed each family as they arrived and encouraged everyone to take home as many Halloween books as they wanted. Each family received Halloween treats whilst their children picked out their very own special Halloween costume. Thanks to Christine Hendrickson and Gabriela Bruce for their patience and warmth in listening carefully to each child’s wishes and helping them to choose costumes. The faces of the children lit up as soon as they found something that was perfect for them. It was smiles all around! Deacon Nina made sure to capture images of the happy faces, and they also picked out their very own child-sized pumpkin to take home. Today we made it possible for 75 children to participate in their school and community Halloween festivities!

Bayview Mission and Help a Mother Out Provide Assistance to San Bruno Neighborhood

2010-09-10T15:43:00.000-07:00

The following is an article written by Christine Hendrickson, a volunteer from Bayview Mission.

Hearing about and seeing the effects of the San Bruno fire was so emotional last night. All I could think of was the families and animals that were effected. Right away I wanted to know what would help people out. I contacted Lisa Truong from HALO (Help A Mother Out) to ask if Bayview Mission could donate the diapers to San Bruno families. She replied within minutes and said "Yes!" HAMO receives diapers from Huggies, which are then distributed between organizations.

I woke up this morning and loaded up my truck with 30 boxes of size 5’s, 20 boxes of size 4’s and 15 boxes of size 6’s. Each box carries 2 packages of diapers. These boxes also include bathing soap, baby wipes, 2 crib mattresses, children’s clothing and toys. It was such an emotional feeling to know how many families this would help.

When I arrived at 251 City Park Way in San Bruno the tears hit. The street was backed up with people dropping off supplies. There was no honking or people getting upset with the traffic. There was a sense of peace that filled the area. Volunteers ranged from the local community to police officers. The news crews were interviewing people.

I came up to the donation drop and my truck was surrounded with volunteers helping to unload my truck. I kept hearing thank you from everyone around. All I could think was no…THANK YOU!!! I heard another woman yell to other people “We have size 5’s!" My heart was so full of happiness! HAMO and Bayview Mission pulled together to help out a community in desperate need. When I pulled away from the parking lot I was in a state of pure AWE! So many people were there to do anything possible to help. Just amazing!

Bee Busy at Bayview '10

2010-08-21T13:13:00.000-07:00

From Aug. 2 until Aug. 13 this year, the Rev. Nina Pickerrell once again ran the summer camp called Bee Busy at Bayview in her yard at Bayview Mission. This year, both weeks of camp took place at Bayview Mission. However, for the first time, the children took two field trips.

On Tuesday of the first week, the kids, as well as their adult and teen helpers, went to the Academy of Sciences in Golden Gate Park. They were treated to the penguin feeding, a stroll through the butterfly-filled rain forest, and a tour of the vast aquarium. They finished the day off with a view of the albino crocodile.

On the following day, everyone went to the San Francisco Zoo. They watched the grizzly bear feeding, at which the bears fished for their lunch. They also got to see lions frolicking in their den, a variety of birds, primates, and other animals not native to this continent. In the middle of the day, the summer campers were treated to a train ride around the park.

As has been the case year after year, farm animals were brought to Bayview Mission from a farm in Petaluma. On Wednesday of the second week, kids were given horse and pony rides and opportunities to pet and feed rabbits and chickens.

On several days, the Rev. Nina brought our her inflatable shark pool and waterslide. In spite of the cool San Francisco weather, many of the kids put on their suits and eagerly slid into the cold water.

As always, Bee Busy allows kids the opportunities to play games, do arts and crafts, listen to book readings, cook meals from fresh fruit and berries, and participate in the food pantry on Mondays. Again this year, the kids filled over 100 backpacks, both for themselves and for many other local children.

Bee Busy is an exciting opportunity for kids to play, explore, learn, and participate in community in the Bayview!

Roscoe Westbrook Interview

2010-08-11T19:29:00.000-07:00

David Cowen interviews Roscoe Westbrook about the food pantry at Bayview Mission.

