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.
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