Chance Meeting of Two Feeding San Diego Volunteers Leads to a Living Organ Donation That Saved Lives
It happened while they were gleaning green bell peppers together in February 2024. Two strangers, both with a shared purpose that day volunteering their time, were working side by side and got to talking.
Craig Holt, a 63-year-old Army veteran, happened to mention that he needed a kidney to Meredithe Mainquist, who has over 1,300 volunteer hours logged with Feeding San Diego. She surprised herself by saying, “If I’m a match, you can have mine.” And just like that, a not-so-simple request for an organ donation was then fulfilled with a simple answer. For Craig, that interaction was life-changing and lifesaving. After the food distribution ended, Craig got in his car and cried.
“For her to help me with this is unbelievable,” he shares. “It’s just still unbelievable that somebody would give this to you.”
Craig (left) and Meredithe (right) volunteer together
This Changes Everything
Craig had endured four years of three times-per-week dialysis infusions for his failing kidneys. He also had to fight prostate cancer and be in remission before being able to be added to the National Kidney Registry. But the time was finally right, and he had Meredithe’s offer, thanks to their chance meeting while volunteering with Feeding San Diego.
Later that year, after a long medical journey, Craig received a much-needed kidney transplant after Meredithe donated hers. While Craig did not end up getting Meredithe’s kidney because there was a better match, Meredithe’s generosity put him at the top of the list so that he could indeed get a kidney, and her kidney went to another person in Virginia.
“Craig had been on dialysis for four years when we met,” Meredithe shares, “They said he could be on the list 10, 15, 20 years. It was just a natural choice. Here’s someone who was giving back to their community. I want to keep Craig giving back to the community.”
Craig, his wife Barbara (right), and Meredithe on the day Craig was released from the hospital after his transplant.
Donating Makes the World Go Round
April is both National Donate Life Month and National Volunteer Month, and Meredithe and Craig’s story is a beautiful example of the impact both volunteering and living donation can have in a community. Whether you donate your time to a local nonprofit like Feeding San Diego or an organ to someone in need, these actions make significant positive change possible.
The shortage of donor organs is a problem of large magnitude, with more than 103,000 Americans currently on active waiting lists, according to the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS). The kidney is the organ most in need, with more than 89,000 people on the waiting list as of September 2024. As many as 17 people die nationally each day waiting for an organ transplant.
Fate has a way of working when you least expect it. Meredithe didn’t usually volunteer at the Produce Pantry at Grossmont College, held on the fourth Friday of every month for about 200 households, but woke up that day with nothing to do and decided to go. Her selfless act is just one incredible story in the legacy of Feeding San Diego’s outstanding volunteers, who show up for Feeding San Diego and each other day in and day out.
“I’m one of the lucky ones – I’ve known people who have spent 15 years on dialysis,” Craig said. “Without Meredithe, I would still be preparing for dialysis treatments today – this is such a tremendous gift she has given me.”
