Ten years ago, on their quiet walks through Martinez, Mark and his wife Jill carried something simple but special: sandwiches for anyone who was hungry.
That small act of kindness became a calling. Week after week, they returned, offering meals and conversation to people living without shelter. What started as a few sandwiches shared from the heart has grown into a ministry of compassion—one that now provides hundreds of nourishing meals every week across Contra Costa County.
It’s About Connection
Mark doesn’t just hand out food, he listens. He remembers names. He sees each person not for their hardship, but for their humanity.
“It’s not just about food,” Mark says. “It’s about connection—letting people know they’re not forgotten.”
For years, Mark relied on his own means—friends, churches, and faith—to keep his mission alive. Then came a turning point: a partnership with White Pony Express. With a steady stream of fresh, nutritious food, Mark’s outreach expanded dramatically. Now, more than 300 meals a week reach unhoused neighbors, seniors, and anyone in crisis.
Love That Keeps Moving
Mark’s compassion also extends to visiting seniors, comforting those in personal hardship, and carrying forward the legacy of his late wife, Jill—the heart behind his service.
Together, their spirit lives on in every meal shared and every smile restored. Mark embodies the essence of the White Pony Express mission: that love in action can transform lives, one meal at a time.
Stronger Together
Mark is an example of how ordinary people do extraordinary good. Because when food moves, love moves with it—and in Mark’s hands, love never stops moving.