Skip to content
CapRadio

CapRadio

signal status listen live donate
listen live donate signal status
listen live donate signal status
  • News
    • topics
    • State Government
    • Environment
    • Health Care
    • Race and Equity
    • Business
    • Arts and Lifestyle
    • Food and Sustainability
    • PolitiFact California
  • Music
    • genres
    • Classical
    • Jazz
    • Eclectic
    • Daily Playlist
  • Programs + Podcasts
    • news
    • Morning Edition
    • All Things Considered
    • Marketplace
    • Insight With Vicki Gonzalez
    • music
    • Acid Jazz
    • At the Opera
    • Classical Music
    • Connections
    • Excellence in Jazz
    • Hey, Listen!
    • K-ZAP on CapRadio
    • Mick Martin's Blues Party
    • Programs A-Z
    • Podcast Directory
  • Schedules
    • News
    • Music
    • ClassicalStream
    • JazzStream
    • Weekly Schedule
    • Daily Playlist
  • Community
    • Events Calendar
    • CapRadio Garden
    • CapRadio Reads
    • Ticket Giveaways
  • Support
    • Evergreen Gift
    • One-Time Gift
    • Corporate Support
    • Vehicle Donation
    • Stock Gift
    • Legacy Gift
    • Endowment Gift
    • Benefits
    • Member FAQ
    • e‑Newsletter
    • Drawing Winners
    • Thank You Gifts
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Close Menu
 We Get Support From:
Become a Supporter 
 We Get Support From:
Become a Supporter 

A Legacy Of Serving Homeless Guests Continues At St. Mary’s Dining Room In Stockton

  •  Rich Ibarra 
Thursday, June 28, 2018 | Sacramento, CA
Listen
/
Update RequiredTo play audio, update browser or Flash plugin.
Rich Ibarra / Capital Public Radio

Ramona Astacio, right, with her daughter during a recent lunch at St. Mary's Dining Room.

Rich Ibarra / Capital Public Radio

St. Mary’s Dining Room in Stockton started 60 years ago feeding homeless people. Today, it continues that tradition — but also puts clothes on their backs, tends to guests’ health, and helps people get back on their feet.

St. Mary’s exists mainly from donations, about $5 million a year to keep it going. A staff of 40, plus 50 to 100 volunteers a day, provides food, counseling, free medical and dental services, showers and clothes lockers.

CEO Edward Figueroa says most of the food is donated. “We’re able to serve breakfast, lunch, and dinner for seven days a week, 365 days a year, so the dining room never closes and we average just under a thousand meals a day,” he said.

Ramona Astacio and her three children are homeless. She says St. Mary’s has kept them from going hungry every night. “I thank God there is this place where I can come and have breakfast, lunch, and dinner like St. Mary’s because that is what has helped us survive,” she said.

And about one-third of the people who show up at meal time are families who have hit hard times, according to St. Mary’s staff.

Astacio says St. Mary’s is a critical safety-net institution in Stockton. “Sometimes people something happens drastically in their lives and they lose everything they have. You hit rock bottom and to come in and must have a meal and have somewhere to shower, put something one and this place has given me the clothes but just giving me a welcome,” she said.

Doctors and health practitioners also volunteer at St. Mary’s.

Dr. John Demshar is an optometrist who donates his time at the medical and dental clinic, giving eye exams to homeless people and those who can’t afford glasses.

062818Dr John Demshar -pDr. John Demshar offers vision care to guests at St. Mary's Medical Clinic. Rich Ibarra / Capital Public Radio

 

Demshar says it’s not hard to see the need. “These people line up at two and three in the morning to be one of those first 12 to 15 people we see,” he said. “So, is there a need for us helping homeless people? Definitely. There’s more homeless people now than there ever was and I don’t think there’s enough doctors around to help.”

Other services — from antibiotics to dental fillings — are provided free of charge to whoever walks in.

Astacio says St. Mary’s was her last safety net when her son became extremely ill. “They treated him, they seen him in the clinic here, and they gave him medicine, antibiotics, because he had an infection in his throat and his ears,” she recalled. “My son was really sick, no clinic would take him.”

Learn more at StMarysDiningRoom.org.

CapRadio is joining nearly 100 news organizations across the country to focus on stories about our homeless community as part of the U.S. Homeless Project.


Follow us for more stories like this

CapRadio provides a trusted source of news because of you.  As a nonprofit organization, donations from people like you sustain the journalism that allows us to discover stories that are important to our audience. If you believe in what we do and support our mission, please donate today.

Donate Today  

    More about U.S. Homeless Project

  • U.S. Homeless Project

    CapRadio is joining nearly 100 news organizations across the country to focus on stories about our homeless community.

 U.S. Homeless Projectstockton

Rich Ibarra

Contributing Central Valley/Foothills Reporter

As the Central Valley correspondent, Rich Ibarra covers San Joaquin, Stanislaus, and Merced counties, along with the foothill areas including Tuolumne and Calaveras counties. He covers politics, the economy and issues affecting the region.   Read Full Bio 

 Email Rich Ibarra

Coronavirus Newsletter

Get answers to your questions, the latest updates and easy access to the resources you need, delivered to your inbox.

 

Want to know what to expect? Here's a recent newsletter.

Thanks for subscribing!

We'll send you weekly emails so you can stay informed about the coronavirus in California.

Browse all newsletters

More Stories

Josh Edelson/AFP via Getty Images

Is your house at risk of a wildfire? This online tool could tell you

May 16, 2022

Pablo Unzueta / CalMatters

With inflation, California worries about progress on poverty

May 16, 2022

Andrew Nixon / CapRadio

Top California Democrats in a stalemate over gas rebates

May 19, 2022

Most Viewed

Downtown Sacramento shooting: What we know and latest updates

Top California Democrats in a stalemate over gas rebates

U.S. Sen. Alex Padilla will appear on California’s June primary ballot twice. Here’s why.

With California budget surplus projected at $97 billion, Newsom proposes driver rebates, more reproductive health funding

Understanding How A California Bill Dies Without Public Debate

We Get Support From:
Become a Supporter

Most Viewed

Downtown Sacramento shooting: What we know and latest updates

Top California Democrats in a stalemate over gas rebates

U.S. Sen. Alex Padilla will appear on California’s June primary ballot twice. Here’s why.

With California budget surplus projected at $97 billion, Newsom proposes driver rebates, more reproductive health funding

Understanding How A California Bill Dies Without Public Debate

Back to Top

  • CapRadio

    7055 Folsom Boulevard
    Sacramento, CA 95826-2625

    • (916) 278-8900
    • Toll-free (877) 480-5900
    • Email Us
    • Submit a News Tip
  • Contact Us

  • About Us

    • Contact Us / Feedback
    • Coverage
    • Directions
    • Careers & Internships
    • Mission / Vision / Core Values
    • Press
    • Staff Directory
    • Board of Directors
  • Listening Options

    • Mobile App
    • On Air Schedules
    • Smart Speakers
    • Playlist
    • Podcasts
    • RSS
  • Connect With Us

    •  Facebook
    •  Twitter
    •  Instagram
    •  YouTube
  • Donate

  • Listen

  • Newsletters

CapRadio stations are licensed to California State University, Sacramento. © 2022, Capital Public Radio. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy | Website Feedback FCC Public Files: KXJZ KKTO KUOP KQNC KXPR KXSR KXJS. For assistance accessing our public files, please call 916-278-8900 or email us.