By Khalida Sarwari
Nearly 100 volunteers from various Los Gatos faith communities gathered over the weekend to fill backpacks with essential items to distribute to the homeless in San Jose on Tuesday morning.
The volunteers spent Sunday afternoon stuffing “Homeless Survival Sacks” with toothbrushes, toothpaste, fresh underwear, soap, blankets and rain ponchos, said Julie Davis Berry, a spokeswoman for Sacred Heart Community Service, which will distribute the items.
“It’s really heartwarming to see them come together and put aside whatever differences they have to work together for the homeless in the name of Martin Luther King, Jr.,” Berry said.
The faith communities consisted of volunteers from Congregation Shir Hadash, Faith Lutheran Church, Los Gatos United Methodist Church, Presbyterian Church of Los Gatos, St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, St. Mary’s Catholic Church, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, and Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Los Gatos.
Between 50 and 100 backpacks will be given away from 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. at Sacred Heart Community Service, located at 1381 S. First St.