Meals on Wheels Shines at the San Leandro Cherry Festival!

On June 7th, our Meals on Wheels team—staff, volunteers, community supporters, and their families—came together to table and march in the San Leandro Cherry Festival parade, spreading joy and raising awareness about our mission.

The San Leandro Cherry Festival has been a beloved community tradition since 1909, celebrating the city's agricultural roots when it was known as the "Cherry City" for its thriving orchards. Originally organized by local growers to promote San Leandro's cherry harvest, the festival grew into an annual parade and street fair featuring carnival rides, live music, and cherry-themed treats. While urban development replaced most orchards in the mid-20th century, the festival endured as a tribute to the city's heritage. It remains a highlight of summer, drawing thousands to Downtown San Leandro for family fun and hometown pride.

Before the parade kicked off, we were honored to have Mayor Gonzalez stop by to show his support, snapping photos with our enthusiastic team. Decked out in fun cherry hats that connected at the top, our group was impossible to miss!

Leading the charge was SOS staff driver Antonette, who got the crowd pumped with energetic call-and-response chants: “Meals on Wheels!” and “More than a meal!” and sometimes, “…and cherries too!” As we marched, we were proud to hear the shouts of several spectators who cheered us on, with comments like: “My parents are on Meals on Wheels!” and “They do such great work!”

One of the biggest crowd-pleasers? Our Ops Manager David’s dog, Olive, dressed as a chef and riding in the passenger seat—adorable and unforgettable!

A huge thank you to everyone who made this event special, including our booth staff (Aurora, Nini, Kathy, Jenna, Regina, Cynthia, and Kim O) and parade marchers (Ian, David, Charlie, Antonette, Kathy—who brought her dad—Alex, Kim O, two drivers, a meal packer, and our Board Trustee, Pcyeta). It was a fantastic day of community, connection, and cherries—we can’t wait for next year!