How did you learn about Bayview Mission

I was walking down the street one day, taking my morning walk, I should say. I was just going through the neighborhood and I saw these lines of people. As I walked down the hill, I saw Nina and all these other people putting stuff in bags. I like to do that kind of work, and I asked them, how can I do it? She said they didn’t need anymore help that day but come back early the next Monday morning. I got here around 7:30 that day and the truck was just getting here. I flowed, and I’ve been here since.

How long ago did you start?

It was the summer of last year. I was working out in front of the garage, bagging stuff up for the people.

What do you find most fulfilling about Bayview Mission?

Hearing the people say “thank you,” they didn’t know anyone in the neighborhood did this for the community. I hear them come up and thank us, and I see them out in the neighborhood at the grocery store: “Oh you’re the guy that works at the food bank!”

I’m 57 years old. My kids are grown. I’m getting a pension from the Navy. I started asking myself what my purpose is now. The Mission has helped me find that purpose, seeing all these people working together as one.

Have you lived in this neighborhood your whole life?

No, I’m from Alabama. The Navy brought me out here. After I got out of the Navy, I met my kids’ mother, and I’ve been out here 35 years. Went to Vietnam, came back, lived in Sacramento, Vallejo, Richmond. San Francisco just kept drawing me in, and I’ve been here ever since. My daughter’s 34, my son is 32.

Where do you see Bayview Mission in five years?

Movin’ on up!

You’ve seen some positive changes since you first started?

Yep, definitely have! I’m just looking for it to keep growing and growing, and more people coming to help and more people come move into the community. Every week, it seems like there’s more people coming than what we had the week before.

Dinosaur Day at Bayview Mission

2010-07-28T20:12:00.000-07:00

On June 26, 2010, Bayview Mission held its first annual Dinosaur Day. Monday, July 26, while she was volunteering at the food pantry, I interviewed Victoria Holt to tell us more about the event:

So what exactly IS Dinosaur Day at Bayview Mission?

Dinosaur Day is a fun day that we had on a Saturday earlier this summer and want to start having every year. The kids can come and hang out, and basically everything at Bayview Mission is Dinosaur themed. So we have dinosaur games all over the tables and dinosaur coloring books and dinosaur reading books, and dinosaur everything! There were bones buried in the garden for them to find. All sorts of fun stuff!

What was the age range of kids who attended Dinosaur Day?

For these kinds of events, it’s usually 5 to about as old as 12 to 13. We had a couple kids who were a bit older, but they were still getting involved and having fun.

What was your role in the event?

I was in a young adult counselor role. I read dinosaur books to the children as they sat around in the Zen garden. Just for fun, with the bones, I went out in Reverend Nina’s bee suit that she uses for tending her beehives in her yard, and dug up a bone wrapped in burlap. I came up to the children and acted like I’d found this great discovery. We unwrapped it, and when they saw it was a “dinosaur bone”, they all went wild! So, I mainly helped to get them excited about what we were doing.

Talk about some of the experiences you saw in terms of kids, and even adults, being engaged during the event.

I saw them getting excited and having fun and creating various kinds of art, such as painting. We had a picture going that Christine had started. She’d painted trees and plants onto a frame, sort of a jungle-type theme, and each of the kids painted their version of a dinosaur. They were all different sizes; it’s kind of funny to see how each of them have different drawing styles and perceptions of dinosaurs.

How do you feel this fits in with the overall purpose of the Mission?

I think part of the purpose of Bayview Mission is to raise awareness and foster compassion in the children. So we work to get the kids together and get to know each other, so that they can know that there are other children in the neighborhood that are in similar situations to their own, and who like to have fun at Nina’s just like they do! And, it’s really an opportunity for them to take part in the safe haven that Nina and all the volunteers have created here at Bayview Mission.

Is there anything else you want to add about Dinosaur Day?

I just hope that we do it a lot more often. I’m amazed at how Bayview Mission is coming along and that we have all these new and beautiful spaces that we can use now to create space for the children. I know just yesterday they had Shark Day, where the children played on a seven-foot tall shark shaped water slide! I hope we can keep thinking of these fun themes for Saturdays, and continue to provide a safe place to play for the young kids of Bayview Hunters Point.

Bayview Mission Christmas Party 2009

2010-01-05T16:18:00.001-08:00

On Monday, December 21, 2009, Bayview Mission held its annual Christmas party for local residents.

