Helping Survivors & Restoring Lives

Helping Survivors & Restoring Lives

by | Jan 17, 2025 | News

Weekly update | January 16, 2025

Needs Are Not Going Away

We’ve launched into the new year of 2025, and every day brings something new. Today, a woman came through and immediately burst into tears when she walked in. We learned that she’s a domestic abuse survivor who had just been discharged from the hospital. She was looking for someone to help guide her through her next steps. Our team walked alongside her, helping her get settled into a safe shelter.

This is what we do every day—people are struggling and searching for a way forward, and we’re here to help them.

We’ve also been talking about Ken Davis (pictured above with permission to post). We helped him get into a rehab program, and he is now free from over 30 years of meth addiction. He’s about halfway through the program and doing well. Ken didn’t even know if his mother was still alive. We helped him reconnect with his family, and this past Saturday, he was able to hug his mother for the first time in over 20 years at the rehab center. It was an emotional reunion, beyond words. Ken was incredibly grateful for our help in bringing him back together with his mom, who had been praying for him all these years. It was nothing short of a miracle.

This is all happening through Capital Compassion—a key part of walking with Ken through his transformation and restoration. We can’t wait for you to hear his full story. We’re also helping him transition into permanent housing and continue sharing his journey.

Thank you for being a part of this work. There is a great need, and those needs are not going away. We appreciate your support and care for what we do every week.

Pastor Rick Cole
Executive Director

Watch Video Update
Creating Lasting Change Together

Creating Lasting Change Together

by | Dec 20, 2024 | News

2024 Year in Review

As we close out the year, we at Capital Compassion are filled with gratitude as we reflect on the profound impact your generosity has made. Because of your support, countless lives have been touched through essential services, compassionate care, and opportunities for lasting change. Together, we’ve brought hope where it was needed most, strengthened communities, and created pathways toward brighter futures. Thank you for being such an integral part of our mission—your kindness continues to inspire and uplift those we serve.

In 2024, we’ve seen extraordinary progress:

  • Number of first-time guests registered at our site in 2024 – 527
  • Food Bags given to housed families with food insecurity – 1,417
  • Cost of Housed Food Bag: $25.00 x 1417 = $35,425.00
  • Food bags given to unhoused persons – 1,547
  • Cost of Unhoused Bags: $16 x 1547 = $24,752.00
  • Number of diaper packages given – 425 (most of whom are refugee families)
  • Number of ID Vouchers issued – 13 since November (we qualified in November to assist the County with vouchers for the unhoused to secure ID’s)
  • POD (Point of Distribution) Partners- 45

  • World Vision Truckloads received – 17

  • Value of Goods given through our POD Partners and to our walk-in guests – $510,000.00

  • Homeless Outreaches to unhoused encampments downtown: 7

  • Volunteers throughout the year: 451 volunteer check ins

  • Volunteer hours served – 1,353 hours

  • First Grant awarded in December: $17,315.80

    COUNTY PARTNERSHIPS

  • Qualified for access to the Homeless Management Information System (HMIS) database: HMIS is a HUD-compliant database used to gather demographic data and record services provided to clients who are homeless or at risk of being homeless in Sacramento and Yolo County. We are now able to track every guest we serve and guide them through other services available for their care.

  • Access to Benefitscal.com: Now qualified to assist persons to access Cal Fresh/EBT cards – 8 persons assisted in December

As we look ahead to 2025, we will be adding space to provide showers and laundry service which will allow us to serve the unhoused in transition with increased dignity and effectiveness. We are committed to expanding our reach, increasing our impact, and ensuring that every person we serve has the support they need to thrive. And we need your help to do it.

This holiday season, we invite you to make a special year-end gift to Capital Compassion. Your donation—no matter the size—helps us continue to provide food, education, supplies, and empowerment to vulnerable individuals and families across our community. Every contribution will directly support our programs, ensuring that more lives are transformed through compassion and care.

We have learned so much over the past twelve months. Every week we are assisting our unhoused guests with acquiring ID’s, EBT cards, connections to rehab programs for drug and alcohol addiction, resume building, job applications, and access to transitional housing opportunities.

Here’s how your gift will make a difference:

· $50 provides a month’s worth of food for an unhoused guest.

· $100 provides four housed families with two weeks of food per month.

· $500 provides emergency shelter and case management services for an unhoused guest.

· $1,000 funds a World Vision semi-truck delivery that allows us to provide $30,000 worth of household goods to refugee families and others in need.

Please consider making a tax-deductible gift before December 31st to take advantage of year-end giving opportunities. You can donate online at here or send a check to Capital Compassion at PO Box 276267, Sacramento, CA 95827.

