Thank you for your continued support which allows us to be the hands and feet of Jesus. We pray for God’s will in this ministry to reach the vulnerable within the community. Matthew Barnett, Director of the Los Angeles Dream Center, recently summarized the needs of the homeless and which organizations are best suited to bring about change.
Those facing homelessness need more than just housing to build an independent lifestyle and thrive. They need community. They need mentors and friends. They need the genuine love and support that we all need when challenges come our way. In short, they need to be treated like human beings.
Churches and other faith-based organizations are often well-equipped to provide the type of nurturing environment that focuses on restoring whole beings. When organizations like these work hand-in-hand with the other agencies, the root causes of what leads to sustained homelessness are better uncovered so the pain and trauma that leads victims into a downward spiral can be addressed.
At Grace in Action, we provide that nurturing environment by continuing to serve hearty lunches in a welcoming atmosphere of conversation and relationship building. We offer bicycle repairs; provide laundry vouchers, haircuts, and bus passes; serve communion; and invite guests to the prayer corner. We also collaborate with community organizations and government agencies to assist our guests.
Your contributions help Grace in Action meet the needs of people we serve. Please consider a donation by sending a check to our address listed in the sidebar, or you may scan one of the following QR codes. The first will take you to our Big Day of Giving Edge, and the second will take you to our PayPal site.
Thank you again for your time and support.
Sincerely,
Edward Johnson
Executive Director
Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. (Matthew 11:28)
Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Matthew 11:28
Grace in Action is a Christ-centered community ministry equipping the churches to serve homeless individuals and those of low income by providing compassionate care, spiritual companionship, daytime respite, and referrals to local agencies. Building relationships in order to serve the most vulnerable individuals in Yolo County is always at the forefront of our activities. Grace in Action is uniquely positioned to bridge the gap between our community of giving and local agency programs.
During 2023, Grace in Action returned to full indoor lunch service at two locations. On Mondays, lunch is served in the Fellowship Hall at United Methodist Church. On Wednesdays, lunch is served in the Fellowship Hall at Pole Line Baptist Church. At both churches, volunteers brew coffee, set out juice and water to drink, and fill the serving table with sandwiches, soup or salad, chips, fruit, dessert, cheese sticks, and other items that are offered on different days. The soups and salads are donated and prepared by our amazing volunteer Patti Miller. In addition, Patti brings chips, juice, and desserts along with special meals for those on restricted diets.
In addition to serving hearty lunches, our guests are offered on-site haircuts twice a month at United Methodist Church. Communion is offered most Wednesdays at Pole Line Baptist Church. Both sites offer prayer time at the dedicated Prayer Corner. John Castlefranco offers Bible Study sessions on many Mondays. Guests may obtain laundry vouchers and bus passes during the lunch hour. Bike repairs are also offered. Representatives from Legal Services of Northern California counsel guests once a month.
2023 was the 20th Anniversary Celebration of the formation of Grace in Action as a non-profit. The ministry was founded by Cindy Burger when she began giving water, sandwiches, and new socks out of the trunk of her car. United Methodist Church and University Covenant Church started welcoming guests indoors and the ministry grew from there. The 20th year celebration was held at United Methodist Church on October 7th. Board members provided brunch foods including quiche, breakfast breads, croissants, muffins, coffee, tea, juice and a delicious celebration cake. Nugget Market provided a large fresh fruit tray. Our weekly guests and our donors along with friends of the ministry were all invited. The participants enjoyed hearing several speakers share about their experiences with Grace in Acton. The highlight was hearing from all four directors of Grace in Action including founder Cindy Burger.
Steve Smith, Mary Lou Rossetto, Cindy Burger, Edward JohnsonBoard of Directors/staff-Edward Johnson, Lorell Hardaker, Rita Mt. Joy, Sue Ann Finley, Patti Miller, Nick Bua, Ann Marie McNulty. Not pictured Cindy Cherry
Three memorial celebrations were held in 2023 for Edward Whisler, David Peralta, and David Breaux at the Grace in Action Memorial Garden in the Grace Garden at United Methodist Church. The new memorial bricks were painted by volunteer artist Kristen Higgins. Kristen also refurbished many of the memorial bricks in the Memorial Garden. Volunteer David Mojica repainted the chairs and tables in the area and the Grace Garden crew extended the pathway.
