Running the Miles for the Castro Country Club

Hello!

This year, a group of us are running in the San Francisco Marathon to help raise funds for the Castro Country Club, a place that has impacted most of our runners in a substantial way. This is our way of giving back what it has done to provide for us.

What is the Castro Country Club (CCC)? That sounds very exclusive.

Despite the name, it's actually a very inclusive space that is located in the Castro neighborhood. Here's some additional information about it from their site :

"Since first opening its doors in April 1983, the mission of the Castro Country Club has been to serve as a clean and sober gathering place for all people and to be a home for the queer recovery community. Bars have historically served as a place of shelter from the prejudices and secrecy many LGBTQ people were forced to endure. For many people for whom alcohol and drug use have become a problem, there was a need for a place in the Castro to socialize and support one another. The Castro Country Club was formed to meet the needs of this community.

As a safe space where all can seek wisdom, serenity, courage, and joy, the Castro Country Club has become a haven for many sober LGBTQ folks and our allies in San Francisco, a welcome refuge for those new to recovery, and a place often frequented by visitors to San Francisco in search of a recovery meeting. The Club is open 365 days a year and features a welcoming casual environment, a spacious back patio, and a full-service coffee shop proudly serving Peet’s coffee and teas, and other beverages and food."

That sounds wonderful! Are there other programs too they provide to assist the community?

Great question! Yes, they do! Outside of providing a meeting space for different recovery groups, the CCC sponsors a softball team, and hosts monthly and periodic events including drag and talent shows, holiday gatherings, and rafting trips and other recreational activities. The Club is also available to and frequently used by patrons for parties, weddings, and other celebrations. Plus, not only is the café operated and maintained by volunteer baristas, many more Castro Country Club volunteers contribute to community improvement projects by participating in CCC We Care as well as support community events such as Folsom Street Events, AIDS Walk, SF Pride, and the Castro Street Fair.

Who are those baristas behind the counter and how is this benefiting all these volunteers?

Oh, yes, these folks are part of a roster of volunteers working at the CCC. The Castro Country Club café is operated and maintained by over 50 volunteers. Volunteering at the Club provides an opportunity to strengthen one’s recovery through service to others – an integral component of many recovery programs. For many people whose lives have been impacted by addiction, volunteering can be instrumental in the preparation for returning to work.

Recognizing this, the Castro Country Club established a formal Job Training and Skills Building (JTSB) program in partnership with PRC (formerly Positive Resource Center) in 2016. Eligible volunteers who elect to enroll in this program receive education, training, and supportive services to aid in finding and maintaining employment, or to further prepare themselves by enrolling in school. The JTSB program is designed to utilize the Club’s full-service coffee shop to develop participants’ job-related skills and attributes in a structured environment that is empathetic and supervised. In addition to the practical job-related duties performed on-site, enrollees in the program have the opportunity to participate in employment counseling, interviewing and resume writing, computer skills training, and are introduced to additional resources and support services.

Wow, what an impressive space! But why would you want to risk putting your bodies through an extremely long run for this place?

That's a valid question! Many of our runners in this group have each benefited from being associated with the CCC in several different ways, whether as being a volunteer barista, attending some of the meetings offered here, or having a safe space to engage with other people in recovery. It has been a powerful experience to have a space where not only can we feel safe in recovery but with being part of the LGBTQI+ community. With what this space has provided for us, we wanted to give back in any way we could.

Since it happened that there were a number of strong runners amongst us, we figured it would work out that we would sign up for the San Francisco Marathon. Due to its several delays and cancellations, we wanted to leap on the chance to participate in this event and use our talents to help a cause that means a lot for us. For photos of us running in the streets , training to make a decent time, you can scroll below.

What an attractive bunch of runners! Do you have a deadline or goal you're trying to reach?

Yes! The San Francisco Marathon is set to happen on September 18, 2021, so we're aiming to at least reach $5000 as a goal by then. As you can see, we're already in the midst of training for the event, so when we hit the finish line, we'll not only feel accomplished for managing to make the distance, but also to contribute to the CCC.