At just 14 years old, Mia Slowe of Corte Madera has made her positive mark on the community by preparing more than 2,500 bag lunches over a period of more than four years for St. Vincent de Paul Society of Marin’s daily meal program — a program designed for those facing food insecurity and homelessness.
Mia’s journey began in September 2020, when she was in fourth grade and moved by the devastation of the fires sweeping through the region as well as the hardships brought on by the Covid-19 pandemic. “I saw on the news how people had lost everything,” recalls Mia. “There were fires, and homeless people were struggling. I asked my mom how we could help, and after doing research, we found St. Vincent de Paul. I started making lunches every month, and I haven’t stopped since.”
That monthly task is assembling 50 lunches containing a sandwich — typically ham, turkey and cheese — plus a bag of chips, a piece of fruit and a napkin. She adds a thoughtful touch for special occasions, like candy canes at Christmas or heart-shaped lollipops for Valentine’s Day. Her favorite addition? Cookies. “I love slipping in an extra cookie when we have enough,” she said. When she knows she’ll be away, she plans ahead, doubling her efforts. “If I’m not going to be here in June, I’ll make extra in May so that I don’t miss a month.”
While Mia takes the lead on assembly, her parents support her by purchasing the supplies and driving her to St. Vinnies in San Rafael for drop-off. Her mother, Kristen, who has witnessed her daughter’s growth through this effort, shared, “At first, she was barely able to carry the boxes. Now, she takes full responsibility. It has changed the way she sees the world.”
Mia enjoys visiting the drop-off location, interacting with the staff and seeing firsthand how her efforts make a difference. “Sometimes people say, ‘Thank you so much,’ and it motivates me to keep going.”
With no plans to stop, her contribution helps to ensure that those facing food insecurity receive a meal and a bit of kindness. “People need to eat every day,” she said. “I love volunteering, and this is something I’ll keep doing.”
A freelance writer in Marin who writes about family, kids and parenting, Glass is the mother to one son, one dog and a hamster named Miss Geri. When she’s not writing, trekking up steep hills in Marin or driving her kid to sports practice, she and her family spend time in their tiny cabin in Lake Tahoe. She avidly supports the California Academy of Sciences, a world class science museum and research institution, and the Institute on Aging which provides much needed services to Bay Area seniors and disabled adults. Glass is obsessed with baking the perfect loaf of banana bread, something she makes so often she no longer needs to look at a recipe card.
