Celebrating De La Salle Service at Monument Crisis Center

When Monument Crisis Center opened its doors in August 2003, De La Salle students were among the very first volunteers. These early Spartans helped with client intake and donation solicitations, working out of a small office and a humble food pantry closet. Their dedication laid the foundation for what Monument Crisis Center (MCC) is today, a place of hope and support for over 15,000 families across the East Bay.

Over the years, MCC has grown far beyond its emergency food pantry roots. Today, the center offers programs for seniors, adult education, and youth initiatives, including tutoring. According to MCC Executive Director Danny Scherer, De La Salle Class of ’06, the after-school tutoring program, started in 2004, is a direct result of the dedication of volunteers from De La Salle and Carondelet. For the young students, these weekly connections provide more than academic support. They show that someone genuinely cares, cheering them on and rooting for their success. Many of these bonds deepened through summer programs where De La Salle graduates returned as interns, carrying the spirit of mentorship forward. Individual teachers, like Terry Eidson, have further extended this care by ensuring every student in the tutoring program receives a Christmas gift, making each act of service both practical and deeply personal.

De La Salle students have also lent their energy to the center’s growth. When MCC moved to its permanent home at 1990 Market Street, the DLS football team rolled up their sleeves, helping pack and move. This is another example of service that has been vital to the center’s ability to meet the community’s needs.

In early 2025, De La Salle’s junior class shifted its annual day of service from Saint Anthony’s in San Francisco to Monument Crisis Center. Now, through events like the fall cereal drive and the spring Charity Challenge, every DLS student has the chance to see firsthand the impact of their contributions. As junior religion teacher Lindy Sullivan celebrates, every student will walk through MCC as a volunteer, continuing a partnership that has flourished for over 20 years.

From the first volunteers to the present day, the De La Salle community has played an essential role in building hope, supporting families, and changing lives at Monument Crisis Center. And as this long-standing partnership continues, there’s no doubt that even more lives will be touched in the years to come.