A few words
About Us
History
We began Sisters Working For Christ, because we too were once homeless.
In 2008 my husband and I found ourselves without a home, a business and a life style we were used to. My husband and I were Custom Home Builders in the greater Sacramento area. I was running a 501c3 business called Xaviar’s Rescue, Inc. I was a rescue for small dogs. Mainly dachshunds. I was pulling from over 35 shelters in California. Courts gave me dogs that were taken from the owners and waiting trial for abuse. I did my adoptions at a local Petco and had 14 of the best volunteers you could ask for.
June of 2008 we lost everything; Our home, our truck, and our self-esteem. We were 60 years old and starting life over. Our youngest daughter invited us to come to Texas, as my husband could not find a job. Within two weeks we found an apartment and him a job at Lowes. He was making what he did when he was 20 years old.
San Antonio also has a large homeless community and it would break my heart to see them begging for whatever they could get. That fall I started crocheting afghans and collecting hygiene items. The day after Thanksgiving I took my two granddaughters to look for the homeless. San Antonio also is strict on the areas they can work in. Finally we stopped at a fire station to ask where they were. They gave us a area on the other side of San Antonio. On the way there I say a Hispanic lady pushing a cart and I told my husband to stop. I jumped out and got the blanket and the hygiene bag and approached her. I do not speak Spanish and she didn’t speak English. She was shorter then me, about the same age and very very dirty. I tried to give her the blanket and she refused. In our attempt to communicate she explained it was too pretty and she sleeps on the ground. She finally accepted the hygiene bag and I hugged her and said God Bless You.
When I got back to the car my oldest granddaughter said Grandma you hugged her, she’s so dirty. Well that hit a nerve and I told her she was one of God’s children just like she was and sometimes these people have no other choice but to live like this. We proceeded to the Salvation Army Home for battered women and children with the rest of my goodies. My husband could not go in, but they allowed my two granddaughters and myself to take a tour of that facility.
What an eyeopener. Mother’s with their children sharing one bed who left with nothing but the clothes on their backs huddled there not knowing what tomorrow would bring. We saw the community showers and the large room they shared their meals. My granddaughters were very quiet during the tour. I gave the shelter the other 9 blankets and hygiene items and decided I was going to do something more for these women and their children. That was the start of Sister’s In Christ.
That Christmas we got together Christmas presents, stockings, and some slightly used clothes and went back to the shelter and gave everything to them. At Easter, we made Easter Baskets.
This is how the journey began for Sisters Working For Christ.
Sisters Working For Christ Grows
After 10 years in San Antonio, Texas and my youngest daughter passed away, we came back to California where we were born We came to live with our oldest daughter and her husband and soon searched for a Baptist Church. After what seemed like driving for ever we found a small Baptist Church in Rio Linda. After awhile we approached the Pastor and told him about our dream of helping those in need, veterans and the homeless.
He agreed we could open one day a week and use the parking lot or the fellowship hall. Our first location was at the entrance to Gibson Ranch in January 3 years ago. We passed out mostly coats and hygiene items. Our second location was in front of Tractor Supply on Watt Ave. We passed out lunches and hygiene bags.
After that we opened on Fridays from 10 to noon. It was so slow and we started advertising in the Rio Linda Elverta Newspaper. Things started picking up and donations were abundant from the community. We also had a small food closet. We would welcome everyone. We had a two bag limit and used only paper bags for them to fill. We could see that we needed to open up on Saturdays and for an extra hour.
We have wonderful volunteers: Mary Ann our no nonsense lets get it done, Stephanie who wear’s her heart on her sleeve and goes the extra mile, Laura who first came to us living out of her car with her dog Buddy, they had been homeless for 8 years and was our Ambassador, Charlotte our personal shopper who would go through boxes of clothes to find what you needed, and of course Sissy, our tiny little mascot who is homeless and works harder then anyone I know. There are the men in our lives, Dan, Mary Ann’s husband who was always building us what we needed or was there when security was needed. Tom, my husband who totes, loads, carry’s, listens and helps support our group and then there is Lorenzo. He first came to us as a customer, and soon became a friend. He was always there to help in any way he could our interpret for us. He always has a smile and an eagerness to help.
The first November we were open we did a turkey drive and passed out 4 turkeys and all the trimmings to cook there own Thanksgiving Dinner. This last year we handed out 14 turkeys and trimmings. That’s all thanks to the community, our supporters and the generous congregation. That first December we had a day where parents, grandparents or whoever needed to come and get two presents each for children 0 to 12 and a filled stocking. We were able to serve 40 children that year. The next year we did it again but added 12-17 and they could get one present plus the stocking. We served over 70 children and donated the extra to the California Highway Patrol’s Toys for Tots.
Our Continued Goal & Dreams
Our goals and dreams
To be able to franchise out to other Baptist churches in other towns to be able to reach those in need.
To be able to help young and old people who need jobs, training in computers, resumes and how to interview and dress for the job.
To create unused buildings into apartments that people can afford. Like little communities where you can have a animal shelter, vet on staff, grocery store with seconds, medical clinic staffed by volunteers and residents looking for a chance to show their stuff. An area to a have a community garden, raise their own live stock and be completely self sufficient. If they are great in sewing, create a product to sell. You get the picture. Give the homeless, needy and vets a purpose in life.
I just want to end homelessness, give these vets who fought for our country back their dignity and help them to take the next step to leading a productive life.