About 300 of our neighborhood families attended this event, totaling approximately 1200 people! This is a record number for a Bayview event! To help us accomplish this, we were assisted by 48 volunteers.

We give special thanks to all of our many friends who also made this event possible:

Diocese of California

Grace Cathedral

Cathedral School for Boys

Soroptimist International of San Francisco

Katherine Delmar Burke School

Fran Johnson of Tucker, Ellis & West, LLP

St. Francis St. Mary the Virgin

and all individual donors

We are truly blessed to have such a generous, wide-ranging community to help us in this endeavor. Because of this, we were able to make Christmas special for so many in the Bayview/Hunter's Point community this year!

Interview of Susan Napoliello

2009-12-24T10:51:00.000-08:00

David Cowen interviewed Susan Napoliello about her work with Bayview Mission in San Francisco:

How did you initially get connected with Nina and Bayview Mission?

My husband and I were living in Malaysia where I was an elementary principal at an international school in Kuala Lumpur. Instead of renewing my contract, we decided we needed to be closer to family. We agreed to take a ‘pause’ from our professional careers and devote ourselves during the first six months of re-entry reconnecting with family and engaging in community service. We chose San Francisco as our home base, as I was born here and we had spent four years in San Francisco prior to seven years overseas. During our last year in KL, I came to San Francisco on business, and one morning I decided to walk up the hill from the Hyatt to attend a service at Grace Cathedral. As I sat in the choir stall and listened to Nina give a homiletic about Bayview Mission, I knew we’d found a place to hang out during the ‘pause!'

I was told you used to work in a part of the Mission called "Produce Land." Please tell us more about this.

On our first day, we were given a choice of assignments: inside the garage packing groceries or outside in ‘Veggie Land’ sorting and bagging produce. It wasn’t a tough choice, as we both enjoyed exercise and fresh air. Soon we were lifting produce bags and boxes, counting the contents and estimating distribution quantities all under the loving supervision of Hal, the ‘Boss of Veggie Land’, as we affectionately called him. After making a ‘test bag’ of produce ranging from melons to cucumbers (It was a different assortment of produce every week depending on the donations we received from the Food Bank), we set-up assembly lines that could accommodate the arrival of volunteers throughout the morning. By noon, we had 5 bins of plastic bags filled with produce ready for distribution.

You started the homeless ministry with the Mission. Please tell us how this came into being and the kinds of work you do with the homeless.

Before I began volunteering at Bayview Mission, Nina had collected supplies for homeless which included hygiene products (mostly toiletries from hotels), backpacks and blankets. Items were distributed as requested by clients. As the number of volunteers working in ‘veggie land’ grew, I looked for other ways to support the Mission. I approached Nina about developing a formal outreach to the homeless who were living in the area. By that time, my husband and I had been volunteering at Bayview for about a year. We’d given up the ‘pause’ for a new way of life focused on service. In addition to Bayview we were involved in several community projects geared toward the homeless, including SF Project Homeless Connect. As ‘client escorts’ during Connect events, we learned the value of getting to know our clients and calling them by name.

At Bayview, we began the formal ministry by learning each person’s name and by asking specifically what they needed, rather than simply handing them a pre-packed bag of toiletries. As several clients requested soups with pull-tops, we began adding extra food to the ‘hygiene bag.' Nina started putting aside donations like underwear and socks that were being requested. Beginning as a small ministry in terms of clients and donations we now regularly see 20-30 ‘friends’ every week and distribute hygiene and food bags, underwear, shoes, clothing, coats, towels and blankets. Knowing our clients by name and giving them what they need creates an atmosphere of dignity and friendship. Every Monday, I go home having shared and received a ‘million smiles!'

I understand you are at the School for Deacons. What in particular are you studying and how far along are you?

I have just finished the first semester of a three year program that includes academic study (courses like Old Testament and Church History), liturgical study (knowing and practicing the Episcopal liturgy, including homiletics), Social Ministry (practicum in service like Bayview Mission) and Spiritual Formation (clarifying and responding to our Baptismal Covenant).

Once you are finished, do you envision carrying on with the kind of work you have done with Bayview Mission.

