Every Saturday, volunteers from the Culinary Angels come to gather donations for cancer patients at the Pleasanton Farmer’s Market. Their mission is simple: to gather healthy, fresh ingredients to make nourishing meals for Tri-Valley cancer patients.
“We collect organic produce, then we bring it back to our kitchen and make meals for cancer patients and their caregivers,” said Culinary Angels volunteer Lucy Garrett. “All free of charge.”
The Operations
Culinary Angels is a non-profit that relies on the generosity of both vendors and shoppers at the market. Collection bags are placed at certified organic booths, where customers can purchase items off a specific needs list and drop them in. Vendors can also donate surplus produce at the end of the day.
“We have a chef in house who creates meals for people who are signing up to receive meals, and they can say wherever they’re at during their cancer treatment, and we go and we deliver organic meals,” said volunteer Louisa Garrett.
Culinary Angels operates throughout all of the Tri-Valley Area. Deliveries reach families in Pleasanton, Livermore, Dublin, San Ramon, and Danville. Of all the markets Culinary Angels visits, Pleasanton consistently gives the most in both produce and cash donations.
“We [visit] mostly [the Pleasanton] farmer’s market, and then we do a little bit at the Livermore farmer’s market, but they’re not as generous with their donations,” said Lucy Garrett.
In Culinary Angels’ 2022 annual report, they published that their Farmers Market program moved from Livermore to Pleasanton, where they had year-around participation and expanded ‘organic’ vendor reach. Market participants donated 980 pounds of produce with a value of over $3,700.
“[What’s] happening at the Livermore Farmer’s Market is we don’t set out bags but the vendors are donating at the end of the market,” said Louisa.
Community Behind the Stalls
For Garrett and the rest of the Culinary Angels volunteers, the work goes beyond food. Patients who finish treatment often return to the market to volunteer themselves.
“It’s kind of going full circle. [Patients] always come back and tell us their stories. It definitely builds a community,” said Louisa.
The community Garrett describes is felt throughout the market, by volunteers and shoppers alike. The market has grown into a gathering place as much as a shopping center.
“The quality of the products matters, but this environment is really good,” said Charlize Almazan, a customer at a flower booth. “Live music, lively energy, packed stalls. Both the products and the experience [matter].”
For those looking to get involved, Culinary Angels accepts donations through their website at culinaryangels.org. Visitors can also support the organization by stopping by the Pleasanton Farmers Market on Saturdays and dropping produce into one of the collection bags at certified booths. For many, the market is already a destination in itself, and the chance to give back is just one more reason to show up.
