From a Single Mom's Porch to a Community Movement

Hi there!

It's been a minute since I've sent anything out. With so many new faces coming through our doors lately, I wanted to slow down for a second and share from the heart what's been going on behind the scenes here at Porchlight Community Services.

If you're new here, WELCOME! If you've been around a while…THANK YOU for still showing up. This entire mission only works because people keep showing up for each other.

The Porchlight Story

Porchlight has always been pretty simple at its core, but it started from a very personal place. I know what it's like to navigate the world as a single mom, trying to find grocery help that doesn't feel like a handout, or hunting for fresh food that's safe for kids with food allergies. This wasn't started by a corporation; it was started by a group of moms who realized that if we teamed up, we could tackle food access and sustainability at the same time.

We rescue food that would otherwise go to waste, surplus produce, and "less than perfect" items from local partners, and turn it into affordable groceries that people can actually rely on every week. But I won't sugarcoat it; keeping that cycle running has gotten a lot heavier lately. I think it's better to just say that out loud instead of pretending it's all effortless.

Where We're Headed (and How You Fit In)

Right now, most weeks are being held together by just one to three of us. We are moving thousands of pounds of food, coordinating pickups, and trying to keep the flow steady. It's right on the edge of what's sustainable. We're trying to get back to our roots, where neighbors and friends each did a small piece of the work, keeping the load light.

If you've been looking for a sign to get involved, this is it.

• Stamp Out Hunger (May 9): We'll be at the Rancho Bernardo Post Office  (16960 Bernardo Center Dr) from 1:00–6:30 pm. These days are "controlled chaos" in the best way. Even an hour or two of your time genuinely changes how the whole day runs. Link to sign up: https://www.porchlightcs.org/event-details/volunteer-nalc-stamp-out-hunger

  
  

• We need more regular volunteers. Keeping this going takes consistency, not just one-time help, but folks who can show up regularly so things run smoothly week after week. That’s how this becomes sustainable in the long term. Yes...We know everyone loves our hosts (for good reason), but behind the scenes, the setup and food rescue crew make it all possible. That team could really use some extra hands right now.

  • If a standing shift isn’t realistic for you, you still play a bigger role by sharing what we do with someone in your circle who’s been looking for a way to plug in and give back. The right people are out there… they just need to hear about it from you.

  
  

• The "Wednesday Rule" & How You Can Advocate: Our FoodSHARE program works because we plan ahead. By Wednesday, we need all appointments confirmed so we can source enough food for everyone. Lately, our sourcing has been a bit light, and last-minute appointments make that gap even harder to manage.

  • You can help us bridge that gap! The next time you're at your favorite local market, bakery, or producer—ask them to donate! Whether it's surplus inventory or "ugly" produce, these partnerships are the heartbeat of our nonprofit. An introduction from a loyal customer like you goes a lot further than a cold call from us.

  
  

• Professional Skills: We are currently experiencing issues with our Wix website (SSL errors and outages). If you have tech skills or know someone who does, we'd love an introduction.

  
  

• Paid Internships: Send us your young professionals! We're also opening up paid internships for young adults interested in nonprofit operations, food systems, and social media.

Earth Month — Back to Basics

This Earth Month, things are getting simple in the best way. For the rest of the month, the focus is on free refill items to reduce waste and keep everyday essentials in circulation. During FoodSHARE visits, select Home & Beauty items will also be available, subject to stock availability.

Each person may receive 1 item per month. This is not per visit, just one item per person across the entire month. This helps ensure more folks in the community can access what’s available. A small shift back to basics, keeping fairness and sustainability at the center of how everything is shared.

Closing Thought

This has never really been about building something "big." It's always been about a group of people figuring out how to take care of each other while taking care of the planet. That part hasn't changed. What has changed is the scale; it only works when more people are in it together.

So if you're able to show up, whether that's through your time, energy, donations, or even just sharing this story with a friend…it matters more than it looks from the outside.

Thanks for being part of the Porchlight family.

Claudia