At this point, I am certain of one thing, service has become a way of life. The School for Deacons compliments what has already been carved in my heart.

WE'RE ON YOUTUBE!!!

2009-10-27T21:42:00.000-07:00

San Francisco Bayview Mission presents to you this magical experience in cinematic history:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qqqHiaME_6s

"Velvet Box in My Heart"

2009-10-27T21:30:00.000-07:00

The following reflections were written by Susan Napoliello in response to the death of Bayview Mission client Margurite:

The ‘velvet box in my heart’ was filled this week with memories of a client who had been killed.

Yesterday, a fellow volunteer called to tell me about the death of a client we served. A little over a year ago, I took over a ministry at Bayview Mission working with people who live on the streets or in temporary shelters in the Bayview area. I’ve had many poignant moments with clients, but none as profound as those I shared with Margurite.

Not the easiest of clients to work with, she would send volunteers scattering in her wake. She often announced her presence with shouting and would confound the most patient volunteer with her peculiar lists of dos and don’ts. Noticing her coming from a block away, volunteers would shout my name, hoping I would be able to contain her rantings and prevent a conflict with other clients. As a group, we learned to read her moods and amateurishly diagnose her symptoms in an effort to rationalize her actions and respond appropriately. We shared stories to help us humanize Margurite’s daily life and bring compassion to our hearts. We celebrated moments when she seemed happy and made an effort to bring joy to her life by little kindnesses that paid attention to her compulsions and phobias.

Hearing her story about being robbed outside the check cashing business where she was pushed and shoved to the ground breaking her arm, brought tears of sympathy. Six weeks later, after she tore off her cast too impatient to let it heal properly, we feared that the swelling would lead to a permanent disability. We came to see her belligerence as a way of coping with life, and she came to trust us, knowing on some level that we cared, that she mattered to us. We knew she didn’t want to be touched, she would pick a fight verbally if she thought you were disrespecting her and she didn’t want people to know she was getting food from the pantry.

Nina tells all volunteers not to judge, to take each client as they come. Margurite challenged us and taught us to embrace Nina’s ethos. She was just as much a God-given gift to us as we were to her. I remember the first time I asked for her name and she told me that I wouldn’t be able to pronounce her real name, so she gave me a name I could master, Margurite.

I think of the last time Margurite came to our ‘new church’. She arrived late, after we had closed the door. Shouting through the garage she announced her name, “It’s Margurite.” As I rose to speak with her, I noticed loving looks from the volunteer, some who had 12 months ago rolled or averted their eyes when Margurite walked up the hill. When I came out, she was sitting on the steps to Nina’s house, just like she owned it, I commented that her arm seemed to have healed and in response she waved it around to demonstrate her new-found flexibility. When I returned with her bag, she lit up when I told her it contained two cans of clam chowder (a passion we all knew about). After I said good-bye and closed the door, she shouted again indicating she had one more request, “Do you have any jeans in my size?” I told her I would try to find some for next week and she seemed pleased. On Monday, one of my fellow volunteers brought a pair of jeans for Margurite and a belt in case they were too large. Margurite never came, and on Monday, I found out why. Over the weekend, she had been walking on a freeway, struck by three cars and killed.

Though I am saddened by Margurite’s death, I am heartened that Bayview Mission, a new church of volunteers and clients, is a mature group, one that has grown over time to transcend appearances and transform judgment into love. I am not worried about how we will all respond on Monday when we meet together. Through the grace of God, Margurite came into and touched our lives. We are stronger as a group and more able individually to see the face of God in our clients. She brought us that! Though I mourn her loss, I am blessed with many treasures in my velvet box that are marked Margurite, the name I can pronounce.

Police Report on Margurite

2009-10-27T21:06:00.000-07:00

The Bayview Mission was terribly saddened by the news of the death of a long-time client of the Mission's food pantry by the name of Margurite. Margurite was killed by a hit-and-run driver on I-280 in San Francisco.

