Agape 2020 Update and 2021 Need!

Agape 2020 Update and 2021 Need!

“We ourselves feel that what we are doing is just a drop in the ocean.  But the ocean would be less because of that missing drop”-Mother Teresa.

The Agape Program through Kolbe Academy and Trinity Prep and in conjunction with many of our neighbors continues to provide grocery and food help to our community.  Agape was born from the need caused by the COVID-19 restrictions and the exacerbated need caused by two disastrous fires.

Agape was originally started as a temporary lifeline to keep our neighbors and our community move forward.  Ten months later, the need for this lifeline has only intensified as the emergency continues.  Agape will continue with its mission if we, our neighbors, and local parishes are able to continue to donate and volunteer to keep it going.  The Agape Program is necessary and needs to continue as long as a lifeline is needed.

Agape has helped thousands of our neighbors through the generosity of other neighbors. It is donor-supported, volunteer-run and receives not government help: neighbors helping neighbors!  100% of cash donations go straight to those in need because there is no overhead.  The overhead is covered by many hard-working volunteers.  Many who volunteer earn enough hours for it to be considered a second job!  The joy that Agape brings to those volunteers is fulfilling, rewarding and brings so many blessings.

The latest Agape saw over 450 families come through for assistance.  The mission costs about $10,000 from the Agape fund every other week, it takes countless donations from the community, selflessness from multiple community members who shop and give at each open give away, and of course the countless volunteers who run the distribution.

The (Partial) Agape Family of Volunteers and Donors:

Kolbe/Trinity board members, school administration, school families, students, St. Vincent de Paul chapter from St. Apollinaris, Napa Kiwanis, St. Joan of Arc parishioners, St. Apollinaris parishioners, St. John’s parishioners, Marian Sisters of Santa Rosa, members of the  a group of students from Vintage High School, local business owners, many neighbors from posts on next door, many local neighbors that have heard the call, UR LLC, Tony Poli and the team at Grocery Outlet, Sciambra Bakery, Angele restaurant, Cole’s Chop House, Napa Members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, Arik Housley and Ranch Market, Jan Deluge and Cash and Carry, John and Stornetta Dairy, John and Lynne Rodgers and Cherished Farm, Bettinelli Vineyard Management, Rodgers Vineyards, Fr. Daniel Roa, Tony and Marcia Ryan, Jack and Carole Duncan, Mike Gaffey,  The Prager Family, The Feeney Family, The Smith Family, The Kelly Family, The Buyarski Family, The Hickey Family, The Eric Muth Family, The Quinn Family, The Bahue Family, The Huss Family, The Brumley Family, The Ferrigan Family, The Depatie Family, The Kappmeyer Family Foundation, The Hall Family Foundation, Kelly Construction, The Cunningham Family, The Davis Family and local dispatch, The Bertolini Family, Phillip Duncan, and multiple local foundations. There are so many individual names to thank that it is almost impossible.  We will work on a comprehensive list of donors and volunteers to share.  There are definitely unbelievably valuable people missing from this list.  You know who you are, and words are not enough to thank you.  May the joy of true charity be a blessing to all those that support Agape.

You can promote Agape to and through your own family and friends by using your e-mail lists, social media, or any other creative measures.  Please reach out to the Agape team for letters and donor forms that you can utilize to run your own food drive, donation drive and volunteer recruitment.  Agape needs you!

The level of gratitude of those coming to Agape for assistance can only be understood by witnessing it.  Many left letters or notes.  The level of this gratitude sheds light on the magnitude of the need. The following is an excerpt from one of those letters:

To the Food Program Agape

Hello, my name is Silvia,

And I want to thank the food program Agape and all the people who collaborate in this program. I want to tell you that the first time I came to this program I did not even know what it was called, I was invited by a friend of mine.  And at the time I came because I was very badly in need due to all the conditions that we are living through with the COVID pandemic 19.

