Through volunteering at Mr. Bob’s Saturday Outreach the past two years, I’ve witnessed the greatest acts of selflessness and generosity one could imagine, among the people relying on food donations from Mr. Bob’s, as well as the volunteers. I’ve felt honored to engage with such a warm and welcoming community, and get to know all the wonderful people it attracts. Coming to hear the vastly differing range of stories that bring people to Mr. Bob’s for food, clothes, and connection, has warmed and broken my heart in life changing ways. I’ve seen people help and support each other, whether they be strangers, or even divided by language barriers, over and over, even if it requires sacrifice from themself. For example, at the end of outreach, when I’ve often seen people sharing their own food with others if there’s not enough for the people behind them in line. It’s moments and people like this that are the reason I’ve started cooking for Bob’s throughout this Winter and colder months.
Both the kindness and hardship I’ve witnessed have impacted me so fundamentally I can’t help but carry it with me, and be constantly reminded each day, in so many ways, of the people I have the pleasure of knowing through Mr. Bob’s. When Mary Beth pulled me into her circle of food distribution volunteers (which I am endlessly grateful for, thank you MaryBeth), I became a firsthand witness to the dangers that food insecurity and lack of warming resources poses to so many friends in our community; wonderful people and families I’ve gotten to know through Mr. Bob’s being cut off from the resources they need. As donations diminished, and everyday volunteers became responsible for all the Saturday sandwiches made, I became inspired by the compassion surrounding me, and felt the gravity the actions of a single person can hold. With the cold that Winter brings, I’ve witnessed the same kind-spirited people who I’ve seen sacrifice so much for others, strangers and families alike, enduring the cold and indifference of the world with such strength and resilience. This made me realize that despite the importance of handing out the donations we receive, it wasn’t enough. Wanting to provide another avenue of warm meals for our friends during the winter, I realized I could use my experience cooking in restaurants to make this a reality.
Since September of 2025, I have been supplying a variety of warm meals each Saturday morning, taking requests from people passing through to try and make these meals as satisfying, filling, and healthy as possible. The generosity of a wide variety of caring community members have made this possible, and through collecting money and ingredients donations to support this dream, I have been blown away once again by the amount of compassion and selflessness that our world can hold.
Thank you to everyone who helps make this possible, it truly takes a village.
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Testimonial from AJ Bocchini