San Quentin donates clothing to rescue mission

May 16, 2025

After donating clothing, San Quentin Rehabilitation Center management staff got busy lending a hand in the rescue mission kitchen.

The San Quentin Rehabilitation Center management team collected and delivered bags of staff-donated clothing to support a local rescue mission.

During their May 9 visit, San Quentin staff toured the warehouse, which stores donated items such as food, clothing, diapers, toys, and other essential items for individuals and families in need. While there, the San Quentin management team had the pleasure of meeting and assisting Comfort Mensah as she prepared the evening meal.

Rescue mission chef prepares pasta while a San Quentin staff member looks on.

San Quentin staff help prepare a meal by chopping vegetables at the rescue mission.

The team helped by chopping bell peppers, preparing noodles, and mixing spaghetti sauce. The rescue mission serves approximately 5,000 individuals each month, including residents of the facility and members of the surrounding community.

Notably, the team met two formerly incarcerated individuals who are now employed at the rescue mission working in the kitchen. They were proud to share their stories of successful reintegration and were excited to meet Warden Andes.

Their employment and successful reentry are testaments to their progress and commitment to positive change.

San Quentin Warden Chance Andes, Associate Warden T. Shorter, Associate Warden N. Avila, Captain Franco and MSSI Mario Jimenez at the rescue mission.

San Quentin Rehabilitation Center management tours the rescue mission where they met two formerly incarcerated people now employed at the mission.

San Quentin Rehabilitation Center staff is proud to have been a part of this meaningful experience and look forward to continuing to support the mission and its impactful work.

“I read a quote not too long ago that said, ‘We make a living by what we get but we make a life by what we give.’ This quote is exactly how I felt being able to give back to the community,” said Associate Warden N. Avila. “I know the rescue mission was very grateful to us, not only for donating clothing but donating our time. Allowing us to assist in the kitchen while we laughed and smiled, warmed everyone’s hearts. I don’t know if they are truly aware of how grateful we felt being able to give back.”

Avila was especially inspired by the chef.

“Comfort Mensah is an amazing woman. Her story on how she overcame her traumatic past and now she’s one of the top chefs at the mission, giving back to the community that once helped her. She deserves all of the praise,” Avila said. “I would love to continue a partnership with the rescue mission by providing additional assistance for reentry and those in need.”

Submitted by Lt. G. Berry

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