The following police report was published in the San Francisco Chronicle on October 10 of this year:

   (10-09) 11:53 PDT SAN FRANCISCO --
The California Highway Patrol is looking for a hit-and-run driver who
struck and killed a pedestrian on Interstate 280 in San Francisco.
The victim was hit just after 10 p.m. on southbound I-280 north of
Ocean Avenue, said CHP Officer Shawn Chase. The motorist didn't stop,
but two other drivers who subsequently hit the person did, Chase said.
The victim has not been identified. The damage to the body was so severe
that it was not immediately clear whether the person was a man or woman,
Chase said.  The victim was struck just moments after the CHP received
reports of someone wandering on the shoulder and walking in and out of
traffic, Chasesaid.  Anyone with information is asked to call the CHP at
(415) 557-1094.

Bee Busy at Bayview

2009-09-21T20:17:00.001-07:00

(Photos by Victoria Holt and the Rev. Nina Pickerrell)

For two weeks, from Monday, August 10 to Friday, August 21, Bee Busy at Bayview Mission was in session. This is an annual vacation Bible school led by the Rev. Nina Pickerrell. For the first week, the camp was held at Grace Cathedral; the second week took place at the Bayview Mission. Ms. Pickerrell has hosted this camp for about 5 years. A number of kids from throughout the San Francisco community played games, did arts and crafts, took tours of the cathedral, and engaged in a number of activities that would not be possible anywhere else in the city.

During the first week, the Rev. Nina, the 20-plus kids, and a number of youth and adult counselors occupied the dining hall at Grace. This location enabled the group to tour various sections of the cathedral, some of which would normally be off-limits to guests, including the nave, the columbarium, the bishop's office, and various basement rooms. Several cathedral staff also talked about Grace's history and secrets to the campers. The kids were additionally given the opportunity to walk the labyrinth in silence and to sing "Amazing Grace" in the cathedral, the latter being a stunning musical experience! In between these tours, the kids had ample space to do such crafts as beading, drawing, and crocheting, as well as to play with balls, frisbees, and hula hoops in the courtyard. Both breakfast and lunch were provided daily.

In a question and answer session with some of the campers, it was revealed that eleven languages are spoken among ten of the kids. Most of the kids also play at least one musical instrument and participate in multiple sports.

During the second week, the campers of Bee Busy came to Nina's house in the Bayview, otherwise known as the Bayview Mission. Again, the kids engaged in such crafts as beading and painting. Breakfast and lunch were again provided. They also got into a circle everyday and were read to by youth counselors. They additionally partook of some activities that they had not gotten to do at Grace Cathedral. That Monday, the camp coincided with the weekly food pantry at the Mission. The kids all worked together to fill backpacks to be given out to other children from the neighborhood. They also got to keep one backpack of their own. A few of the campers and counselors remained to assist with the food pantry after the day of camp was over. On Wednesday, a family from a farm in Petaluma brought farm animals, which included a small petting zoo of chickens and rabbits, as well as two horses and a pony that could be ridden by the kids-and even a few adults!

The fun continued on Thursday and Friday with an inflatable pool and seven-foot tall slide that the kids made use of enthusiastically, in spite of the cool, overcast San Francisco weather.

The Rev. Nina feels confident that she had the only 7-foot shark pool in the Bayview that day. "It was a joy to watch the children experience water play on a summer day!"

Victoria Holt Interview

2009-09-03T19:48:00.000-07:00

David Cowen interviews Victoria Holt about Bayview Mission

You have been involved at Bee Busy at Bayview Mission every summer for a number of years. Did you attend the camp as a child?

I attended the camp back when it was Vacation Bible School at the cathedral, but it was much more of a religion-centered thing back then. I was very young and so have only vague memories, but I remember arts and crafts, making popsicle buildings and playing with Nina's amazing collection of stamps. We had the same awesome tour of the cathedral that the kids still have today, and I remember having a really good time! We used to have it in the Boys' School's classrooms, and we'd play out on the playground. We'd always learn a song and sing it to the congregation at coffee hour the following Sunday. Because Bayview Mission is only a recent development (at least when we compare it to when I was at VBS), I never got to experience the type of camp the kids get to have today, when they can enjoy Nina's backyard and the farm animals and so on. It's been wonderful to see it evolve over the years!

Describe some of the work you do to help out with the kids at camp.

