My name is Katy Wright & I have been volunteering in the dining room in Oakland for almost three years now. When I first started, I always stayed behind the counter, because the "clients" kind of scared me. Then one day, I saw the person who was handing out the trays hassle some of the people about coming through the line more than once. Some altercations ensued. I was so appalled at this, that I decided to start handing out the trays. I felt it was importatnt to greet each person who came through the door with dignity & a smile. Now, I can't imagine doing anything else. I look forward to seeing our clients & have developed a rapport with many of them. This experience has been very rewarding for me on many levels. The staff at St vincent's are dedicated, professional, personable & supportive. I'm very happy to be involved with this organization & feel that we are doing something extremely valuable for the community.