August 6, 2026, 10:00 AM
A Year of Abundance: Episcopal Community Services Awards $55,250 to Ministries Across Northern California
Food ministries remain at the heart of diocesan outreach and accounted for 37% of our grants this year.
- Grace Fairfield’s “5th Tuesday Lunch Project” continues its faithful task of preparing meals for unhoused and low-income neighbors, receiving Year 2 funding of $750.
- St. George’s Community Garden in Carmichael (a haven for refugee gardeners) received $3,500 to sustain its growing season.
- Grace St. Helena’s “Common Table” received $5,000 to offer, twice a month, a free community meal, open to all, to encourage connection-bringing people together.
- St. Paul’s Benicia expands its “Community Kitchen Enhancement Project” with $4,000, supporting the 560 meals served each week.
- St. John’s Chico received $2,500 to expand the “Everhart Village Garden Extension Project”, supporting residents of a tiny-home community connected to Behavioral Health Services.
- Emmanuel Grass Valley received $5,000 to cover remaining labor costs to complete a walk-in freezer installation, assuring that its “Feeding My Sheep-Interfaith Food Ministry” project can continue.
Several grants focused on the well-being of vulnerable neighbors:
- St. Augustine Rocklin strengthens its evening ministries and community partnerships with $5,000 to replace aging parking lot lighting—ensuring safe access for recovery groups, families and guests after dark.
- Our Savior Placerville received $5,000 to support its “Emergency Winter Shelter”, providing warmth, nutrition and care during activation periods.
- St. Paul’s Benicia received $1,000 for the “Vallejo Dignity Day Resource Initiative”, offering showers, clothing, hygiene supplies, and compassionate presence to unhoused neighbors. The children of St. Paul’s are also given the opportunity to serve this needy population.
ECS also invested in ministries shaping leaders and advancing justice:
- The Northern California Episcopal Cursillo Community received $3,000 to support scholarships and training for participants across the diocese.
- The Commission for Intercultural Ministries received $5,000 to produce high-quality video recordings of the diocesan racial reconciliation workshop “I will, with God’s help: Journey toward racial healing and Justice”.
- Trinity Cathedral’s Human Rights Advocacy Ministry continues its three-year cycle with $4,000 to support refugees and immigrants navigating resettlement challenges.
Some ministries are building bridges in new and imaginative ways:
- St. Patrick’s Kenwood received two grants—Year 3 funding of $3,000 for its music program through the Dunning Memorial Grant, and an additional $2,000 through the Ministry Development Fund to expand its music program to serve a local senior community.
- Ascension Vallejo received $5,000 to renovate underused space for partnerships with Solano Pride and Braid Mission, expanding support to LGBTQIA+ youth and youth in Foster Care. Ascension will also partner with Incredible Blessings 4 U to operate an network of “pop-up” food pantries in Vallejo and American Canyon.
- Incarnation Santa Rosa received $1,500 to support the Redwood Food Delivery Network, a volunteer-driven effort delivering food directly to homebound neighbors.
All in all, a very joyful year!
Betty Harrison-Smith, ECS President