For a few years, Nina would always describe me as the sort of Program Director of the camp, but all that really meant was choosing which activities we did from her amazing assortment of goodies in the barn. :]] Nina is the true mastermind behind this wonderful camp. I've mostly been a counselor-type of figure for the kids, letting them know what the plan is for the day and what their activities will be. When it's at the Cathedral, and more structured, I help to keep the kids involved in what we're doing, if its a tour or a slideshow or meeting with the Seniors. But when we're at Bayview, we can all relax, and I truly feel that I get a chance to get involved and have fun too. I know that I get as much of a kick out of being at Bayview Mission as the rest of the campers. :] This year I also helped a lot with the crafts planning and purchasing of materials. I really enjoyed that, working with Lizzy Compean, to think up some fun ideas and help the kids create such things as decoupage vases, paintings on canvas, animals made of toilet paper rolls, wizard hats, and so on.

I understand you do a lot of photography. What kinds of things do you
like to photograph? Have you taken pictures for the Mission?

I mostly photograph portraits that are framed within an interesting environment. It's sort of a very literal type of environmental portraiture, where through my compositions, I frame the subject so that it's interacting with its background, rather than just posing in front of it. That's my favorite, but I definitely enjoy all types of photography. I also really love band photography, both portraits and live shots of concerts. Just today I had a photoshoot (one of my first official ones with artists that aren't just my brother and his friends, haha) in Oakland that went really well, for a friend's new CD project. Over the years I've taken a ton of photos at Bayview Mission, some of which Nina has used early on for cards and so forth. It's mostly just stuff that she can save to remember the evolution of the place. Once I came over and shot photos of the house and barn before changes were made to both. And I shot the shed a lot before they had it taken down. Just archival stuff for keepsake. And every year at camp I've loved the opportunity to shoot the kids having so much fun!

Did helping out at the Mission fulfill any credit hours when you attended
high school at the Bay School?

I don't remember my school literally requiring credit hours... we did a lot of community service through our classes or as a group on special outings. I used Bayview Mission for a community project where we were told to go to another community we were unfamiliar with and interview someone who is involved there, then write a story from their perspective of one of their experiences of living there. It was a strange assignment but turned out great when I interviewed Nina. She told an amazing story of some of the things she's witnessed living in Bayview, and at that time I felt I truly was a part of the community at Bayview Mission. It's been such an honor to be able to be involved in a place I would probably never venture on my own for safety's sake. It truly enhances cultural empathy and is an experience all young adults should have!

You just completed a year of college up in Seattle. What school are you
attending?

I go to Seattle University, the Jesuit school in Seattle. It's a wonderful school with a great Core Curriculum based on the Jesuit values of a strong central education along with whatever the student chooses to major in. I'm really enjoying it!

Have you declared a major yet? If so, what are you studying?

I am studying for a BFA (Bachelor's in Fine Arts) in Photography. I knew while applying to colleges that I wanted to study photography, so I was looking at a lot of art schools. But in the end I chose a liberal arts school, because I decided that I greatly value a good general education. My major's department head says it best, that art cannot be created from a vacuum. I also appreciate the option to change my mind, should I decide to. :] I'm loving it so far though!

Else Holt Interview

2009-08-31T19:47:00.000-07:00

David Cowen interviews Else Holt about her work with Bayview Mission.

How long have you been involved with Bayview Mission?

I have the privilege of being involved in Bayview Mission from the very beginning and in fact visited the site with Rev. Nina as early as 2001, long before the food pantry came into existence.

How did you initially get interested in helping out?

Having known Rev. Nina since 1996 there had been many conversations about her desire to begin a program to help her neighbors in Bayview. As soon as she took possession of her property there were numerous opportunities to assist in making her dream become a reality.

I see you at the food pantry every Monday. What kinds of work do you do?

I have the distinct pleasure of creating child-size "fun" bags for the children of the clients who come to the food pantry each Monday. Each week I sort out the donations of children's items that have come in during the week. Books are sorted by age-range and then stamped with the Bayview Mission "stamp". Snacks, juices and small toys are sorted and put into small brown paper lunch sacks in batches of five bags at a time. Crayons and construction paper are added, along with any available small toy. Each week I typically make up to 80 bags, often with lots of help from other Bayview volunteers. There's also a monthly "work party" on a Sunday afternoon, and that's a great time to sort out the seasonal donations such as for Easter, Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas. In addition, I have helped organize and staff the annual "Bee Busy at Bayview" two-week summer camp for neighborhood children.

