More Than a Meal: How One Student Turned Breakfast into a Community Volunteer Program

June 23, 2026

We sat down with Courtney Wang, a recent graduate of Marin Academy and founder of the weekly pancake breakfast program at 33 Gough, which has since expanded to Rohnert Park. From cooking on the griddle as residents gathered in the courtyard, to forming lasting friendships with the people she served, to recruiting and training the next generation of student leaders to carry the program forward, Courtney turned a single volunteer shift into a lasting community tradition. In this interview, she shares what first drew her to the work, what she learned from the residents she met, and why she was so determined to build something that would outlast her.

DignityMoves: What drew you to volunteering at 33 Gough, and what made you want to start something more structured around it?

CW: I originally got introduced to volunteering at 33 Gough through my sister, who did a project there her senior year. I vividly remember the first time stepping into the location. It was a different environment than what I was used to. The first thing I did there was help set up curtains for the residents. Originally, I was nervous to interact with people who came from such different backgrounds than me. After seeing their immense gratitude, it really changed my mindset. It made me want to make a genuine difference in their lives. That’s what led me to reach out to Elizabeth and ultimately create the program we have today.

Student volunteers serve a pancake breakfast to residents at 33 Gough Street in San Francisco.

DignityMoves: What did those early mornings look like, and is there a moment that has stayed with you?

CW: Sunday mornings became something I really looked forward to. Normally, most teenagers dread not being able to sleep in on the weekends, but the impact of seeing the residents more than made up for that. Each morning, a group of volunteers and I would make the trek into the city to start cooking breakfast. I loved to see how, as the weeks progressed, it became more and more seamless.

Residents started to anticipate our arrival and wait out by the courtyard to get the first pancakes off the griddle. As time went by, what really made this program so enjoyable was the relationships that formed between the volunteers and the residents. The first resident I became close with was Bossay. She loved our program and would always come by to chat. It was truly incredible to see how she stabilized living in the DignityMoves community and ultimately secured her own apartment. What really sticks with me from this program is the relationships I have formed.

DignityMoves: What did you learn about residents at 33 Gough that you didn’t expect?

CW: Coming into 33 Gough, I really didn’t know what to expect. Of course, there are always negative stereotypes associated with individuals experiencing homelessness, and I wasn’t sure how they would react to our program. I think what surprised me the most was how genuinely appreciative they were not just of the food we provided them but of us as people. They constantly asked me how my family was doing and whether I had won my volleyball tournament the previous weekend. I was fascinated to see how much they valued not just the food we provided them but us as people.

DignityMoves: The pancake breakfast has become a weekly tradition at 33 Gough and Rohnert Park. What is it about that particular format — a shared meal, student volunteers, a weekend morning — that works?

CW: This program is so successful because it is so much more than just a means. It is about the relationships and community that one meal can create. One aspect of the program that is really important to its success is that the volunteers are students. Giving the residents the opportunity to interact with teenagers who view the world through a different lens and are so genuine is a wonderful experience. Additionally, the fact that the program is run entirely by high school students makes it even more meaningful. These are kids who are choosing to take hours out of their day to spend time with the residents.

While the impact on the residents is incredible, what often gets forgotten is how life-changing this experience is for the volunteers. This program stands out for being hands-on, and it allows for kids to genuinely make a difference. Even more, this program is so educational, especially because of where the volunteers come from. Marin is a bubble. Everyone knows that. But this program gives the volunteers the opportunity to talk to the residents. It allows kids to understand what they have been through. That is what makes this program so unique. As much as we help the residents, they truly help us become better people as well.

Weekly pancake breakfast tradition at 33 Gough Street in San Francisco.

DignityMoves: Many volunteer programs fade when the person who started them moves on. You made a deliberate effort to build new leadership so this one wouldn’t. What drove that decision, and what did it take to make it happen?

CW: I ensured this program would continue beyond my engagement because of how important it is for the residents. The amount of gratitude they give off continues to blow me away. They give us [volunteers] cards, art, and gifts solely out of their own generosity. I would never want something that is so meaningful for them to go away. This is the highlight of their week.

That is why I was so deliberate in transitioning this program into new leadership. As my senior year began, I was lucky enough to find an incredible group of students who were passionate, driven, and wanted to make a difference, just like I did. Honestly, they made it easy for me. They truly love the program and work hard to continue to improve it. I couldn’t have asked for a better group of people to take over for me. What I love about this program is that it should be never-ending. We are constantly recruiting new volunteers, and each year new leaders are able to step in.

DignityMoves: What would you want the students now leading this program to know going in?

CW: This program is what you make it. If you want to do the bare minimum and just volunteer for your college resume or to get community service hours, that’s fine, but it’s reflected in the impact you make. What’s so cool about this program is that the sky is truly the limit. There is so much of a difference you can make, and if you want to, you can change lives.

DignityMoves: What do you take with you from this experience as you head into the next chapter?

CW: This experience has taught me so much about the importance of human connection. In a world where everything is so materialistic, every Sunday I am reminded of what truly matters. The relationships I have built with the residents have meant so much more to me than I would have ever imagined. Although I won’t be able to see them every Sunday like I used to, their impact on me will not be forgotten.

Even more, the residents constantly surprise me. Some of them are talented artists, singers, and more. They taught me that you can never judge a book by its cover. While they can all be grouped under the label of “homeless,” there is so much more to each of them as individuals. This is a lesson that I will never forget, as all of them have genuinely changed my life.

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Thank you to Courtney Wang for her dedication to the volunteer program and for sitting down with us for this conversation.