Volunteer Spotlight: Carol

Carol has been working with Family Promise-Sacramento since December 2006, when she completed her first monthly volunteer calendar. Just before that, while attending a meeting at Sierra Health Foundation, she was approached by Don Fado, her pastor at St. Mark’s United Methodist Church. He asked her if she would be interested in organizing a volunteer calendar for workers at the Day Center. She replied, “Yes,” and has been doing it ever since. She wants to recognize the 5 volunteers from that original schedule who are still working with Family Promise: Don Fado, Joyce Estes, Connie Koppes, Jacquie Taber, and Nancy Oprsal.

Prior to her retirement, Carol worked as a school nurse in San Juan Unified School District before becoming Health Director for Head Start in Sacramento County. These positions gave her an inside look at the plight of homeless families. She holds our current director, Marsha Spell, in high regard and admires her passion, creativity, and ability to immediately assist families with shelter and food. She also admires Robin Moore, director of Safe Harbor, where most of our families are currently housed.

Sacramento Homelessness Links

I'm looking around for topics to post, and am just noting here some of the local resources I've come across.

Sacramento Steps Forward - "SSF is the lead agency for Sacramento Continuum of Care (CoC), which is the regional planning body that coordinates housing and services for homeless families and individuals in Sacramento."

City of Sacramento - City's efforts to address homelessness.

Sacramento Regional Coalition to End Homelessness - YIMBY: Yes In My Back Yard!

Office of Mayor Darrell Steinberg - Mayor's Office of Civic Engagement: Housing & Homelessness

Sacramento Homeless Union - Local chapter of National Union of the Homeless. "We are a 100% grassroots, community-funded, humanitarian group committed to providing equipment, clothing, and supplies to folks living on the streets in Sacramento, California."

Sacramento Homeless Organizing Committee - "... mission is to amplify the voice of the homeless and low income community to accomplish economic and social justice."

Cottage Housing Inc. - "Cottage Housing, Inc. provides housing and services to those experiencing the crippling effects of homelessness and who are in desperate need of shelter and stability."

Sacramento Self Help Housing - "We help people who are homeless, in crisis, or have special needs to find stable, affordable housing. We have numerous programs for this purpose that includes permanent supportive housing, transitional housing, financial education, tenant-landlord helpline, housing counseling, and community development."

Homeless Court - Sacramento District Attorney. "With the support of the Sacramento Superior Court and the District Attorney, the Public Defender’s Office started a monthly legal clinic at Loaves and Fishes."

Volunteer Spotlight: Geri

Geri Beck is currently Family Promise of Sacramento's Congregation Coordinator, organizing meetings, coordinating activities, and communicating information to and from the enthusiastic group of 25 congregations supporting our mission. She is a member of the Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints congregation.

Geri joined the Family Promise ministry about 10 years ago when she was volunteering at Mustard Seed School. She ran an errand across the parking lot from the Family Promise Day Center, which was then in the Loaves and Fishes complex. It was her first exposure to Family Promise, and she was so impressed that she wanted to know more about the organization, so she visited one of the congregations that was currently housing families. She helped serve dinner and visited with the families, and she said she felt a strong spiritual impression that this was what she was supposed to be doing.

Geri says that she volunteers with Family Promise because of her love of families and seeing the success of the program making a difference in the lives of those we serve. In addition to leading the Host Coordinator group, Geri has spent nights on-site with the families and currently answers phones at the Day Center. She spent many hours making sure our internet-streamed fundraiser dinner in 2021 was a true success.

We want to thank Geri for all she continues to do to help ensure that the Family Promise Program reaches as many needy families as possible.