At Christmas Pole Line Baptist Church donated Taco Bell gift cards for the gift bags. Grace in Action included hats, gloves, and hand-warmers in the gift bags. On many Saturdays in the fall, Grace in Action had an information table at the Davis Farmer’s Market which Patti Miller and Edward Johnson set-up and monitored with the help of some of our regular guests. Church service visitations were started in November with University Covenant Church. More visits will continue in 2024
137 unique individuals were registered with Grace in Action in 2023. During the year, more than 2260 lunches were served. Usually there were more guests at Pole Line Baptist church with an average of 24 guests although on many days over 30 guests were served. At United Methodist Church an average of 21 guests were served each day. The lunches were provided by volunteer lunch providers from several churches along with what Patti Miller donated. There were usually three or more volunteers at each site for 2 ½ hours each day. A minimum of 765 volunteer hours were donated just at the sites but many more hours are given through the haircut volunteer, lunch providers, transportation volunteers, Bible study and Communion leaders, etc.
During the 2023 fiscal year, Grace in Action received a $1000 grant from Soroptimist International Davis for our Direct Services portion of the budget. Yolo Federal Credit Union contributed $500 towards the Direct Services portion of the budget. Renova Solar gave 100 solar battery chargers to our program. A private donor gave a generous donation to buy gift cards for the Davis Police Department to use when encountering people on the street in need of services. Grace in Action participated in the Big Day of Giving for the first time in May 2023 and received $2605.36 in donations. Additional income sources were: churches gave $17,028.56, individual donors gave $35,058.16, plus our grant and miscellaneous funds from interest, etc. Total income for the 2023 fiscal year was $55,865.62.
Expenses during the year included $14,978.99 for Direct Services including emergency housing, guest supplies, food, health related issues, transportation (bus passes etc.), and laundry vouchers, bike repairs, and haircuts. Operational expenses totaled $5,580.62 for liability insurance, office and publicity needs, telephone, Quickbooks, advertising, etc. Personnel Expenses totaled $39,219.96. Total expenses for the 2023 fiscal year were $59,779.57. Our reserves were used to cover the shortfall of $3,913.95. Board Members included Nick Bua, President, Lorell Hardaker Vice President, Sue Ann Finley/Scott Heald Secretaries, Rita Mt. Joy Treasurer, Ann Marie McNulty, Patti Miller, and Cindy Cherry. Audrey Haverstock provided part-time bookkeeping services and Edward Johnson served as Executive Director.
In this fall season, Grace in Action continues to be the hands and feet of Jesus as we serve those without shelter or basic needs. Your giving allows us to continue our work as we tackle the issues associated with homelessness.
The reality is that in a broken world with broken systems, we continue to see more broken people coming forward. The silver lining is that God is faithful and never disappoints. He shows up time and time again. My hope is that God will continue to allow us to steward abounding love, grace, and guidance pointing back to Him.
Since returning to full services after the pandemic, we have served more than 100 individual guests, and new people continue to come. We are finding that our time and resources are requiring more funds than ever before. I will be honest—we need volunteers and donations. Do you know of other churches or organizations that would be willing to donate to this ministry? Grace in Action would greatly appreciate your help. The truth is that we need your gifts in this season
Grace in Action seeks to be God’s vessel of change in how people view themselves as we serve lunches made each month by our amazing lunch providers, assist with parts for bike repairs, give vouchers for clothing and laundry, provide haircuts and hygiene kits, offer bus passes, and participate in community partnerships for larger items like car repairs or emergency housing. Most importantly, we continue to offer conversation, community, and an opportunity for prayer, Bible study, and communion for each guest who wishes to participate.
