Skip to main content

Starr King K-8
Shaping Futures Together

Starr King K-8 is our community elementary school.  Over 65% of the children come from immigrant and refugee families.  It is a school that is filled with challenges and opportunities.  Within just a few years, St. Michael’s started our own school, believing in the power of education.  This belief is in our DNA, which is why we are so passionate about our relationship with Starr King K-8.

Together we made a difference in the lives of the 5th graders at Starr King.  We delivered hygiene products to be given to the students after the completion of their hygiene unit.  Thank you all for your generosity!

This was another way St. Michael’s reaches out to Starr King K-8 as partners in trying to help the students become members of society that feel supported by their community. In the past, we gave Starr King K-8 an ice-machine for the staff to put ice on the many cuts and bumps that occur in normal outside activities.  In January of 2023, the faculty and staff hosted a Winter Wonderland for the students and their families.  St. Michael’s supplied breakfast and members went to volunteer at the event.  In the summer, we will once again have a collection for items that the students need to be successful when they return to school.

Taking care of the teachers at Starr King K-8 is important to St. Michael’s. Two years ago, we supported the teachers and staff with lunch the last day before winter break.  It was a big thank you from the greater community to those that shepherd the children through early education.  We are planning to do something similar for the teachers this spring.

Thank you Sue Davis, Mary Ellen Ferguson and Mercy and Social Justice for your leadership in this partnership.  It is appreciated greatly by both Starr King K-8 and St. Michael’s.

Build for Unity

From January 2016- June 2017 in Sacramento, St. Michael’s was involved with various Christian, Muslim, Buddhist, Jewish, Sikh, and other interfaith communities who came together to fund and build Habitat homes as a permanent representation of unity within our community.  These homes were made possible through the generosity of 180 different faith communities and individuals who raised the needed resources for the seed funding for the homes and worked side by side to build the homes as a symbol of unity.  St. Michael’s was one of these partners.

Since the pilot Sacramento Build for Unity Project, over 30 cities across the US have started their own Build for Unity projects in their own communities.

This year, Build for Unity – Interfaith Build 2023 was February 1st – February 5th.  St. Michael’s had people working Wednesday February 1, Friday February 3 and Saturday February 4. We filled 28 volunteer spots under the leadership of Dancy Dobrenick.

2023 Habitat for Humanity:  Build for Unity Faith Week

Photos from the event and recap.

2022 Habitat for Humanity: Build for Unity Faith Week
Photos from the event can be viewed hereHere is a recap.

Thank you Dancy Dobrenick for your leadership and dedication to the ministry of Mercy & Social Justice and this opportunity.
Habitat for Humanity Greater Sacramento

Habitat Volunteer Opportunities and Upcoming Projects

Habitat for Humanity building bigger impact than ever before. Check out these exciting upcoming projects and ways to get involved!

Mandolin Estates Development is in its final stages with 8 homes complete and 5 more under construction to be completed this fall. Click here to create an account on VolunteerHub and register for the upcoming HabiTour to volunteer on the final phases.

Rock the Block Bryte/Broderick is taking place on October 13-14 and will bring together hundreds of volunteers to complete multiple neighborhood-uplifting projects. Visit HabitatGreaterSac.org/RockBryteBroderick to get involved.  May 5-6, we had four members attend the Rock the Block/Oak Park.  

Veteran Home Repair Program, last year Habitat completed 72 home repairs and received over 50 applications from Veterans in need of home repairs. For more info please click here or contact Kathy Severson at KSeverson@HabitatGreaterSac.org

River City Food Bank

Last year, River City Food Bank fed 90,000 more people than they did the year before.  90,000 increase!  And because of this, they need more volunteers than ever.  It would be so appreciated if you can prep at the early shift or be on a team to distribute.

  • Prep at Midtown 8:30 to 10:30 Tuesdays and Thursdays and 10am – 1pm Mondays.
  • Distribution at Midtown 10:30am to 1:30pm Tuesdays and Thursdays.
  • Prep at The Center at St. Matthew’s Tuesdays & Thursdays 9am to 12pm, 12pm to 3pm, Wednesdays & Fridays 8:30 to 10:30am, 10am to 2pm.
  • Distribution at The Center at St. Matthew’s (Arden) 10:30am to 1:30pm Wednesdays and Fridays.

