From living on the streets to working hard in the kitchen

Daniel Ortiz knows his way around the kitchen at First United Methodist Church. It’s the place that gave him a fresh start.

He lost his job last November, then his home, and car.

But he found his way to First United after a cold January night spent behind the Pilot Truck Stop.

“I kind of found myself a nice, quiet corner. Took off my boots and went to sleep,” Ortiz said. “And when I woke up, my boots were gone. You know, being a lifelong resident from Salinas, and walking barefoot on a cold morning, really was the final straw. And that was the initial direction of hey, you can go to First United.”

First United gave him a job in the kitchen and told him about the Salinas warming shelter, where volunteers gave him clean clothes.

“Just blessed us… to look presentable in society… and that gave me an even bigger ray of hope to get myself ready for an interview.”

An interview that landed him a job as a chef at Cibo in downtown Monterey.

Now he’s giving back, cooking lunch for the Heartfelt Help for Homeless event Saturday, hosted by the Salinas Rotary Santa Lucia Club.

With 12 different stations, people could walk through the church and pick up things like blankets and jackets, and learn about the many resources Salinas has to offer.

“To know that this is for us, it feels good,” Chianne Gonzalez said.

According to the latest Monterey County Homeless Census, more than 2,500 adults are homeless; and according to the Salinas City Elementary School District, more than 5,000 kids in Salinas school districts are homeless.

Organizers say they usually don’t know how much support is available.

“Hopefully it will give them some resources, and the service they need to get back on their feet again, because that’s what this is all about, Tamara Swanson with Salinas Rotary Santa Lucia Club said.

For Daniel Ortiz, this community changed his life.

“I guess the biggest misnomer is that we’re all drug addicts, thieves, the no goods of society, and that’s not true,” Ortiz said.

In two weeks, he’s moving into his new home in Monterey.

Heartfelt Help for Homeless event sponsors included First 5 Monterey County, Scholl & Company, My Museum, and the Worthington Law Centre.

If you’re interested in learning more about Salinas Rotary Lucia Club, including upcoming events and how to volunteer, email Cheryl Camany at ccamany@salinascity.k12.ca.us.