Serving others in need is our way of loving and serving God. Our service draws us into a deeper relationship with God and helps us grow to be more loving to all. We invite you to join us in this work.
Serve
Parishioner Guided Grants 2025
CARING FOR ONE ANOTHER AND OUR COMMUNITY
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. The Grants and our parishioners involvement with these organizations reflects our continued support for mercy and social justice.
- Starr King Office Supplies & Student Rewards Nominated by Mary Ellen Ferguson
- River City Food Bank Nominated by Eileen Thomas
- Arden Arcade Hart Nominated by Julie Linderman
- International Rescue Committee Nominated by Christina Manning
- PANC Exhibitor Nominated by Dancy Dobrenick
- Parkinson’s Arden Arcade Support Nominated by Kay Griffin and Marcie Larkey
- Sacramento Tree Foundation Nominated by Dancy Dobrenick
- Kairos Prison Ministry Int’l Nominated by John Quene
- Effie Yeaw Nature Center – ARNHA Nominated by Susan Davis
Serve in the Greater Community
We are delighted to offer opportunities for our members to love their neighbors and serve others.
Serve in the Church
We are delighted to offer opportunities for our members to serve in our worship. Additionally, our members have opportunites to care for each other.
Outreach to Our Neighbors
At St. Michael’s, our Mercy & Social Justice ministry connects members with several partner organizations to offer opportunities to serve those in need. Here is an idea of what do annually.
Winter 2026
Habitat for Humanity | Build for Unity
Build for Unity is a program that began in 2016 when Habitat for Humanity brought faith groups of different traditions together to work on houses for people of different faith traditions. St. Michael’s has participated since 2016 in this project. This year, 2025, we helped for three days, 30 slots, painting two house and building fences. We plan to have 30 slots open again this coming year. We would love for you to join us!
Carmichael HART | Winter Respite
Winter Respite is a program where St. Michael’s members are invited to go to a host church, Christ Congregational Church, and offer a warm breakfast, clean cots for rest, and a sack lunch for the day. This respite allows people without homes to have a break from the rain and cold during the winter months. This allows our members to reach out and serve those in need and an opportunity to get to know our neighbors.
Rise Against Hunger | February 28, 2026 | Johnstone Hall
We gathered last year on Saturday, March 29th to pack 10,000+ meals that were shipped overseas to help hungry children eat before they go to school so they can learn. This is a fun day to work together and serve others! This year, the meals went to the Phillipines. Our next Rise Against Hunger date is Saturday, February 28, 2026.
Spring 2025
Diaper Drive | Mother's Day through Father's Day
Every year, from Mother’s Day through Father’s Day, we ask that our members donate diapers to our diaper drive. We do this because several years ago, when we were doing community dinners at St. Matthew’s, we offered some diapers we received as a donation. The people in the community were very grateful for them. We realized that among the refugees, money was tight and diapers were expensive. We began this drive knowing that this was a wonderful way to love some of our most vulnerable neighbors.
Celebrate Mother’s Day and Father’s Day by giving the gift of clean diapers to new mothers and fathers who may not be able to afford to buy them for their children. All the diapers (and money) we collect go to River City Food Bank for distribution among their clients.
March (Easter Alms Giving)
Easter Gift Card Collection
During Lent, we collect money to buy gift cards that are distributed to guests at River City Food Bank and people from the community of the Center @ St. Matthew’s. When you give online, please use the Food Gift Card option on the drop down menu.
Summer 2025
Pentecost Season
June | St. Michael's Indoor Yard Sale
Every year, beginning in early June, St. Michael’s accepts donations for our yard sale. Members will gather to sort, price, and organize what is donated. After we close our last sale, the remaining items will be donated to the following organizations:
- American Cancer Society
- Family Promise
- Carmichael HART
- Disabled Veterans
- Floyd Elementary Clothes Closet
- Friends of the Library
- International Rescue Committee
- Lions Club Prison Project
- Loaves & Fishes
- Starr King K-8
- Thrift Store
- Homeless Effort, Clothing, Shoes, Blankets
- Transition Homeless House
All remaining children’s items, books, kitchen and household items, pairs of eyeglasses, clothing and backpacks are given to the above organizations to support their programs.
Starr King K-8 Backpack Project
St. Michael’s collects back packs and other school supplies for the children and teachers of Starr King K-8. We have given the teachers at the school sanitary wipes, tissues, and hand sanitizer. At St. Michael’s, we have many retired teachers and we know that if the classroom needs it, often the teachers themselves, will provide it! Thank you for supporting this wonderful program!
Fall 2025
September, October, November | Pentecost
Trunk or Treat | October 31st | Halloween Night
St. Michael’s decorates their cars and loads them up with candy to give to the many gremlins and ghosts who come to trick or treat in our parking lot, which creates a safe and fun evening for all!
Thanksgiving Gift Cards
We collect donations to buy gift cards that are distributed at the Center @ St. Matthew’s and at River City Food Bank. We give them out around Thanksgiving to give people a chance to add a little bit more to their Thanksgiving dinner.
Gifts from the Heart
We give over 120 people a beautiful Christmas with presents and a lovely stocking made with their names on it in glitter packed with things picked out specifically for each person. We partner with the county to serve these 120 people who are not forgotten at Christmas.
Projects we are proud of ...
Showing up to Serve Those in Need
HART Winter Respite
St. Michael’s’ members served our neighbors without homes three mornings in January and February at Christ Community Church in Carmichael offering respite from the cold and rain. Members cooked and served a hot breakfast, made lunches available for people to take with them, and created fellowship. There were cots available for people to rest out of the wet and cold.
We are grateful for Cindy Dewey for organizing our involvement in Winter Shelter and her team for providing care with grace to our neighbors in need.
Habitat for Humanity – Build for Unity
One again, St. Michael’s participated in Habitat for Humanity’s Build for Unity. Thank you Terry Bridges for organizing our participants. This year, along with other faith communities in the Sacramento Area, we helped paint two houses and put in fences. We filled 30 slots, contributing much to the Build for Unity in Sacramento.
2024 Mercy & Social Justice Parishioner Guided Grants
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.
- Starr King Staff Luncheon Nominated by Mary Ellen Ferguson
- Arden Arcade Hart Nominated by Julie Linderman
- International Rescue Committee Nominated by Christina Manning
- PANC Exhibitor Nominated by Dancy Dobrenick
- Parkinson’s Arden Arcade Support Nominated by Kay Griffin and Marcie Larkey
- River City Food Bank Nominated by Eileen Thomas
- Starr King Office Supplies & Student Rewards Nominated by Mary Ellen Ferguson
