The CityHeART Story of March 10-13, 2026
By CityHeART
If you spend enough time at the CityHeART Resource Hub, you start to notice that the building itself seems to have a pulse. Community spaces are not static structures; they are living, breathing organisms that stretch and contract with the people inside them. Some days the Hub feels wide open and bustling, full of the high energy of a busy market. Other days, it feels like a quiet living room where the walls hold the weight of tired stories and the soft hum of the radio.
This week, from March 10 to March 13, we welcomed 95 guests through our doors. We saw 46 neighbors for our HeARTy Foods distribution and shared lunch with 28 friends during Free Lunch Friday. Behind those numbers are also 18 HeART to Home pickups (resource care packages for neighbors referred by case managers), 3 laundry loads, and 6 meaningful consultations with case managers.
But more than the data, this week was defined by a specific emotional rhythm that moved us from exhaustion to accomplishment and finally to a sense of playful calm.
The Emotional Weather at the Hub
We track the “Emotional Weather” at the Hub through our Words of the Day. This isn’t just a creative exercise; it is a way for us to check in and check out with our volunteers every day. This process helps us understand the volunteer journey and how the work impacts our team directly. If you were to read the story of this week through those words, it would sound like a steady exhale.
We began Monday feeling tired. We were carrying the weight of long days and the heavy lifting that comes with community work. Even then, there was a quiet readiness beneath the surface. By Tuesday, that energy shifted into something a little jittery and a little sleepy. It was the kind of rhythm that comes when music is playing in the living room and neighbors are dropping by just to see what is happening.
By midweek, the tone turned toward determination. As Wednesday closed, a sense of accomplishment settled over the team. Thursday arrived full and a little chaotic. The day moved from sleepy to hot, from “green” to grounded, before landing somewhere peaceful and benevolent by the late afternoon. By Friday, the mood had loosened completely. The Hub shifted from scattered to goofy, and from tired to content. By the time we locked the doors for the weekend, the room felt calm and the week left us feeling truly awake.
A Milestone: The Food Recovery Grant is Complete
One of the biggest highlights of the week happened behind the scenes in our kitchen. We are so excited to announce the completion of the City of Long Beach Food Recovery Grant that CityHeART received last year. This project has been a long time coming, and seeing it finalized this week was a major win for our community meal programs.
Thanks to this grant, the Hub kitchen has been fully upgraded to support our growing efforts to feed our neighbors. The upgrades are extensive and include a brand new kitchen sink, new shelving and storage systems, and a significantly expanded countertop workspace. We also added larger freezers and refrigerators, along with smokers and grills for the yard. These improvements directly support our Made from the HeART Mondays cooking sessions and our Free Lunch Friday meals.
This project was a true team effort. We want to extend a massive thank you to John Arcos, who worked alongside Izzy to secure this opportunity last year. We are also deeply grateful to John and Ida for the countless hours they spent coordinating and facilitating the kitchen upgrades throughout the year. Finally, a special thank you goes to Vickie and Dave Wippel, who helped us literally cross the finish line this week and ensured that every detail was completed. Because of their hard work, the Hub now has the infrastructure to keep feeding our community for years to come.
Monday: The Rhythm of Preparation
Monday started the week with a quieter, steadier rhythm. While the team felt tired, that quiet gave us the space for deep conversation and connection. It was a day for preparation. During our Made from the HeART Monday, Ida led the way in preparing taco plates. These weren’t just for that day; they were being prepped to be served during Free Lunch Friday.
We welcomed four guests on Monday, most of whom stopped by for social visits and to share lunch. It was a day of “tasting” as neighbors who dropped by got a preview of Ida’s tacos and shared how much they enjoyed the meal. We also had two individuals stop by to ask about joining our volunteer team.
On the airwaves, CityHeART Radio was buzzing. Jamies hosted Motivation Monday for two hours, and our Art from Ashes team met with a visitor to discuss launching a new program called The Lighthouse Journey. This new show is set to premiere next Monday at 12:30 PM, and we can’t wait for you to hear it.
Tuesday: Music, Games, and Euphoria
Tuesday brought a noticeable shift in energy. What began as a “jittery and sleepy” morning slowly transformed into a content and even euphoric atmosphere by the afternoon. The Hub was filled with the sound of music as we hosted a jam session facilitated by our partners at Century Villages at Cabrillo.
Later in the day, Maylia hosted our Games Club, which has become a favorite relaxed gathering space for neighbors. While the games were going on, Maylia also took the time to sort our weekly bread donation from Grounds Bakery & Cafe and organized the pantry as new food donation boxes were unloaded.
We also spent some time refining our Hub Huddle sheet. It might sound like a small administrative task, but it has been instrumental in clarifying volunteer roles and ensuring that everyone who walks into the Hub knows how they can contribute to the day’s flow.
Wednesday: Determined Connection
Wednesday returned to a quieter, more focused rhythm. It was a day of one-on-one connection. One of our neighbors came in for laundry services and to pick up some household items. She spent some time with us talking through a particularly stressful season she has been navigating. These are the moments that define the Hub. It isn’t just about the clean clothes; it is about having a space to exhale.
Two other neighbors stopped by for social visits and expressed interest in joining our ukulele club. Behind the scenes, the team was busy sorting donations and restocking the shelves with nonperishable food and pet food. We also received a produce delivery from Sowing Seeds of Change, which included beautiful bunches of curly kale and parsley.
Wednesday Word of the Day Journey: Determined → Accomplished
Thursday: HeARTy Foods and Five Dogs
Thursday was easily the busiest day of the week. Our HeARTy Foods Grocery Market is always a high energy event, and this week was no exception. We welcomed 49 guests in total, with 46 of them coming specifically for the food distribution.
The Hub was a hive of activity. Bread and baked goods were sorted and distributed alongside pantry staples. We are so grateful for the donations we received from Food Finders and Grow2Zero, which kept our shelves stocked for our neighbors. While the grocery market was in full swing, our art group met in the back room, proving that food for the body and food for the soul can happen in the same space.
One of the highlights of Thursday was the four-legged visitors. We had five dogs visit the Hub alongside their humans! Their presence always adds a layer of grounded, peaceful energy to even the most chaotic days.
Friday: Tacos and Rebuilding
Friday the 13th was anything but unlucky at the Hub. The day was lively, playful, and eventually settled into a calm energy. We hosted Free Lunch Friday, finally serving the taco plates that Ida had prepared earlier in the week. Our new volunteer, Reena, a student from the CSULB Gerontology Service Learning program, jumped right in to help distribute 28 meals to our neighbors.
The day included Coffee Hour and our End of the Week Processing Group, facilitated by Sarah. This group is a vital part of our trauma-informed support, allowing both staff and participants to reflect on the week’s challenges and successes.
One particularly meaningful moment this week reflected Sarah’s care and presence as she spent time sitting with a neighbor who is navigating a recent loss. Sarah listened, helped with laundry, and pulled together clothing and household essentials. This is the “HeART Bridge” in action: moving from a moment of loss toward a path of agency and support in collaboration with case managers and care teams.
Looking Ahead
As we look toward next week, the rhythm continues. We are preparing for the re-launch of Operation KickBack on Tuesday and the premieres of two new radio programs: The Lighthouse Journey on Monday and The Library with DJ Plaza on Tuesday.
This week reminded us that the Hub is a place where community spaces breathe. They hold tiredness, laughter, music, food, and stories all at once. And somehow, by the end of every week, they always seem to come back to life again. Thank you for being part of that breath.
