Hidden Gems: Meet Bobby Delancellotti of Estero Bay Kindness Coalition

Today we’d like to introduce you to Bobby Delancellotti.

Hi Bobby, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story. 
Estero Bay Kindness Coalition started in December 2017 when I met with the principal at Del Mar Elementary School in Morro Bay, CA, to ask how I could serve the most vulnerable students during the holidays. The principal connected me with 10 families. For each family, I bought a fun gift, a practical gift, and a $100.00 gift card to a local supermarket. That January, in a letter the principal sent thanking me for the positive impact the gifts had, she informed him that 64% of Del Mar students were living at or below the poverty line. That broke my heart. I decided to do something about it–and the Kindness Coalition was born.  

Today, the Kindness Coalition consists of 3 programs, 90+ volunteers, and 2 food pantries. It’s partnered with 8 schools, 41 for-profits, 18 nonprofits, and 10 churches.  

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back, would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
No, it hasn’t been smooth, but the struggles are what got us here. I was working for Life Water International, a nonprofit working to bring clean water to underdeveloped communities around the world. I was driving and flying a lot, and the travel took a toll on my body. I ended up in debilitating pain, which led to multiple back surgeries, which led me to step down from my job. I was unemployed, in my 60s, and had no idea what was next. For about 6 months, I worked at a bar, drove for Uber, and did what I could to get by. This was one of the hardest times of my life. At a crossroad, unsure of where life would lead. I was going to a small church that rented a space from Del Mar Elementary in Morro Bay, CA, and that’s when I got the idea to ask the principal how I could help the under-served students at her school. I wanted to be of service to my community while I had the time, being that I was unemployed. I organized Adopt A Family, providing 10 families with gifts during the holidays.  

I was inspired by a friend who started a program in Southern California feeding kids on the weekends who relied on their school’s Reduced/Hot Lunch to eat during the week and were at risk of going hungry. I began doing that very thing at Del Mar Elementary and named it Got Your Back. Through this program, we (a group of volunteers and I) provided backpacks full of healthy meals and snacks to give to food-insecure kids on Fridays to ensure no child went to bed hungry. The program was so successful we started partnering with other schools, and the Kindness Coalition came to life. We became a 501c3 nonprofit organization, created a food delivery program, a free clothing store for kids, and opened 2 food pantries. 6 years later, we’re feeding around 850 people in the greater Estero Bay community each and every week.  

No, it hasn’t been easy, but without the struggle, without being humbled and brought to my knees, I wouldn’t be where I am today. Through the struggle, innovation, creativity, and inspiration shaped who and where I am today.  

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
The Kindness Coalition is a nonprofit organization feeding and clothing under-served school kids and their families on California’s Central Coast. We have 2 food programs, a cost-free clothing store for kids, and an annual holiday gift program.  

We’re currently delivering 3 bags of groceries to the doorsteps of 202 food-insecure families with our program, Bags of Love. With an average family size of 4, that’s around 808 community members benefiting each and every week. We’re partnered with local farmers and food producers to ensure the food we deliver is of the highest quality possible.  

With Got Your Back, we provide 100+ students with backpacks full of food each Friday to ensure they get enough nutrition when they aren’t on campus. The kids who are a part of this program rely on Reduced/Hot Lunch at school to eat during the week and are at risk of going hungry on the weekends.  

We have a cost-free clothing store, Sunshine and Seed, where under-resourced kids can shop for new and gently used shoes and clothing items by appointment for free! We only accept seasonal, new, and/or quality used items so kids can feel good about how they look–bringing dignity and hope to their precious lives.  

Our annual holiday program, Adopt A Family, provides gifts during Christmas for the kids and their families in our community who need it most. Each kid receives a fun gift, a practical gift, and their parents get a $100 gift card to a local grocery store.  

What sets us apart from other nonprofits is that we are partnered with several businesses and non-profits in our community, bringing the community together to spread kindness. We have over 90+ volunteers and draw people from all walks of life who want to give back in a meaningful, practical way.  

We strive to feed kids and families with the same foods we’d want to feed our own families. We provide local, organic produce, Cal Poly eggs, Stonehill Ranch grass-fed beef, beans, rice, pasta, healthy snacks, and more. We also deliver whole turkeys for Thanksgiving and ham for Christmas.  

Are there any important lessons you’ve learned that you can share with us?
The most important lesson along the way has been to trust the process. There are currently more hungry people in our community than we’re able to feed. With the increase in the cost of food, cost of living, and an unstable workforce, we have new families referred to us each week. We never turn a family away, which means we have to fundraise around $20,000 a month to stay above water. It’s a challenge to coordinate and organize 90+ volunteers, 2 food pantries, and 4 programs with only 2 full-time staff members. But we’re growing every year and getting more efficient and more capable. We just had our 6th year anniversary, and without trust, without believing in our mission and moving forward every day, we would have sunk years ago. Trusting the process is a constant challenge, but one that has never let me down and continues to teach me how to be in a world of uncertainly. 

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.esterobaykindnesscoalition.org/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/esterobaykindness/?hl=en
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bobby.delancellotti.9/