Contra Costa Foster Friends provides critical and ongoing support to foster children and their caregivers in Contra Costa County. The heart of the operation is the Resource Center, a brick-and-mortar “store” located in Pleasant Hill full of essential items for local youth in care, all at no charge to them. Foster children often arrive with only an hour or two notice and with only the clothes they are wearing. It is the sincere desire of Contra Costa Foster Friends that these precious youth are well provided for during their time in care. Donations from the community keep the center stocked and donations of new or excellent condition items are always appreciated.

Contact: Claudia Mercier

Since 2007 Points of Light has been reaching at-risk youth in Oakland by implementing creative and effective faith-based programs.

They are instilling christian values in youth and children which becomes the foundation to impact them to take courage and power to be a point of light in their communities, providing hope and relief to other youth within Oakland.

We partner in collaboration, financial investment, mentoring, and prayer with Points of Light as they come alongside students in Oakland.

Contact: Don Raymond

The Children's Rescue Mission (CRM) was founded in 1999 in the aftermath of Hurricane Mitch. The first mission trip in 1999, was funded by a private $5,000 donation to provide medical aid to the children. The Saint Matthew CRM team has made annual mission trips to support their mission to make a difference in the lives of the children and villagers of Teupasenti.

Join the Saint Matthew CRM team for monthly meetings or join us on an upcoming mission trip.

Contact: Mike & Cheryl Sigler

Saint Matthew has had a relationship with Young Life in the former Soviet Union for the past 20 years. We have developed a partnership with the city of Krasnodar where there is a vibrant ministry to orphans, street kids, and the disabled. Every year we have hosted visiting leaders and supported specific aspects of their ministry through yearly special offerings.

We are seeking volunteers to: 1) Join the YLR support team for quarterly meetings; 2) Host leaders from the FSU during visits to Saint Matthew; and 3) Pen pals: “Adopt” a leader through social media…develop a friendship!

Contact: Dennis and Lin Ashlock

Saint Matthew has contributed to the Layette ministry in many ways over the years. Every Mother’s Day, the Tuesday Morning Service Group organizes a church-wide collection gathering new clothing, diapers, hand-made quilts and blankets (from Piecemakers Quilters and Knitting Ministries). The completed layette kits are assembled and then delivered to County Hospital in Martinez.

We are seeking volunteers to help assemble the kits the first Tuesday after Mother’s Day. Donations towards the layette kits are accepted anytime.

Contact: Barbara Groenveld

Monument Crisis Center is a key partner of Saint Matthew. We collect and deliver food to MCC each week. That food is distributed to families in need within the corridor.

Beyond food collection, there are many opportunities to serve at Monument Crisis Center, we would love to help you get connected in serving the monument.

Contact: Church Office

The Love-a-Child facility located in Bay Point, provides food and housing for 70 to 80 women (and their children) in crisis. Saint Matthew volunteers perform maintenance and repair activities every week on Thursdays at Love-a-Child.

Love-a-Child needs housing products to maintain their 24/7 ministries. This includes: cleaning supplies, linens, paper products, bath and beauty supplies, and food items. If you have the gift of home repairs consider joining the Love-a-Child team.

Contact: Bob Fairbanks

Saint Matthew has been involved with Trinity Center in Walnut Creek for more than 6 years. Trinity is the only center for the homeless within Walnut Creek.

Each week we plan each lunch, buy groceries, prepare food, serve food and equally important—eat with and create relationships with the homeless and less fortunate every single Monday of the year. These relationships have been some of the greatest treasures of our ministry

Please consider joining the Saint Matthew Crew to serve those in need of a home a cooked meal and caring hospitality.

Contact: Bob Johnston