As we explore the ‘Branching Out’ theme, our goal is to establish and fortify connections: with ourselves, with the people in community around us, and our sense of purpose or the divine.
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2020 Newsletter: Sherri Kirk
Sherri Kirk, Community liaison, North Sacramento, CA
I’m Sherri Kirk, a community leader through the Neighborhood Wellness Foundation of Del Paso Heights. As a leader in the Del Paso community, I never thought I would be the one to receive such LOVE! In February, I experienced an amazing gift — the real gift of love, from amazing youth from New Canaan, Connecticut. This group of young people came to assist me to repair my home. Not only did they rebuild my home inside and out, but they also rebuilt me.
“Not only did they rebuild my home inside and out, but they also rebuilt me”
Words can’t express how they made me feel — but I can say I feel good again. The world may be critical of young people, but these volunteers went above and beyond to assist me in painting, replacing my flooring, and building me a long-overdue backyard fence. This is Love! SSP is AWESOME, and I am so glad we are connected.
Editor’s Note: During the fall of 2019, we received funding from Wells Fargo Foundation’s NeighborhoodLIFT program to create a home repair program in North Sacramento, where our HQ office is located. After four years of hosting volunteers in nearby Rancho Cordova, we were excited to double our local footprint. Sherri is an integral community liaison, helping SSP build trust and relationships in North Sacramento. In February 2020, we hosted Congregational Church of New Canaan’s Youth Group (100 people!) for an Alternative Break working in both communities in Sacramento. With the leadership of SSP’s Program Managers and the contractors that came with the group, 18 impactful home repairs were completed in one week!
SSP is Hiring: Rancho Cordova Program Manager
Sierra Service Project (SSP) is looking to hire a part-time Program Manager in Rancho Cordova, CA. The funding comes from a grant from the City of Rancho Cordova, which has contracted with SSP to run a volunteer community improvement program for homeowners in the city.
Start date: Around September 1
End date: June 30
Hours per week: About 30, depending upon the level of activity
Pay: $16 per hour
Classification: This is a non-exempt, temporary part-time position (as defined by SSP’s personnel policies)
Benefits: Paid sick leave and other legally-required benefits
A driver’s license and good driving record is required. Extensive weekend work, particularly Saturdays, will be required.
For more information, view the full job description. If you are interested in this position, please submit a cover letter and résumé to Rick Eaton at director@sierraserviceproject.org. Please call (916) 488-6441 with questions.
Photos from the 2016 Rancho Cordova program:
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- Removing chain link fences which are an eye sore and reduce property values.
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- Youth from the Capital Youth Network in front of the finished fence!
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- A homeowner and her two grandsons.
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- This program is open to those as young as middle school who want to serve.
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- SSP Staff Alumni working on a new fence.
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- Rancho Cordova City Council Member Donald Terry helping demolish an old fence.
We’re Giving BIG for BIG DoG
By Pam Kepler
from St. Mark’s United Methodist Church in Sacramento, CA
Editors Note: Many thanks to Pam and Steve Kepler who are just two of over twenty individual and business contributors to SSP’s matching fund for the Big Day of Giving on May 3. Help us use the entire $10,500 match by donating on Tuesday!
Steve & I have been counselors at SSP many times. I was on the Board and was finance chair. Steve helped out with IT issues. We have volunteered with moving things, mailings, sorting, cooking during training.
It is such an awesome organization – we love helping when we can.
Thinking about SSP trips brought back fond memories of being a counselor – driving the van and singing “Over the Rainbow” with Iz and the campers. Enjoying silly skits. A chance to be goofy and productive at the same time. The gift of experiencing different ways to meditate, pray, connect. The wonderful walks at sunset. Watching our youth learn and grow and understand what being in service means. Remembering long ago when we first became involved with SSP – it was amazing and inspiring – youth working really hard to raise money so they could work really hard. We were curious. We had to see what that was all about. That’s how we first got involved – and once we went – we were hooked!
We were curious.
At SSP we worked hard and played hard, and at the same time we were touched, changed, and got closer to God and one another. We were tired in body, yet renewed in spirit. We were blessed by staff, youth, and other counselors – that’s what kept us coming back – year after year, and why volunteering at SSP is so important – serving SSP as it had so lovingly served us.
