Serving the Community We Call Home

“Through love, serve one another.” – Galatians 5:13

At St. Vincent Meals on Wheels, we believe that strong communities are built through service — through people who show up for their neighbors with care, compassion, and purpose. Few embody that spirit more than Salvador “Sal” Ramirez.

The son of proud farm-working parents, Sal learned early the meaning of hard work and gratitude. After serving our country as a U.S. Marine — including in Desert Shield and Desert Storm — he carried that same dedication into civilian life, dedicating himself to strengthening the communities of Los Angeles County.

When the pandemic hit, Sal didn’t wait for others to take action. He organized food and resource distributions that supported families across the San Gabriel Valley and beyond — an effort that earned him national recognition as a Hunger Hero from No Kid Hungry.

At the same time, St. Vincent Meals on Wheels responded similarly—without hesitation, expanding routes and services overnight to make sure no senior went hungry or felt forgotten. Both Sal and SVMOW faced a moment of crisis with the same conviction: when people are hungry, you feed them.

Today, as a leader with The Kroger Family of Companies—including Ralphs, Food4Less, and FoodsCo—Sal continues that mission by connecting business and community service.

“At Ralphs and Food4Less,” Sal says, “we’re proud to partner with St. Vincent Meals on Wheels, serving the same communities we call home and helping provide nutritious meals to those who need them most.”

We deeply appreciate Sal’s example — a reminder that when compassion guides our actions, everyone benefits.

Thanks to partners like him — and supporters like you — we continue to prepare and deliver food and love to hungry and homebound seniors across Los Angeles County.