That food pantry gave me of food, they helped me with enough to feed my whole family since we are very needy, and I do not have work and I was desperate.  The following week, a person kindly called me to invite me back for continued help.

I want to say thank you to all and each one of the people who support with their donations.

You know, not only did I take food with me but also the smile, the kindness of the people, the talks, and comments from all the people who received food from Agape. 

All this is invaluable to me because I am helped in this long COVID-19 pandemic. I want to thank you and thank all those Heroes.

 I was given the opportunity to forget the ugliness, trusting in God and above all in the union of human beings to help us to each other without knowing each other because we are all brothers.

Thank you for the food, for your smiles, for your kindness, but above all, for making my confidence reborn. All this for me has been an unforgettable experience that I will always remember.

Thank you, Agape food program,

“It is during our darkest moments that we must focus to see the light”-Aristotle

The Agape families have a tough time putting food on their family’s tables, having diapers for their babies, soaps, and other hygiene products.  The courage it takes to ask for help is something that I have never understood.  These families for the most part exhibit great courage and the level of humble gratitude has taught us so much!

Christmas would have been impossible.  Agape, with the help of countless neighbor businesses and neighbors helped to share Christs light to these families at Christmas.  They received the normal grocery and food help in December.  They also were blessed with a visit from Santa and Mrs. Claus who, because of generosity up and down this entire valley, gave every family 2 or 3 Christmas gifts.  I watched as a father cry as he was given a bike for his little girl.  He said “Agape has blessed my family in a way that can never be repaid.  I will pray for all those donating forever!”

-An anonymous local business family donated 8-10 bikes, incredible gifts for teenagers such as gift cards to Ulta Beauty and Nike and much more and made a massive food donation.

        -Santa and Mrs Claus took time out of their terribly busy schedule to spend the day serving.

        -Grocery Outlet North Napa ran a toy drive.  Then delivered trucks full of gifts.

        -Trinity Prep High School students ran a toy drive and helped to organize the toys.

        -10 families in need had their entire Christmas sponsored by anonymous donor families. This was the most beautiful act of love.  I will share thoughts from Yolanda our secretary soon as she and I shared in the gift of witnessing the        impact.

        -The Marian Sisters of Santa Rosa came and sang Christmas carols.

        -Enough diapers were donated to offer all that asked diapers!

        -Support was offered from former board members, former school donors, 90-year old’s baking comfort food, children helping with

            packaging, teenagers    giving   countless hours. Agape has young volunteers, an 11-year-old who is the snack  station manager all the way to the

            90-year old Napans!

        -Alumni support and volunteer help continues to grow.

**Grocery Outlet has stated a food and dollars for food drive at their stores!  This drive started January 9^th and will continue through February 28^th.  Please support Grocery Outlet as they have donated thousands to Agape and help ease the work load for volunteers by delivering orders straight to the school.

If you go to Grocery Outlet and support this food drive and mention Agape or that Eric Muth sent you it will help tremendously.  They will give a $5 gift card for every $100 in food donations that Agape helps to raise!!!!

Shop at Grocery Outlet on Redwood Rd.: it is wonderful way to say thank you!  At the same time, you can support neighbors in need.

Also, please support Ranch Market & Ranch Market Too, Browns Valley Market, Sciambra Bakery, Turley Winery, Kelly Construction, Clover Stornetta, Angele Restaurant, Hall Winery, St. Joan of Arc Parish, St. Apollinaris Parish, and the St. Vincent de Paul-St. Apollinaris Chapter.

Please continue to support Kolbe/Trinity’s Agape Program with prayer, donations, volunteering and possibly running a personal effort with your family and friends.  Please refer those you know who may need assistance to Agape as we do not mind being a growing family.  If you would like to know more or would like the schedule of the next Agape, please feel free to reach out to the following:

Eric Muth @ [email protected] or (707) 363-8461

Anna Hickey @ [email protected] or (707) 318-3597

Mary Quinn @ [email protected] or (707) 337-1158