We Know The Way in San Jose

The San Jose Order of Malta van was the second van to take to the road after Los Angeles. It’s first assignment in April 2021, still in the midst of the pandemic, was to bring food to the vulnerable elderly who could not get to the food banks. The van picked up groceries, meat, and vegetables and delivered them right to their door. San Jose members of the Order van also delivered to the homes of families with school-aged children backpacks containing school supplies and gift cards.

Today, the van’s mission is primarily to serve the poor and homeless of San Jose and Gilroy.  Order of Malta members drive the van to homeless encampments to provide hygiene kits assembled by Order of Malta families. “The homeless have come to trust us,” said Mary Ellen Genovese, “In addition to the hygiene kits, we also provide sandwiches, jackets, gloves, and beanies during the cold winter months. We’ve even built relationships with many of the homeless and have helped them seek counseling.”