So far, Dexter and the community have raised over $60,000

ATASCADERO — On Tuesday, Jan. 7, Rosemary Dexter celebrated 100 years on the planet. This year, for her birthday, Dexter decided that she was going to ask the community to join her in raising $100,000 for ALF Food Pantry, which her late husband, Reverand Rollin Dexter, helped launch in 1984.

“I felt like I wanted to give back to the community rather than get anything for my 100th,” Rosemary told Atascadero News. “Nobody needs anything at 100. It was just a privilege to be able to find something that I can really put my heart into, and since my husband was instrumental in getting it (ALF) started way back in the ’80s, it was just an idea I had, and I thought it would be a really helpful thing for them to have a boost to get a better, bigger place.” 

By the time Rosemary’s birthday hit, the community had raised $34,000, and just like she had promised, Rosemary matched the first $30,000 donated by the community for a grand total of $64,000 on that day. Rosemary herselfpresented representatives from ALF with a ginormous check made for her amount, with donations still coming in as Rosemary wants to keep the fundraiser going until her goal is reached.

“We were thrilled to learn that Rosemary was benefitting ALF Food Pantry as part of her 100th birthday,” said Linda Albright of ALF Food Pantry. “She and her family have been volunteers with ALF since its inception in 1984 — but this is beyond anything anyone has done before.” 

ALF Food Pantry started out as Atascadero Loaves and Fishes, which is still a legal entity, but Albright commented that having the words “food pantry” as part of the name they’re working under clarifies ALF’s mission to feed hungry community members.

“Even if we had not been the recipient of her time and generosity, it was moving to see the still-vibrant Rosemary with her friends and family,” Albright added.  “Some of the many arts and crafts that she’s created over the years were also displayed, introducing me to another side of her life. And there was cake.”

Rosemary’s birthday party took place at Oakview Village Independent Senior Living, and the community showed up to celebrate her vibrant life and everything she’s done for Atascadero. All five of her grown children were there, as well asAtascadero’s new Mayor Charles Bourbeau.

“I commented at the celebration how here’s somebody turning 100 years old and still thinking of how they could serve the community, and that just encapsulates the volunteer spirit that is so evident in Atascadero and how great things get done because of volunteers and community spirit,” said Bourbeau about attending Rosemary’s party at the end of the City Council meeting on Tuesday, Jan. 14. 

Before COVID hit, Rosemary could be seen at ALF volunteering, including by greating clients at the organization’s front desk, in her 90s. Since she has stepped away from being an in-person volunteer, but she still manages to be a part of the ALF family by doing things like her birthday fundraiser.  

“Our mother has always looked outside herself to see where she might make a positive impact in the world around her.She had been mentioning her desire to put some of the extra funds she has to a good use in this community where she’s lived for over 40 years. Since she has a history with ALF, being with our dad, Rev. Rollin Dexter, when Loaves and Fishes was first established, and then volunteering for years afterward, she thought ALF might be the right fit for a major donation,” stated Rosemary’s daughter Sally Dexter-Smith. “Providing nutritious groceries to food insecure residents of this community fit Mom’s giving spirit. She understands that the need continues to grow, and ALF needs a larger facility to safely and efficiently manage the tons of food that are transferred to its clients. So this thought grew into her big idea of a $100,000 fundraiser for her 100th birthday. It wasn’t surprising to us that she wanted to make this kind of gesture. Because it’s the way she’s always lived. She’s our role model, and we love her.”

For more information on how to donate to ALF in Rosemary’s honor, go to alffoodpantry.org, and scroll to the bottom of the page.

Featured Image: Rosemary Dexter (right) gives a $30,000 check to ALF Food Pantry representatives at her 100th birthday. Photo by Rick Evans