Foster Care Support

Contra Costa Foster Friends is committed to supporting foster families in a multitude of ways. Did you know that nearly half of the families who open their hearts and homes to fostering choose not to do so again after their first placement? Many feel unsupported or disconnected, making it difficult to continue. CCFF is here to provide the care, resources, and community they need, so they can keep making a difference in the lives of children who so desperately need love and stability.

Partner Champions: Claudia & Mike Mercier

Youth & Family Support

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.

Partner Champion: Don Raymond

Homeless Family & Children Support

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.

International Student Support

Saint Matthew has had a relationship with Young Life in the former Soviet Union for the past 20 years. We support Ukraine and Russia (specifical Krasnador) where there are 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!

Partner Champions: Dennis and Lin Ashlock

Newborn and Family support

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.

Partner Champion: Barbara Groenveld

Food Insecurity Support

Friends Feeding Friends is a key partner of Saint Matthew. We collect and deliver food to FFF each week. That food is distributed to families in need within the monument corridor. Over 1200 individuals and families with food insecurity are supported each week.

We have grocery drop-off canisters located around the church to bring your supplies.

Homeless Support

Saint Matthew has been involved with Trinity Center in Walnut Creek for more than 10 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.

Days of Service

4 times each year Saint Matthew partners with other local area churches and Project Peace to help the areas of our community in most need. Project Peace vision is to pursue biblical justice by activating a network of churches to serve and sustain their local communities. We would love for you to join us as we seek to impact our community in meaningful ways.

Ministry in the Monument Corridor

Monument Crisis Center was founded in 2003 by a small group with a vision to support the most vulnerable in Contra Costa County. What started as a small 600 sq. ft. food pantry has grown into a vital operation serving nearly 17,000 individuals experiencing poverty in the area. While food distribution remains at the heart of its mission, it is just one of six core programs offered. Other core programming includes Resource & Referral Services, Health & Wellness, Youth Education & Empowerment, Senior Moments, and Community Engagement & Workforce Development. Through these programs, MCC delivers essential and dynamic services to those in need, providing our neighbors a path to independence and stability. Saint Matthew is proud to have been in partnership with Monument Crisis Center since its inception.

Partner Champion: Sandra Scherer

Senior Hunger and Isolation

Meals on Wheels programs and the seniors they serve need your help! There are an estimated 2.5 million seniors who are not receiving the services they need.

Each week a team from Saint Matthew delivers meals to seniors in need within our local community. Our current route services the Baypoint community.

Foster Care Support

There are more children entering into foster care than there are foster families ready to open their hearts and homes.

Every day, in our cities, children are being removed from their biological families due to allegations of abuse or neglect. In addition to this harsh reality, many of these kids are shuffled around and displaced from their communities due to a shortage of loving and supported foster homes.

We believe that the church is uniquely positioned and called to answer this need. Together, we’re working towards a day when there will be a waiting list of families, rather than a waiting list of children in need of a home.

Refugee Support - East Bay

Comprehensive support for local refugees: Pre-migration documentation and assistance

Assistance with finding initial housing

Furniture and household goods donations

Enrolling clients in ESL classes and vocational support

Enrolling children in schools

Linking clients with appropriate local resources

Matching clients with volunteers and tutors

Parenting support

Managing crises or family upheaval

Resources for Unhoused Neighbors

GROW (Grass Roots Outreach Warriors) is committed to providing food, hydration, hygiene care, and access to essential resources, including mental and physical health services, for those in need. On any given night, approximately 3,000 people experience homelessness in Contra Costa County. Through compassionate relationships and dedicated support, GROW helps our neighbors receive both the immediate care they need and the long-term assistance they deserve.