For more than 20 years, Danny and Berta Martinez have been the organizers of Pro-Ject Love, a food distribution program that provides groceries to hungry families every Saturday morning. Food items have included everything from fresh produce and bread to soda and sweet rolls.

"To not be able to have the volunteers to get the food out the door is an interesting problem," said Lee Betancourt, volunteer coordinator for the organization.

The organization itself is a story of hope: Founder Danny Martinez was a heroin addict at age 13 and spent 22 years in prison for various crimes.

"About two years after he got out of Folsom, he accepted the Lord and had given up drugs and everything," Berta Martinez said.

The two were inspired to start the organization in 1983, near the holiday season.

"My husband and I had been driving around Alameda, looking at all the Christmas lights and people lighting their fireplaces and decorating their trees," Berta Martinez said. "This homeless man walked by us with everything he had on his back."

Both of them considered it a divine message to help the poor. They started making sandwiches in their one-bedroom apartment in Oakland and made hot meals to give to people on the street, a tradition they continue every third Saturday of the month.

But their most frequent and popular program is a Saturday morning grocery giveaway, which begins at 10:30 a.m. and goes until those in line have been served.

"We have low-income families, the homeless," Berta Martinez said. "We've had people drive up in Mercedes. We don't question it -- if they're standing in line, then that means they need food."

Betancourt said the organization is looking for regular volunteers who can help sort and distribute food items. He also wants the public to know this service is available for those in need.

Pro-Ject Love is located at 1544 International Boulevard. For information about volunteering, call (925) 570-0765. To donate food or learn more about Pro-Ject Love, call (510) 536-4242.

The Oakland Tribune: Cityside
Leanne McLaughlin, Managing Editor
(510) 208-6447
(510) 208-6477 Fax
lmclaughlin@angnewspapers.com Email