Indio — The founders of Riverside County’s largest provider of homeless services have stepped down, leaving a legacy they hope will continue to thrive through the support of the community.
Claudia Castorena and Gloria Gomez’s last day with Martha’s Village & Kitchen was Thursday, also the nonprofit agency’s 20th anniversary.
The two were honored during a celebration at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church in Indio — where they originally met and started the agency — with a special Mass featuring Father Joe Carroll, president of Martha’s Village & Kitchen.
Bishop Gerald R. Barnes of the Diocese of San Bernardino, who was scheduled to lead the Mass but was delayed because of the weather, concluded the Mass with a blessing joined by more than 50 people.
Among those attending were Riverside County Supervisor John J. Benoit, Indio Mayor Pro Tem Ben Godfrey, Councilman Glenn Miller and Palm Desert Councilwoman Jean Benson.
“It’s an honor an d I am humbled to have reached this milestone,” Castorena told the crowd. “It’s been such a wonderful experience.”
Gomez said they’ve been mulling over the decision to move on for more than a year now.
“We’ve been praying for a long time to find out what God wants us to do,” Gomez said. “And we think God is calling us to move on to something else.”
What that something is, however, they do not know.
“We know that we still want to serve the poor and the needy of the Coachella Valley. That’s very clear to us,” Gomez said. “The how, we don’t know.”
To help find their next calling, the two plan to travel to a convent in Columbia next week where they plan to stay for one month.
“There’s sadness, but there’s no disappointment because these women have done so much,” Barnes said during the post-Mass meal in the parish hall where Gomez and Castorena served their first Martha’s Village meal.
“I guess I’m kind of anxious and hopeful to hear of the ideas that they’ll come back with after they finish their time of prayer — because if they came up with this idea back then and now they have all this experience and all these contacts: Wow. I’m hopeful that they’ll have another way to address the most needy,” Barnes said.
Currently, John Wolohan, executive director and vice president of programs, will take the helm with the board of directors to oversee more than 80 staff members.
Wolohan has been in charge of the agency’s programs — from educational and meal programs to the medical clinic — for nearly three years.
“Naturally, we’re going to miss Gloria and Claudia very much, but I won’t stop the work. … They wouldn’t want us to stop the work and they’ve let me know that I better keep it going,” he said, laughing.
“We are very at peace with our decision at this point,” Gomez said. “We’re got a group of people that will make sure our mission continues to move forward.”
Mariecar Mendoza
The Desert Sun
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