What are some things you most appreciate about Bayview Mission?

Bayview Mission first and foremost is a safe, inclusive, welcoming environment for all who come here. Rev. Nina makes everyone welcome, and no one is ever turned away. Homeless people are welcomed and treated with the utmost dignity. The food pantry operates solely on the donations of generous donors and there is zero administrative overhead. Every donation is for the benefit of the neighbors of Bayview, and nothing goes unused. The local children have a city garden, a safe-haven, where they can come and play care-free. Holidays are celebrated with free costume giveaways at Halloween and gift-giving at Christmas. Bayview Mission volunteers understand and appreciate the service they offer to the community, and they work very hard. The volunteer community is very kind and loving and support each other in many ways. Bayview Mission offers us an opportunity to directly give back to a community in need.

Do you find the work or the environment challenging at all?

The work of making up the childrens' bags is not in itself challenging. Creating an adequate work-space in which to complete the necessary tasks can sometimes prove challenging. The volunteers are very resourceful, and the work gets done no matter what. Our goal is to eventually have dedicated program space where we can spread out and have dedicated areas for each type of activity.

What do you do for a living when you’re not helping out at the Mission?

I'm currently employed as Assistant to the Head of School at The Bay School of San Francisco, a start-up high school in the Presidio of San Francisco.

Christine Hendrickson Interview About Bayview Mission

2009-08-26T21:09:00.000-07:00

Here is the second in a series of interviews with volunteers at Bayview Mission: David Cowen interviews Christine Hendrickson.

You help out with the food pantry every Monday. What kinds of work do you do there?

I help with the preparation of the bags, organize the pantry, dump runs when needed, prepare lunch for the volunteers and shop for needed supplies (anything that we may be short of). I enjoy working at all the different stations. There are many different ones to choose from. We have produce, setting bags up, loading bags, breaking down boxes, loading shelves, preparing/handing out children’s bags, preparing/handing out homeless bags, going through donation bags, checking I.D., line control, and handing out clothes.

What do you find most rewarding about the work?

I really enjoy the smiles that come from the people’s faces. They are so thankful. It makes me feel good inside, knowing that you put the smile on their face, especially the kids. They cannot get the kids’ bags quick enough! They open the bag and look to see what is inside. Then the big smiles come out.

What is most challenging about it?

There are times when you come across a few people that are having a bad day. Something has triggered them, and it makes it difficult to help them. All you can do is let them know that you want to help them and that you care. What they do with it is up to them at that point. I have learned that you cannot take it personally.

You spent a lot of time mentoring a few children this summer. How did you get involved with them?

When my mom moved into the house, we met a few of the neighbors. The neighbor that was a little hard to warm up to ended up being a really great person. Her two brothers had children. I met the kids a couple of times. Just a “hi” here and there.

About a year later I moved into my mom’s house. I would wave to the neighbors and say “hello.” As time went on, the children would come and talk to me and call me by my name. The kids saw that we had toys and fun things at the house. They really did not have much. I remember their Auntie would come over and stay with us when they played in the back yard. As time went on, they would come over by themselves. They enjoyed doing art projects and playing in the yard. The father of the two children never questioned me on when then kids would come home or where I was taking them. As long as their Auntie knew that they were with me then it was OK with the dad. Their cousin also would come over. Now every summer they come out. It has become a yearly tradition that we hang out on Mondays.

What kinds of field trips did you take them on?

It started out with going to the beach or taking my dogs to Fort Funston. They loved taking my dogs and just running around and playing in the ocean. It did not matter how cold it was. Then, as the kids got older, they enjoyed walking around the mall, going to the movies, going to a restaurant, and hanging out at my new house. When I would need to run an errand they would want to come with me, even if it was otherwise boring to them.

I heard they referred to you as a “second mom.” How did that make you feel?