Interested in getting involved?

If you have problems signing up, you can call the church office 916.488.3550 for assistance with the volunteer sign up.

As longtime community partners with River City Food Bank, St. Michael’s people actively support their operations with monthly donations of money, our home grown produce and volunteering at the RCFB site at the Center at St. Matthew’s.  If those days don’t work for you, RCFB has other opportunities to serve at their midtown site as well.

Sign up

Rise Against Hunger

We want to thank EVERYONE who participated in the Rise Against Hunger event in March.  We packed over 15,000 meals in 2 hours.  Yahoo!  It was such a fun event and one that most can participate in.  We had elementary school age children working side-by-side with 95 year olds.  Please join us in 2024.

Rise Against Hunger enables churches and organizations to gather large (or small) groups people to pack meals that are then shipped out to hungry people around the globe.  Their mission focus is to send meals to schools who serve hungry children so they can better focus on learning.

This is an opportunity to reach out globally to those in need.  We believe all humans are interconnected because God created all of us, therefore making us all children of God.  Even though the majority of our outreach work is done locally, we offer this specific opportunity once a year to help those who are hungry around the world.  We are especially grateful to Sr. Tina Francesca Ferriot and Mercy & Social Justice for their leadership.

Episcopal Relief & Development

(ERD) is an Episcopal organization that was created from the Presiding Bishop’s fund years ago to offer aid in disaster around the world and help developing countries care for their people.  ERD works in places that they are assured our aid will not be diverted from its intent.

ERD is one of the few places that I know of that has the channels to assist the humanitarian effort in Türkiye (Turkey) and Syria.  Please give what you can to the relief effort.  The situation is dire!

Support Episcopal Relief & Development in providing humanitarian aid in response to the crisis in Ukraine. By donating to the Ukraine Crisis Response Fund, you will help meet critical needs for people fleeing the violence including food, cash, blankets and hygiene supplies.

PDF for mailing checks attached HERE.

Additional Links and sites for providing assistance and/or getting involved to help those in Ukraine.

@RazomForUkraine and Center for International Disaster Information.

Carmichael HART

is a coalition of faith communities, non-profits, businesses, agencies, and individuals, who are committed to finding solutions to homelessness in our local communities. On-going Volunteer

Here are some opportunities available for you to get engaged in this work.

Thursday Meal Prep/Delivery  – Every Thursday volunteers are needed to make and/or deliver lunches to the unhoused neighbors.

Saturday Shower Ministry – Every Saturday are needed from 9am – 1pm as Shower Attendants.

Carmichael Hart Programs have great opportunities for members to get involved locally, especially in homeless issues in Carmichael. Contact the office with questions. 

Shower sign upMeal sign up

Arden Arcade Carmichael Faith Communities

You are invited to volunteer at God’s Helping Hands Laundry Days3rd Saturdays of every month.  Volunteers assist people with their laundry.  Helping Hands provide the soap and quarters, along with any help if needed.  Coffee and Treats are also provided.  For more information and to volunteer contact Julie Linderman .

Arden Arcade Carmichael Faith Communities, a consortium of volunteers from more than a dozen area churches. Volunteers meet each month to review the needs of the community, calendar free meals and find ways to lock arms in order to provide more help for the needy than they could each provide on their own.

God's Helping Hands Laundry Days

God's Helping Hands Laundry Days - Re-started Saturday June 18th

We are back in business after a 2 year COVID hiatus. God’s Helping Hands Laundry Days will again be the 3rd Saturday of every month at Launderland, 3100 Fulton Ave. (North of Marconi Ave.) from 9-11AM (last loads in by 11AM).

From 2013-2020, St. Michael’s parishioner, Mary Groesbeck led this wonderful program. Going forward, St. Michael’s will share leadership with Sierra Vista Community Church (Tom Tortora) to help our neighbors who do not have access or means to launder their clothing and other essentials.

Volunteers are needed to assist guests by handling the money (quarters to run the machines, laundry detergent, etc.) Most importantly, our volunteers help to provide a positive Community Environment of supporting our neighbors to meet basic needs. By sharing leadership, St. Michael’s will be able to share operations responsibility in alternate months throughout the year. The dates for St. Michael’s service are:

6/18/22, 8/20/22, 10/15/22, and 12/17/22.  We need at least 3 volunteers (8:45-11:30AM) for each of these Saturdays; with more volunteers we can have 2 teams so that volunteer hours can be as little as 1.5 hours.