Grace in Action is supported by amazing volunteers, individual donors, and several local churches. We participate in the Big Day of Giving (Giving Edge) and also accept donations through Pay Pal and of course through our local post office. Our PO address is Grace in Action, PO Box 4393, Davis CA 95617. Our Pay Pal and Giving Edge connection is listed in the How to Help section of the website.
We pray for God’s will in this ministry to reach the vulnerable within our community. We greatly appreciate your help with this mission God has put before us.
Grace in Action continues to work with people and partners to bridge the gap for all the issues associated with homelessness that have led our guests to our doorstep. Through continued collaborative effort and prayer, our guests make progress with life skills and true introspection of the spirit. That change is accomplished through God’s abounding love, grace, and guidance that points back to Him.
I believe change doesn’t happen without relationships. Relationships do not happen without engagement and mentorship. Engagement and mentorship do not happen without a willingness to share as well as to be reflective. Grace in Action seeks to be God’s vessel of change in how people view themselves as we serve lunches, give vouchers, provide haircuts and other services, and offer conversation and prayer to each guest. As Executive Director, part of my time is spent working with other non-profits and government agencies to secure needed services for our guests who are ready to improve their current situations. Recently a guest I had a relationship with during the winter shelter of 2022 stopped in to let me know that he had changed his life habits, is finding work, and he has recommitted his life to God’s will. Grace in Action played a large part in his journey back from homelessness and his previous life style choices, and he wanted to share his story to encourage our other guests.
Grace in Action is God’s ministry supported by amazing volunteers, individual donors, and several local churches. We need your additional financial help to continue to provide services for our guests. Your monthly and yearly gifts are vital. A new giving opportunity is coming up May 4th, when Grace in Action will be participating in the Big Day of Giving 2023 sponsored by the Sacramento Region Community Foundation (https://www.bigdayofgiving.org/donate/Grace-In-Action-2 ) It’s an annual 24-hour giving challenge for local non-profits. If Grace in Action is an organization that you feel inclined to support, we would greatly appreciate your help to continue the ministry God has put before us. Thank you again for your time and support.
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.
First, I want to say God is faithful. No matter the season, and no matter how things look in the natural realm, He is always at work. To everyone who contributed prayers, time, money, and resource development during this past winter season, thank you so much!
As you are probably aware, Grace in Action teamed with the St. Vincent de Paul Society and the City of Davis this past winter to provide housing for the most vulnerable of our unhoused neighbors. Considering the impromptu nature of this private and public collaboration to develop a feasible winter shelter model for 2021-2022, I feel that our combined efforts were a success. As a collective team, I believe we touched many more people than we originally anticipated, thanks to God’s grace and compassion in stretching us to accommodate the increased volume of calls for help. Some individuals found subsidized housing; some obtained medical detox and drug rehabilitation; some found employment; one found respite from domestic violence; and yet another found respite and a fresh start after a fire consumed her home.
The winter shelter season allowed us to forge stronger relationships with partners such as the police department, and its homeless outreach team; St. Vincent de Paul; CommuniCare and the Davis Respite Center; and Davis Community Meals and Housing-just to name a few. We have enjoyed the privilege of partnering with Grace Garden, which donated fruits and veggies during the winter season to our guests (and continues to share the summer harvest). We, in turn, have partnered with other organizations and volunteers to further distribute the surplus. These are just a few examples of God’s opening up avenues so we can continue to work to be a good partner within the community.
My prayer continues to be asking the Lord how Grace in Action can encourage the entire community to partner with us in advocating for the area’s unhoused, low-income, and vulnerable while continuing to provide our regular services. As one guests said, “Grace in Action is like an oasis we can count on to always be there.” We continue to serve lunch on Mondays at Davis United Methodist Church and on Wednesdays at Pole Line Baptist Church. Our faithful volunteers provide a hearty bag lunch of sandwiches and other items that the guests can enjoy while sitting outside, conversing with each other and the volunteers. We also continue to provide bus tickets, laundry vouchers, haircuts, clothing vouchers, hygiene items and much more. Our populations has numerous challenges from trauma; mental health and physical health impairments; substance abuse issues; skill deficits, including vocation skills; and lack of friendship and mentorship.
