St. John’s Program for Real Change

In 2004, Dennis Warren, Sacramento Insight Meditation’s (SIM) guiding instructor, began offering beginning meditation classes to the women of St. John’s Shelter as part of SIM’s community outreach efforts. Program staff gave positive feedback, noting that the women were able to use their meditation experience to make meaningful personal changes.

However, it soon became clear that the shelter’s most pressing needs were more basic. SIM was asked whether it could provide occasional dinners for the residents. In January 2005, SIM served its first meal at St. John’s—meatloaf purchased from Seland’s on H Street in Sacramento. Before long, the SIM team began cooking meals every other month.

From the start, SIM’s goal was to offer a nutritious, affordable meal. The team tried various menus—including chicken, tacos, and baked potato bars—but found these either too complex for volunteers, too expensive, or too heavy in unhealthy calories. In the end, meatloaf—especially SIM’s much-loved recipe—emerged as the clear favorite among the women.

As the project grew, more dedicated volunteers joined. When St. John’s asked if SIM could serve monthly instead of every other month, the team was ready. Since then, every third Wednesday has been SIM night at the shelter. The commitment and reliability of volunteers are what make this offering possible—and joyful. There is deep meaning in serving others with compassion and generosity.

Today, SIM continues to sponsor a monthly dinner for the residents of St. John’s Program for Real Change. Volunteers purchase the groceries, cook, and serve a warm, nourishing meal for more than 80 people. Each meal costs approximately $300.

We invite your support to sustain this long-standing tradition, which is deeply appreciated by those who receive it.