Mercy & Social Justice

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 here & Here is a recap.

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

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, Wednesdays, and Thursdays, Mondays 10am to 1pm.
• Distribution at Midtown 10am to 2pm Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays.
• Prep at The Center at St. Matthew’s Thursday 9am to noon, noon to 3pm, Fridays and Saturdays 8:30 to 10:30am.
• Distribution at The Center at St. Matthew’s Fridays and Saturdays 10am to 2pm.

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.

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.

(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.

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 Julie Linderman for more information.

Charlotte House, Carmichael HART’s transitional house for women, is operating at capacity and currently is seeking female mentors. Being a mentor doesn’t require any special education, certifications, or experience. It does require compassion, commitment, and 1-2 hours per week. If you’re interested or would like to know more, please contact our mentor coordinator:
Joan Evans, 916-837-0353, evanslcsw@sbcglobal.net.   

What is a mentor? A mentor is someone who:

• • is a guide.
  • is sometimes a lifeline.
  • is a person who listens.
  • is someone who helps reduce the anxiety of being overwhelmed.
  • is an interpreter who takes something complex and breaks it down and assists in getting things done.
  • is someone who helps with accountability.

You are invited to volunteer at God’s Helping Hands Laundry Days – 3rd 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.