We take our mission seriously and we’re blessed that we could use our reserve resources, plus community-wide contributions, to provide funding and case management for the Winter Shelter Program. Now we need to rebuild our financial foundation so we can be ready for whatever God calls Grace in Action to do next. Whatever you can contribute in the form of money, time, or resource development will be greatly appreciated as we work with our partners to provide services to those without shelter and basic needs. Thank you for your continued support and prayers!
Comments Off on From Edward Johnson, Our New Executive Director
Hello Friends,
Thank you for your support of this ministry that makes it possible to serve this vulnerable population and to demonstrate God’s love in pursuit of our mission. I am excited to be a part of Grace In Action and to collaborate with you all. A little about me- I am the proud parent of a 13 year-old son, Ethan; and I love doing touristy things and taking day trips.
Edward planning lunches with Patti, our volunteer
My favorite verses as an initial new believer were Proverbs 3:5-8 (ESV):
Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make straight your paths. Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and turn away from evil. It will be healing to your flesh and refreshment to your bones.
These verses always serve to remind me that Christ is the center. And to truly experience, understand, and express love – we have to be connected to the One who first showed us love.
This is where I believe Grace In Action has such an ability to be impactful in a force-multiplying way that a social service agency may not – because we have the ability to point an individual to the One who truly can transform and change. Those in fellowship understand the impact of His grace, mercy, and love because we are recipients of it. And because of it, we want to share with those who may not know… or may need reminding… that God is always good in every season.
How we fill that gap within Yolo County and work with our collaborating partners is something I am excited to be exploring with you all. I am not interested in transforming Grace In Action into something that is divergent from its established identity or mission. I look to strengthen our local partnerships and work with you all to find innovative ways to deeper connect with this community to express God’s grace and love – however and wherever we can. Thank you for all your support and I look forward to an exciting season together!
Comments Off on December 2021 – Welcome our New Director Edward Johnson
Dear Friends,
As we enter the season of Advent in anticipation of Christmas, we want to thank you for your support of our ministry at Grace in Action. Throughout the pandemic, we have continued our twice weekly meals as a platform for outreach to homeless and low income people in Davis. In addition, we have partnered with a number of local and county services to assist people in need.
We are particularly grateful to Davis United Methodist Church and Pole Line Baptist Church who have allowed us to use their parking lots to stage our informal gatherings and lunch handouts. In addition, our volunteers and food preparers have made commitments to help us offer this consistent presence of welcome and hospitality.
In approaching Christmas, many of us look forward to hearing the story of the birth of Jesus from the Gospels of Matthew and Luke. The Gospel of Matthew begins with Jesus’ nativity and ends with the risen Jesus’ assertion of his ongoing presence.
“Remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:20)
Our work at Grace in Action is an effort to express that assertion of Divine presence. Just as we believe the image of God can be seen in the lives of people in need, we also hope that acts of kindness and generosity will allow people in need to sense that God is with them. We thank you for having supported our work in the past. We also ask that you consider doing so this Season. We are fortunate to live and work in a community that tries hard to care for those on life’s margins. We take our role seriously as partners in that web of caring. We get involved with our time and resources to help people with a range of challenges. You make that possible, and we are privileged to show your love and caring.
At this turning of the seasons, we say farewell to Steve Smith, our Executive Director for the past five years, and welcome Edward Johnson as our new Executive Director. Edward comes to us highly recommended by those with whom he has worked in the past. He has extensive experience in social services management and advocacy which we believe will be valuable in helping our guests navigate the various agencies and programs which can provide assistance.
We hope and pray that those you bless will sense the One from whom all blessings flow, our true Companion.
May the blessings of Advent and Christmas be with you.
I’m writing to you on behalf of our volunteers and board members to express our thanks for your continued support of our outreach ministry to homeless and low-income people in our community.
We are grateful that during the COVID pandemic we have been able to hold twice-weekly outdoor lunches through the hospitality of Davis United Methodist Church and Pole Line Baptist Church.