It made me feel really good. The kids mean a lot to me, and I am pleased that they are happy too. At first it was funny. The kids would call out in the store or wherever we were and yell “mom where are you?” They would giggle and give me a hug or just stick by my side. They truly are great kids!

Cheryl Hendrickson Speaks About the Bayview Mission

2009-08-10T17:58:00.000-07:00

This is the first in a series of interviews with people involved with the Bayview Mission in San Francisco. In this edition, Cheryl Hendrickson shares some perspective on her work with the mission after a conversation with David Cowen

"I think ... in the beginning, we just listened to mom's dreams. She was so excited and very eager to get into our grandparents house, otherwise known as Bayview Mission. I remember visiting my great grandparents there in the 80's. I was living in England when Mom moved in, and I remember being quite worried. My grandmother wanted her to install alarms and put up mechanical gates. I could not do much, so I would just listen when mom would call and give me updates.

I played a more active role when the mission first started serving food. I attended monthly board meetings and, as a teacher in Bayview, offered advice, which usually was quite cautionary.

I tend to work behind the scenes. Mom is one of those people who attracts many helpers. I never had to worry that she did not have enough help on the days she served food to the public. I enjoy being a gopher, whether it is fidgeting with the computer or listening to a sermon or proofreading a document. I spent a great deal of time organizing and gardening when I was living at Bayview mission. I love providing a space for my mom to do her ministry.

I have seen the mission grow into a community. I remember when mom was feeding 30 people. She would spend part of Monday working and she had a crew of about 5 volunteers. Pretty soon she was handing out clothes and books, and then she started feeding more people. She began taking large donations, and soon she was feeding 150 people plus. No longer was Food Pantry Monday a Monday gig. Mom could be heard filling bags the night before. Now the mission feeds well over 350 people. The mission also supplied homeless bags and children's bags. I remember when we tried out our first Halloween party about 5 years ago, it is still growing strong. Other events have become annual, the gift exchange at the Christmas party, the book bag hand out, chicken hand out at Thanksgiving, Easter baskets at Easter and Vacation Bible School, which takes place at the Mission as well as Grace Cathedral. My husband meets the kids in Bayview and takes them up to Grace Cathedral via a cab!

I realized early on that mom was creating community. I remember when the Christmas party moved from Bayview Mission to the Opera House. I was scared. The Opera house lies east of Jerrold. Many of my students lost uncles and brothers on Kirkwwod and on the corner of Palou, which is east of Jerrold. The police shared my feelings of worries and sent the sheriff to parole the party. The Bayview Christmas Party catered to all of Bayview, which is a divided neighborhood. The Opera House has paid witness to plenty of meetings where city officials have yelled and argued, cursed and walked out, even damned each other. The adjacent streets are battle grounds at times. A place where some people shop and converse, but also a place where people have been hit by "drive-by's" and where some shoot-up drugs. But on the day of the Christmas party, the community lined up and waited for Hard-Knox fired chicken and marconi and cheese, listened to the San Francisco Gay Men's Choir and were given hand wrapped gifts. The community was trusted and the community enjoyed each others company.

Hard-Knox has become a staple in the Bayview Mission diet. The volunteers go there each year to celebrate their triumphs and state what they are thankful for, even joke about what drives each other crazy about each other. The owners of Hard-Knox donate the money that has been given as an offering to the big fat buddha statue at the front of the restaurant.

I have watched the intricate workings of community, listened to a dialogue that only occurs when diverse people work together, when diverse people try to figure out how to tolerate and serve each other.

Bayview Mission is a community that will continue to grow. I hope it will be able to grow into a building. Right now, it is run out of a garage, barn and a backyard. It often leaks into the Bayview Opera House. I would love to see a school start on the property. I have worked for 4 years with students who classify as "emotionally disturbed," but actually, I would say that I have worked with kids who have seen and witnessed too much. I can honestly say that at times I can empathize with my students' sense of hopelessness. I am often overwhelmed with feelings of anger when working in communities that experience violence. I am forced to reconcile feelings of hopelessness as well as naive optimism. It scares me when my students talk of revenge and I have seen how paralyzing the role of the victim can become. I would love to provide a place for students to cope with the struggles that are apparent when violence is not only a reality but a daily worry."