Faculty and families prepare more than 200 meals in annual outreach effort
March 24, 2026 — Early on a Saturday morning — when most kids were still sleeping in — ten faculty members from the UCSF Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, many accompanied by their children, gathered at Mission Hall on the UCSF Mission Bay campus. Their mission: assemble hundreds of lunches for some of San Francisco’s most vulnerable residents.
Working in an organized assembly line, the volunteers prepared and packaged more than 200 meals for delivery to GLIDE Memorial Church in the Tenderloin district — nearly double the 120 lunches the department had produced during last summer’s outreach. The growth reflects not just rising participation, but a deepening commitment to community engagement within the department.
“This program has been such a powerful way to connect our department to the broader San Francisco community,” said Melissa Zimel, MD, an orthopaedic oncologist who has supported Lunchmakers for the past five years.
Department Chair Dr. Benjamin Ma participates with faculty, families and youth volunteers during the 2026 Lunchmakers outreach event (left), while faculty and trainees, including Dr. Eliana Delgado, resident physician Dr. Anoop Gavilance, Dr. Kayla Williams, Dr. Coleen Sabatini and youth volunteers assemble lunches for distribution in San Francisco’s Tenderloin district (right). (Photo: UCSF Department of Orthopaedic Surgery)
The event was organized in partnership with The Lunchmakers, a local, youth-led initiative that coordinates schools, companies, and community groups to prepare meals for unhoused and underserved individuals throughout San Francisco. After packing the lunches at Mission Hall, volunteers delivered them to GLIDE for distribution.
For many participants, particularly the children in attendance, the morning offered a tangible lesson in service and civic responsibility.
“As a pediatric surgeon, I spend my days focused on helping kids thrive,” said Coleen Sabatini, MD, MPH, a longtime Lunchmakers supporter. “Volunteering alongside our own children reinforces the values of empathy and generosity that we hope they carry forward.”
Dr. Nicole Schroeder, at left, Dr. Erik Hansen, at right, and a team of volunteers prepare lunches for delivery to GLIDE Memorial Church in San Francisco’s Tenderloin district. (Photo: UCSF Department of Orthopaedic Surgery)
Department Chair C. Benjamin Ma, MD, who joined the event for the first time this year, emphasized the broader significance.
“Events like this make a meaningful difference in our community, but they also shape the next generation,” Dr. Ma said. “When our children see that small acts of service matter — and when they take part in them — those moments add up. Over time, they become habits that define who we are as individuals and as a department.”
“Restoring mobility is our day job,” Dr. Zimel added. “Feeding a community in need is our choice — a small act that reflects a larger commitment to the wellbeing of San Francisco’s most vulnerable.”
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