We are thankful to these congregations for their continued support of our work, and we look forward to the day when our hospitality can be extended through their indoor facilities.
During these difficult days a number of churches and individuals have regularly provided sandwiches and other lunch items that we in turn share with our guests. We are privileged to share your generous gifts with those who trust that when they approach us, they will be fed. Those who come where we gather also know they can speak openly about life’s challenges. We continue to hear our guests speak with gratitude for the Spirit in which we relate to them. We offer words of encouragement, challenge and at times caution. We try to do so without judgement or criticism. Especially during the COVID pandemic, we try to show God’s Grace in our actions.
In these beautiful springtime days and weeks that constitute the season of Easter, when Christians focus on the experience of new life, we try to minister in ways that enhance people’s sense of worth and dignity. This is often, but consistently, done in small ways. People can count on us to see that they have access to bus rides and bicycle repair, masks and hand sanitizer, toiletries and laundry service, clean socks and overnight provisions when they lack them. When they have legal or thorny personal issues too, we are experienced listeners with an awareness of good references and connections to access help.
In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus is recorded as having touted the merits of kindnesses as seemingly insignificant as a cup of cold water given in the name of a disciple. (Matthew 10:42) In most of what we do, the names of the disciples are not uttered aloud. But when we are privileged to do such things, we think of you and the One we serve together as his disciples in these difficult days.
I recently attended an online church fellowship gathering. One person expressed a desire to sit in a familiar eating establishment. She desired to enjoy the food that had been prepared in that longed for setting, rather than having to take it home as a COVID precaution. I get it. But at today’s Grace in Action luncheon, I was struck by the stream of people arriving on foot and by bicycle, for whom we are presently that familiar outdoor establishment, a place of welcome, sharing and generous hospitality.
Thank you for being our partners in ministry during these trying times. May you experience the blessing of renewed life and hope as you have generously extended it to others.
As we enter the Holiday Season, I am writing to thank you for your support of our ministry. I also ask that you consider a year end gift in support of our work at Grace in Action.
During the Covid-19 pandemic, Grace in Action continues to provide twice weekly meals for people without enough to eat. We thank Pole Line Road Baptist Church and Davis United Methodist Church for allowing us to use their parking lots for those socially distanced meal distributions.
In addition to food, we also offer bus transportation for people to reach important medical and social services support. We offer clothing and access to laundry services for those who lack such essential things. We provide used bicycles and bicycle repair through our partnership with Davis Bike Collective. As the weather gets colder, we are particularly attuned to those who lack lodging. We advocate for a clean and hygienic approach when people must sleep outside. We provide sleeping bags and rain gear when we see that it is appropriate.
In addition to addressing people’s physical needs for food, warmth, clothing and transportation, we are a spiritually based relational ministry. We know people by name and are familiar with their life stories and current circumstances. Our volunteers don’t work miracles, but they make a difference. They pray with people and offer continued encouragement.
In writing to you, I want to thank you for the ministry you make possible. The volunteers and board members who do the work of Grace in Action are grateful to you. You provide monetary and prayerful support that we try to turn into tangible acts of kindness toward people who feel marginalized. Many of those to whom we minister are consistent in their expressions of gratitude. In asking for your continued support, I want to pass those grateful sentiments to you.
There is a story in the Gospel of Luke in which Jesus heals ten people who were suffering from leprosy. He tells them to go and show themselves to the priests who also served as public health officers. Those officials had the authority to restore them to normal life in contrast to the continued state of quarantine that limited their lives. On the way to see the priests, the ten lepers were healed. One turned back to thank Jesus. He was a Samaritan, a social outsider, who suffered the additional stigma and isolation of disease. His gratitude endeared him to Jesus.
In this unusual and challenging time, it is easy to feel we are not up to the business of Thanksgiving. But just a few days ago, one of our regular guests thanked me for the atmosphere of hospitality, kindness and friendship that Grace in Action offers. His words are distinctly appreciative. He is the one in ten who wants to make clear that he understands whose love has touched him. Many others understand as well, even if they are more understated.
