The Mission of St. Mary's Dining Room -

St. Mary's Dining Room responds to poverty in San Joaquin County by feeding the hungry, caring for health issues and restoring human dignity to over 700 individuals each day.

CLICK HERE to watch a video about our clients and our services.

Vision

See a community where all are empowered and able to be self-reliant, independent as well as able to meet their physical emotional and psychological well-being.

History Timeline

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.

1956
Dr. Virgil Gianelli begins providing medical care to its homeless and working poor clients at St. Mary’s Dining Room.

1962
Location of the dining room is moved due to redevelopment in Downtown Stockton.

1972
Location of the Dining Room is once again moved to St. Mary’s Church Social Hall.

1986
David Brewer begins volunteering at St. Mary’s Dining Room.

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 clients. (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.)

1989
David Brewer becomes Executive Director of St. Mary’s Interfaith Dining Room.

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.

1996
Edward Figueroa joins St. Mary’s Interfaith Dining Room as Operations Manager.

1997
St. Mary’s Interfaith Dining Room surpasses $1 million for its operating budget.

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.

David Brewer and Edward Figueroa are named Co-Directors.

2002
St. Raphael’s DENTAL CLINIC adds two exam rooms to the existing three.

2004
Opening of the Kara Brewer Family CLOTHING and HYGIENE CENTER.

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.

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.

2007
Head Start Preschool, providing comprehensive child development skills for children, opens on the St. Mary’s Interfaith Community Services Campus.

2009

St. Mary’s Interfaith Community Services begins our SOCIAL SERVICES program.

Edward Figueroa becomes CEO.

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 lunch meals per day.

2012
St. Mary’s Interfaith Community Services officially changes its' name to St. Mary’s Dining Room...more than meals.