Your generosity has already created lasting change, but there’s so much more we can achieve together. On behalf of everyone at Capital Compassion, thank you for believing in our mission and for being a source of light and hope for this Christmas season.

 Wishing you a joyful Christmas and New Year filled with compassion, kindness, and possibility.

With gratitude,

Rick Cole
Executive Director
Capital Compassion

Crystal Molnar
Director of Operations

Laine Alves
Director of Outreach and Community Collaboration

Lisa Berry
Director of Development

 

Donate Today
Holiday Hours

This Giving Tuesday . . .

This Giving Tuesday . . .

by | Dec 3, 2024 | News

GIVING TUESDAY . . . Help Us Lift Up Our Sacramento family!

Today, December 3rd, we invite you to be part of something truly meaningful and transformational. Capital Compassion is dedicated to providing critical assistance to the underserved individuals and families right here in Sacramento—those who need it most. This Giving Tuesday, your support can help transform lives.

❤️ With your donation, we can:

  • Provide food and essential resources to families and individuals in crisis
  • Support mental health and wellness programs for those struggling to cope
  • Empower individuals with mentorship to break the cycle of homelessness

Sacramento’s broken souls need us—and we need you. Every dollar you give goes directly to helping people in need, making a real difference where it’s needed most. Food, household supplies, refugee families assistance, next steps to employment, next steps to transitional and permanent housing.

Every day we are helping individuals secure the tools necessary to move forward. From securing an ID, to an EBT card, to a phone, to writing a resume, to applying for jobs, to entering a rehab program, to moving up the list of available transitional and permanent housing. This work is inspiring and fulfilling.

TRUTHS THAT GUIDE ME

Isaiah 55:8-9 “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. 9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.”

Ephesians 2:10 “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.”

Philippians 4:13 “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”

KEN’S STORY

 Ken came through our door three months ago. He returned once a week and developed a trust in the help we were providing. Three weeks ago he said, “I’m ready for rehab.” He has lived with a meth addiction for 38 years and has lived on the streets, separated from his family, for more than two decades. We were able to place him in a 90-day program and he is thriving there. We are working toward placing him in a faith-based life transformation program when he completes rehab. Like many of the guests we are serving at Capital Compassion, Ken has become family to us. Ken’s word to us after detoxing, “I can’t thank you enough for getting me in here. I love you all.” 

How much goodness and beauty can you create in the world today? This is what we were made for. Let’s do this together! Greater impact is ahead!!

👐 Your gift can change lives. Together, we can build a stronger, more compassionate Sacramento.

🔗 Donate today and make a lasting impact!

Thank you for being a champion of compassion in Sacramento. Your generosity on this Giving Tuesday helps us continue to serve those who need it most.

Pastor Rick Cole
Executive Director

 

Donate Today
Holiday Hours

Winter Items Needed

Winter Items Needed

by | Nov 20, 2024 | News

Clothing for Homeless

Fill the Closet with Warm Items

As temperatures drop, many in our community are braving the cold without the proper clothing to stay warm. We’re seeking donations of warm winter wear to support those experiencing homelessness during this challenging season.

You can donate from your closet or shop our Amazon list. Larger sizes are preferred! (L, XL, 2xL)

Items needed:

  • Winter coats (jackets, fleece lined sweatshirts, sweaters, rain coats)
  • Sleeping Bags
  • Gloves
  • Beanies
  • Pants (sweatpants, jeans, leggings) 

All items should be new or gently used and clean/pre-washed. Every contribution helps to bring warmth and comfort to someone in need.

Where to Donate:
Capital Compassion
10151 Croydon Way, Suite 3, Sacramento, 95827
Drop Off Hours: 9am-12pm // Tuesday-Thursday

Monetary Donations:
Can’t donate clothes? Contributions are also welcome to help us purchase essential items.

Let’s come together to make this winter a little warmer for everyone. Thank you for your generosity and kindness!

Amazon Wish List

New Food Pantry Hours Beginning December 2024

New Food Pantry Hours Beginning December 2024

by | Nov 15, 2024 | News

New Food Distribution Hours

9am-12pm |Monday-Thursday
*Beginning December 2024

Make sure to adjust your plans to accommodate these changes. We appreciate your understanding and look forward to serving you during these times.

Additional Holiday Closures

We encourage you to plan your visits around these dates that we will be closed. 

Thanksgiving Week (11/25-29)
Christmas Week (12/23-27)
New Years Week (12/30-1/3/25)

Food Distribution

Our food distribution program is designed to support both sheltered and unsheltered guests.

Are you Sheltered? 
Our guests who are currently shelterd can receive one bag of nonperishable food per household, per month.

Are you Unsheltered? 
Our guests who are unsheltered can receive one bag of nonperishable food weekly.

