Our Food Connection Team Wishes a Happy Valentine’s to Everyone!
Happy Valentine’s from all of us at the food bank! This month, we’ve asked a few of our staff members what they love about our community. Below are their answers.
Jennifer Nguyen, Cypress Front Office Specialist:
“One of the greatest things about our community is our compassion—our compassion to inspire, to aspire, and to give back. I love knowing that I am surrounded by people who want to make a difference and an impact in our world, one community at a time. It’s refreshing and inspiring to be able to witness everyone come together to support and lend a hand to those in need. I am eternally grateful to be a part of a community that is as hands on, driven and nurturing as ours. Helping others is something I’ve always enjoyed doing and being able to do this on a day to day basis, bringing joy and hope to those in our community, has impacted my life immensely.”
Sharon Kelleher, Partnership Manager:
“I love that people in our community take care of each other. Everyone needs a helping hand sometimes, and it’s heartening to know that there are people out there who care and want to help. I love that our community is culturally diverse, innovative and environmentally aware. I also love all the natural beauty that surrounds us.”
Rao Mattaparthi, Database Administator:
“I love our community because it is a cohesive, safe, confident, prosperous and happy place. Many pursue the job prospects and quality education offered by the area. People are friendly and often go above and beyond to help each other. And finally the weather is beautiful here all year round, especially for people like me who lived in bitter cold winters in Canada.”
Veronica Torres, Volunteer Scheduling Coordinator:
“I have always been proud of our very diverse community. The influx of new people that the tech boom has brought to Silicon Valley has encountered the established celebration of different cultures and traditions from the earlier agricultural boom. To me, those bridges continue to help nurture volunteerism in our community; which is vital to continued progress.”
Lynda Tolley, Individual Philanthropy Officer:
“I feel like my community extends from the local sense to the global. I love the Philippines, homeland of my mom and dad as well as India — homeland of my husband. However, when I return to my home base here in Santa Clara County – I truly love our diversity.
We have diversity of ideas, of food, of culture, and art. Our geography is as diverse too! I come home from my travels just a little homesick for our hills, Monterey beaches, Santa Cruz redwood forests, and cool Baylands around the delta. I like that I can find uniqueness as well as the mainstream in our community. Truly “there is no place like home.”