Descending the narrow staircase below the First Congregational Church, visitors are greeted by an unexpectedly lively scene: volunteers hurriedly carrying trays between tables, aromatic scents drifting about, and a DJ playing soft, ambient music beneath glowing chandeliers.
Project Food is a social service project of the First Congregational Church, aiming to serve the immediate needs of the homeless in Riverside. For over 40 years, they have been providing weekly hot meals, clothes, and sanitary supplies. Even so, Project Food's longevity also reflects an uncomfortable reality: four decades later, the need it was created to address still exists.
Since The Raincross Gazette last covered Project Food in 2025, some aspects of the program have changed while its mission has remained the same.
"What stands out to me is that we're still filling a need," cofounder Barbara Wilson said. "When we started, we hoped we would eventually work ourselves out of a job, that someday Project Food wouldn't be needed anymore. But here we are, 40 years later, and that need still exists. It shows that the problem is still there, and we're doing what we can to help."
"We've noticed a slight decline recently in the number of people we are serving, although we don't know if it's temporary," said volunteer Russell Turner, who helps coordinate the weekly meals. "We've seen attendance fluctuate before. Part of it may be because the city is doing a better job connecting people with services. There are also more food programs available than there used to be. It's hard to know whether this trend will continue."
Project Food's remarkable longevity has, in large part, to do with their consistent volunteers, who show up week after week to help.
"There are at least 30 to 35 people helping," volunteer Jan Gustafson-Corea said. "They come from everywhere. Some are members of the church, which started this program about 40 years ago, and others are high school students or people from the community."
Many volunteers describe their time with Project Food as a humbling, yet fulfilling experience.
"I can only speak for myself, but volunteering helps me better understand our community," Gustafson-Corea said. "It's easy to go through life focused on your own routine, but there are parts of our community we don't always see. Coming here lets me understand the needs that exist, and it gives me a way to give back in a meaningful way."
However, even with dedicated volunteers, keeping Project Food running has become difficult as of late.
"Inflation has definitely affected food banks," Turner said. "When I visit Feeding America's warehouse, I see fewer nutritious foods available. There is simply less food than before, and that's concerning. Fortunately, our local community has been incredibly generous. Farms, warehouses, churches, and volunteers continue finding ways to get food to organizations like ours."
Through their service, Project Food symbolizes communal altruism at its core, with people across Riverside pitching in to support a shared commitment towards human compassion. Yet the ongoing need for their work serves as a sobering reminder of the persistent homelessness in our community.
"I like to call Project Food the corner of Lemon and Little Miracles. If one day there were no longer a need for Project Food because hunger had been solved, I'd be perfectly happy," Turner said. "I don't know if that's possible, but I'm idealistic enough to keep working toward that goal. Ultimately, our goal is really to work ourselves out of a job."
More information: Project Food is run entirely by volunteers and serves meals every Wednesday from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. at 3504 Mission Inn Ave. Those looking to donate can find needed items on Project Food's Amazon wishlist.
By Erik Chen
