Benicia High School graduates Jeff Foster and Sara Gallagher began visiting children at the Travel Inn in Vallejo last June. Today, they see a dozen or more familiar faces each weekend as they, along with fellow “Saturdays at the Travel Inn” volunteers who have since joined their efforts, visit and play with the kids on a regular basis. This Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., the group will hold a meet-and-greet event on the property to show interested residents what they’re all about.
“It’s a supportive and fun day,” Gallagher said. “People can meet the kids and see what it’s like to be with them, to understand if this is something they would like to do.”
Volunteers meet Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the rear portion of the lot, where they are able to make use of a basketball hoop and picnic tables.
“There’s a gazebo area that needs upgrading,” Gallagher said. “A contractor has volunteered to upgrade it as soon as he has an opening in his work schedule.”
Thanks to the group’s efforts last week to spread the news about their project through social and print media, including the Benicia Herald, which ran an article about the program last Sunday (“Saturdays at the Travel Inn: A Call to Action,” Dec. 6), the group had raised about $700 by Monday, Dec. 12 through its GoFundMe page.
“One woman came immediately to help,” Gallgher said. “She got the shoe and shirt sizes for all 14 kids and that same day, she put together gift bags full of shoes, coats and gifts for them.”
Gallagher says she and Foster would love to expand the program beyond Saturdays. For example, there might be someone who could be available weekday afternoons to help tutor some of the kids. Volunteers can sign up to be available on a drop-in basis, or to come weekly or even monthly to help out.
“Every little bit helps. We’d love to evolve to new programs, based on the skills and availability of our volunteers.”
Find out more about Saturdays at the Travel Inn on the group’s GoFundMe page at gofundme.com/ saturdaysatthetravelinn, or attend the meet-and-greet event Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at 160 Lincoln Rd. East, Vallejo.

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