Davis Community Meals is open monday-friday, 8 am-12 pm. Sometimes they have donated bread or donuts past ira expiration date that cant be sold in stores. Stores donate expired food they cant sell for a tax deduction from the government. The food offered by Davis Community Meals is always expired. There are no actual meals, only packaged snacks and leftover plates from the shelter that have been uneaten for days or weeks. Sometimes the date on the container of cooked pasta says its 3 months old, so it may have been sitting in the fridge for months. One thing is for sure, staff cannot be trusted to behave morally. The staff do not care about the homeless and they often get in arguments and cause conflicts with the homeless guests. Staff are not kind, they pretend to be nice on the surface, but behind closed doors they gossip and insult the homeless. One of the paid staff members throws temper tantrums at the guests and threatens them and often bans them from services. They demand guests abide by their dictates made by fiat like an authoritarian or tyrant would, even when such demands are unreasonable. Staff never seems to amicably resolve issues but are eager to verbally and emotionally abuse homeless guests. The staff believes their institution comes before people and that the guests must serve the institution rather than the institution serving the people. There is no real community here, only low quality services and homeless people walking on eggshells hoping a staff member doesnt become irate and ban them from receiving any services. This day center is slightly better than nothing but not for the amount of donations and money they receive in funding. You can still eat expired food rather than nothing at all, which is a common theme at Davis Community Meals day center, take it or leave it, and I left it. They could be doing so much better with the donations they receive but they just dont care. They seem to only be there for their own paychecks. like many homeless service organizations in california, this is a business, those who give them funding are the customers and the homeless are the commodity to be used and sold to the government to benefit the program. This is also the reason why government spending billions of dollars doesnt end homelessness, because these organizations are more interested in serving themselves rather than the homeless and so the homeless dont receive real material help or advocacy.
Review from Guidestar
I worked with Davis Community Meals regularly on Saturdays for several helping serve people in the community. The need for and appreciation of this organization is huge. DCM not only provides a shelter to those in need of a place to stay, but also regular meals to families and individuals in need. DCM has become a family to homeless, needy and even lonely folks throughout the Yolo community.
Working as a volunteer for DCM has been one of the most rewarding opportunities I've had. The shelter provides a wide range of resources from a long term transitional housing program, to a day shelter open to the entire homeless population, to a cold weather shelter available for individuals looking for a place to stay during the harsh winter. The organization also provides meals throughout the week. The staff there are nice and compassionate about helping the needs of the homeless population.
I have been a volunteer cook and general gopher for Davis Community Meals since 1991. There are many long-term volunteers. My term of service is not exceptional. I have seen the program grow from one meal per week to currently include 3 meals per week, a long-term shelter, a cold weather shelter and recovery/support services plus more. The volunteers are a sensitive, caring,dedicated group of men and women and young people. From my kitchen perspective the meals are prepared with attention to nutrition, balance, fresh produce of California and food safety. The dinners are restaurant quality, the atmosphere is pleasant and people who ordinarily would not be able to eat out enjoy a quality dining experience. Davis Community Meals is aptly named. It definitely improves the lives of many of its marginalized community members.
Helping with cooking in the kitchen one Tuesday a week during the summer is both fun and rewarding for me. I'm impressed with how many people enthusiastically take part in collecting and delivering donated food, sorting the food, cooking a nutritious and appealing meal with whatever happens to come in that day, and staying to clean the kitchen so all will be ready for serving that same evening. We share extra food with other non-profits like the Senior Center and Grace in Action. Also individual guests can come pick up surplus produce to take home. It is great fun to sort and set out extra fruits and vegetables in attractive displays like a little Farmer's Market with good things to eat. During the school year, I help the Unity in Community group set up, serve and clean up after the meal once a month. At the dinner guests and volunteers treat each other with mutual appreciation, respect and equality which I find truly wonderful
Over the last four years I have learned that DCM has 7 programs that benefit the homeless or nearly homeless in Davis. With few paid staff and a tiny budget, this non-profit works to feed people healthy food, make them aware of and teach them how and when to contact the few resources available, house them, shelter them in cold weather, do laundry, counsel, and provide an address, support former foster children as they tackle college -- and always treat people facing incredible challenges with dignity and warmth. I love volunteering for them and giving them money. DCM is awesome!
My experience with Davis Community Meals has been primarily through the eyes of the volunteers who prepare the meals there. I know that the cooks for DCM pride themselves on the ability to provide a healthy,nourishing home-cooked meal from the bits and pieces donated by the various stores and food programs in our community. Davis would not seem to be, at first glance, a place where a meals program would be needed. However, there are many in our community who are grateful for that one extra meal that helps get them through the week and make financial ends meet. My hat is off to the Davis Community Meals for the fine work it does. We live in a better community because of their efforts. Susan Linz, Davis resident
This is by far the best shelter and community meals program in the state. DCM has provided help to the homeless population that continues to grow in the Yolo County area, in a professional and caring manor. The staff provide support and understanding and concern for each individual case. If individuals or families are dealing with difficult financial problems, Davis Community Meals is a place to begin to get help.