One of the San Jose Location’s most venerable and esteemed Dames, Louise Zarka, was honored by a local soup kitchen, Martha’s Kitchen, one of the Western Association's Partner Charities. Two members of the Martha's Kitchen Board, including Bill Lee, an Auxiliary Member of the Western Association and the Executive Director of Martha's Kitchen, gave Louise Zarka the award for her steadfast and loyal service to Martha's Kitchen for the last 15 years.
Two nights a week, every week, for 15 years, Louise led a team of Order of Malta members at Martha's Kitchen that feeds a nutritious, restaurant-style dinner to more than 200 of San Jose’s poorest brothers and sisters. She captained the local team of members during this entire period, starting this ministry at age 80 years young.
She worked tirelessly up until the pandemic forced her to discontinue her face-to-face volunteering due to the shelter-in-place rules. She has been an inspiration to all San Jose members, and a shining example of the Order's charisms to witness the faith and to serve the poor and the sick for the entire Western Association. At 96 years old, Louise is extremely active and continues to work to uphold human dignity and to care for people in need.