Rebuilding Lives with Dignity and Respect
About
For nearly seven decades the Stockton community has supported St. Mary’s Community Services–through financial gifts, partnerships, volunteer hours and donations–sustaining our efforts to help individuals in vulnerable circumstances meet their daily challenges and rebuild their lives.
As a comprehensive provider of services and personalized solutions for those experiencing homeless in San Joaquin County, St. Mary’s puts guest services front and center by hiring caring, compassionate team members who provide authentic, personalized care for every guest.
In addition to serving three hot meals every day to more than 500 individuals, the staff, partner agencies and volunteers create individualized pathways to achieve enhanced personal wellbeing and housing solutions.
Our comprehensive array of services and programs meet daily needs and empower our guests to make sustainable life changes. Included among them are showers and clothing, case management, housing navigation, dental care, and homeless court. Community Medical Centers (CMC) provide a comprehensive primary care clinic onsite. Mental health services and substance use treatment are provided onside through CMC and St. Joseph’s Behavioral Health Center. Our compassionate staff treats every guest with dignity and respect as they assist with everything from obtaining identification documents and applying for benefits to hosting arts and craft activities and providing transportation to medical appointments.
Our ultimate goal is to connect guests with services and opportunities that create pathways to permanent housing and healthier lives.
Our Mission
Our Vision
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1955
Fr. Alan McCoy opens St. Mary’s Dining Room in an abandoned bar and restaurant to serve meals to the homeless community of Stockton.
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1956
Dr. Virgil Gianelli begins providing medical care to its homeless and working poor guests at St. Mary’s Dining Room.
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1962
Location of the dining room is moved due to redevelopment in Downtown Stockton.
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1972
Location of the Dining Room is once again moved to St. Mary’s Church Social Hall.
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1986
David Brewer begins volunteering at St. Mary’s Dining Room.
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1987
St. Mary’s Interfaith Dining Room relocates for the third time to the current Cross-town Freeway location.
St. Mary’s Interfaith Dining Room begins providing dental care for its homeless and working poor guests. (St. Raphael’s DENTAL CLINIC is officially established in 1995 when the San Joaquin Dental Society enters into an agreement with St. Mary’s Interfaith Dining Room.)
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1989
David Brewer becomes Executive Director of St. Mary’s Interfaith Dining Room.
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1992
St. Mary’s Interfaith Dining Room volunteers and staff are awarded the 734th “Point of Light” in recognition of their service to the community.
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1996
Edward Figueroa joins St. Mary’s Interfaith Dining Room as Operations Manager.
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1997
St. Mary’s Interfaith Dining Room surpasses $1 million for its operating budget.
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2000
The first permanent structures, the Fr. Alan McCoy O.F.M. DINING ROOM and Virgil Gianelli, M.D. MEDICAL CLINIC, are completed on the site.
Edward Figueroa is named Co-Director with David Brewer.
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2002
St. Raphael’s DENTAL CLINIC adds two exam rooms to the existing three.
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2004
Opening of the Kara Brewer Family CLOTHING and HYGIENE CENTER.
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2005
St. Mary’s Interfaith Dining Room officially changes its’ name to St. Mary’s Interfaith
Community Services to reflect the many services provided by the agency.
St. Mary’s Interfaith Community Services dedicates the DINING ROOM to Fr. Alan McCoy, O.F.M. in celebration of 50 years of continuous care.
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2006
St. Mary’s Interfaith Community Services partners with our community’s Homeless Court Program. This program is the first of its kind in San Joaquin County to support homeless and working poor individuals to clear up minor misdemeanors by completing volunteer hours.
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2007
Head Start Preschool, providing comprehensive child development skills for children, opens on the St. Mary’s Interfaith Community Services Campus.
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2009
St. Mary’s Interfaith Community Services begins our SOCIAL SERVICES program.
Edward Figueroa becomes CEO.
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2010
Early Head Start Infant and Toddler Programs are added the Head Start Preschool programs already on site.
The DINING ROOM Program begins averaging over 700 meals per day.
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2011
St. Mary’s Interfaith Community Services completes the construction of a new food warehouse with forklift accessible cooler. This new facility provides the opportunity to accommodate additional donated food products from our community.
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2012
St. Mary’s Interfaith Community Services officially changes its’ name to ST. MARY’S DINING ROOM…MORE THAN MEALS.
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2013
St. Mary’s Dining Room launches a pledged giving program. The Impact Society is a group of dedicated friends who have pledged a commitment of a minimum of $1,000 per year for five years as an investment in our mission.
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2014
The DAVID BREWER MEDITATION GARDEN is created as a place for guests to rest their bodies and their spirits. This beautiful garden is also host to an annual memorial service for our guests who lost their struggle with homelessness and poverty in the previous year.
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2015
St. Mary’s Dining Room celebrates 60 years of continuous service the individuals and families experiencing homelessness and poverty in San Joaquin County.
This milestone year is further marked by the expansion of our meal service in the Fr. Alan McCoy, O.F.M. DINING ROOM. St. Mary’s Dining Room now offers breakfast, lunch, and dinner 7 days a week, 365 days a year.
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2016
The St. Mary’s SOCIAL SERVICES program expands to include on-site mental health counselling.
The Virgil Gianelli, M.D. MEDICAL CLINIC celebrates 60 years of caring for the health issues of uninsured individuals.
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2017
The St. Mary’s SOCIAL SERVICES program opens the Guest Enrichment Center. This Center houses the Senior Drop-in and the AA, Alanon and Domestic Violence support groups.
The St. Raphael’s DENTAL CLINIC celebrates 30 years of providing dental care for uninsured individuals.
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2020
Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, St. Mary’s Dining Room remains open and continues to serve the community each day.
St. Mary’s Dining Room is voted BEST OF SAN JOAQUIN MAGAZINE 2020 non-profit.
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2022
After 25 years of service, CEO Edward Figueroa steps down. St. Mary’s Dining Room welcomes their new visionary leader, Petra Linden.