Diaper Distribution

We do limit diapers to one package per household per month. This policy helps us manage resources effectively while ensuring that as many families as possible can benefit from our services.

We provide diapers to families in need, with a limit of one package per household each month. This service is available daily to ensure that families have access to necessary supplies. Our goal is to support families by alleviating some of the financial burdens associated with childcare essentials.

What to Expect

Sheltered Guests
We ask that first-time guests arrive with a photo ID and a list of all household members with birthdays. This information helps us better understand how much food your household needs and is collected for reporting and statistical purposes only.

Unsheltered Guests
There are no residency or ID requirements or limitations for guests experiencing homelessness.

Download New Hour Flier
Compassion & Generosity Update 11/14/24

Compassion & Generosity Update 11/14/24

by | Nov 14, 2024 | News

The Power of Compassion and Generosity:
Transforming Lives Through Love and Action

Compassion and generosity are deeply interconnected qualities that reflect our ability to empathize with others and offer support, whether emotionally or materially. Here’s how they relate:

Compassion

Compassion is the ability to feel for someone who is suffering or facing difficulty. It goes beyond sympathy—compassion involves a genuine desire to ease the pain or hardship of others. It’s a kind of emotional responsiveness that often leads to action, because true compassion compels us to do something to help.

Compassion manifests in various ways:

  • Empathy: Understanding and sharing the feelings of another person.
  • Kindness: A willingness to act kindly to alleviate someone’s distress.
  • Patience: Giving others the time or space they need when going through difficult moments.

Generosity

Generosity is the act of giving, whether it’s time, resources, or energy, without expecting anything in return. It’s not just about material wealth, but also about sharing one’s attention, understanding, or love with others. Generosity can be seen in many forms:

  • Material generosity: Donating money, goods, or services to help others.
  • Emotional generosity: Offering love, encouragement, or simply being present for someone in need.
  • Time generosity: Giving one’s time and energy to support others, even when it requires personal sacrifice.

How They Intersect

  • Compassion fuels generosity: When we are moved by someone else’s suffering or challenges, compassion often prompts us to be generous in our responses—whether through acts of kindness, offering resources, or providing emotional support.
  • Generosity nurtures compassion: The more we practice generosity, the more we open ourselves to the needs of others, which deepens our empathy and understanding of their struggles. Generosity is not just about material giving, but it can also be an expression of compassionate connection.

Compassion is the emotional foundation, and generosity is the practical expression of that emotion. When we act generously out of compassion, it can create a ripple effect, demonstrating the love of Jesus and leading others to follow Him.

Capital Compassion is a special place to invest your resources through generosity.

Yesterday I sat with John who walked through our door looking for help. He had been here on other occasions receiving food and supplies. This time, he said, “I’m ready to do what it takes to get off the street.” We started the process to get his ID, EBT card (food stamps), a phone, and an assessment with County services to be placed on a housing list. While talking with John, another man came in who had recently been placed in a tiny home for shelter but was still needing food and the spiritual and emotional support we provide. As I talked with John and Alfredo, I found emotion stirring in my soul. The three components of compassion were at work. Empathy . . . as I understood the challenges they were facing I began to share the feelings they were sharing with me. Kindness . . . the willingness to act kindly to alleviate their distress was bursting inside my heart. Patience . . . providing the time to walk this out over days, weeks, and months and the space to grow step by step.

Lives are being changed through Capital Compassion. Our team of volunteers make it possible for our reach to be broad and profound. With 45 partner organizations accessing the goods and services we provide, the impact is compounded. The individuals and families accessing our food pantry, diaper provisions, tents, clothes, hygiene kits, etc. continues to grow daily. Our vision is growing and the opportunities are vast. Every person we touch, like John and Alfredo, our eternal reward increases.

We need your help in generosity. Thank you for all you have done in the past year to establish this expression of Jesus’ love in our city. As Thanksgiving approaches, it is a wonderful time to express our gratitude to God for His blessings by sharing from those blessings to help others.

 I am praying for you to be blessed in these days of opportunity. In fact, I will leave the Blessing I shared at the end our services at Capital with you today:

Be blessed with God’s supernatural wisdom and clear direction for life.

Be blessed with creativity, courage, ability and abundance.

Be blessed with self-control and self-discipline.

Be blessed with a great family, good friends and good health.

Be blessed with faith, favor and fulfillment.

Be blessed with success, supernatural strength, promotion and divine protection.

Be blessed with an obedient heart and a positive outlook on life.

Be blessed in the city and in the country, when you go in and when you come out.

Any negative word that has ever been spoken over you is broken right now.

Everything you put your hand to will prosper and succeed.

Have a blessed day,

Pastor Rick

Psalm 86:15 “But you, O Lord, are a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness.”

Donate Today