The car wash on Memorial Day was very successful in raising funds for Laundry Days to be re-started. As in years past, ongoing donations will be needed to keep it going. A donations jar will again be on the ushers table at the back of the church.

St. Michael’s Grant Partners

Mercy and Social Justice Grants

St. Michael’s Mercy and Social Justice Committee partners with the Fundraising Committee to determine who will receive funds that we raise at our annual fundraisers.  There is an easy grant application, we do not want to burden the recipients with a long grant application that takes away time from direct services.  The one stipulation we make is that we want all our grants to be parishioner guided.  In other words, the grant application is filled out by a parishioner on behalf of an organization they are involved in.  This year the Vestry added to the grant money already designated and we were able to give $20,000 worth of grants out to the following organizations:

2023 Grant Recipients

Congratulations to the nominators and recipients. Through these grants, St. Michael’s shows that we love our neighbors and respect the dignity of every human being.

  1. Women’s Empowerment Nominated by Mary Ellen Ferguson
  2. The Center at St. Matthew’s Nominated by Mary Ellen Ferguson
  3. St. John’s Program for Real Change Nominated by Esta Wiederanders
  4. International Rescue Committee Nominated by Christina Manning
  5. Golden Valley Quilt Nominated by Jane Samuelson
  6. Sac Blankets / Sac Kids Nominated by Jan Bowdler
  7. Mission at St. Matthews Nominated by Julie Linderman
  8. Carmichael HART Winter Services “Winter Respite Days” Nominated by Julie Linderman
  9. River City Food Bank Nominated by Eileen Thomas
  10. PANC Exhibitor Nominated by Dancy Dobrenick
  11. PANC Respite Care Nominated by Kay Griffin and Marcie Larkey
  12. American River Parkway Education Nominated by Jim Sargent
  13. Loaves & Fishes Nominated by Jim Dodds
  14. Blessings in a Backpack Nominated by Renee Pierce

If you are involved in an organization that “loves” our neighbors, please let us know about it by completing a Mercy & Social Justice Organization Recommendation. They may be our next “partner” in doing the work of Jesus in the world.

2022 Grant Recipients

Congratulations to the nominators and recipients, who all are an important part of the ways St. Michael’s reaches out to our neighbors in need.

  • River City Food Bank Nominated by Eileen Thomas
  • International Rescue Committee Nominated by Christina Manning
  • Carmichael HART Winter Services “Winter Respite Days” Nominated by Julie Linderman
  • The Center at St. Matthew’s Nominated by Tammy Murray
  • Women’s Empowerment– Job readiness program for women Nominated by Mary Ellen Ferguson
  • Community Against Sexual Harm (CASH) Nominated by: Dianne Robbins
  • Kairos Prison Ministry CSP-SAV Nominated by John Quené
  • St. John’s Program for Real Change Nominated by Esta Wiederanders

If you are involved in an organization that “loves” our neighbors, please let us know about it by completing a Mercy & Social Justice Organization Recommendation. They may be our next “partner” in doing the work of Jesus in the world.

2021 Grant Recipients

  • Auntie Betty’s Books — Children’s book distribution program.
  • River City Food Bank — Food and other operation necessities.
  • Golden Valley Quilt Guild — Quilt batting for homemade giveaway quilts.
  • Sacramento Loaves and Fishes — Weekday meal program food.  
  • International Rescue Committee — “Soft Landing Emergency Fund” for housing.
  • Carmichael HART Winter Services — “Winter Respite Days” supplies and food.
  • Habitat for Humanity — Supplies/team of 20 for 2022 Mandolin Estates Project.
  • The Center at St. Matthew’s — Renovation of office and school classrooms.
  • St. John’s program for Real Change — Supplies for shelter and training classes.

2020 Grant Recipients

2019 Grant Recipients

2018 Grant Recipients

Additionally, we were able to use fundraising money for the following urgent requests:

  • N95 Masks for wildfire relief in July and November 2018
  • Sponsorship of Parkinsons
  • Conference September 2018