Dear Friends of Grace in Action,
In every season, I am reminded that God is always faithful! Each year, He provides us amazing volunteers to do His work. In this season, I am reminded of the importance of compassion and connection. As Executive Director I connect daily with other service agencies to provide our guests with transportation, referrals, and basic needs. Each Monday and Wednesday, our compassionate volunteers offer friendship, listening ears, and prayers, along with a nutritious lunch. Our ministry could not continue without the prayers and financial support we receive from our individual supporters and Davis churches.
People need to feel connected and valued in order to take advantage of services offered to them. Through our lunch program we try to form relationships with guests in order to provide more targeted case management. This year we were blessed to help with dental needs, car and bike repairs, gas money, transportation to out-of-town relatives, and the provision of short-term respite, such as a motel room for a night. At our lunch distribution sites we are able to provide local bus passes, new socks, and vouchers for a laundromat and a clothing store. In addition, haircuts are offered the 2nd and 4th Mondays of each month, and a legal aid representative comes each month. Recently, Pastor Eric Dirksen began serving Communion to the guests at the Wednesday lunch.
I want to share a story that illustrates the community networking and case management that Grace in Action provides. The story is about a guest I’ll call Mr. D. Together with the city of Davis and Saint Vincent de Paul, GIA sheltered him from Dec 2021 to May 2022. Grace in Action then found him the congregate housing where he currently resides. We connected him with Meals on Wheels and In-Home Supportive Services. We maintain contact with Mr. D and provide transition services, such as transportation to grocery stores, laundromats, and medical appointments. Mr. D is actively pondering his faith, while also trying to quit smoking. God is working on his penitent heart. This is where God works—sharing a meal, going grocery shopping, doing laundry, and sharing Christian friendship.
More people than ever are dealing with homelessness or a lack of resources to purchase even the most basic supplies. Serving this population is more than a matter of resource allocation. Grace in Action engages these individuals and truly connects in ways that make a difference in their lives. We are hoping big, praying big, and now asking big. Your contributions to Grace in Action will help us to further connect with these individuals. Our financial resources have been stretched this year with the increased needs of our guests, plus the additional services we provided last winter for the shelter program. We would also like to connect with additional volunteers who would like to serve low-income and homeless people through Grace In Action.
Thank you for your continued prayers and support.
Sincerely,
Edward Johnson, Executive Director