Trinity Parish Outreach — Clara-Mateo Alliance

"Ending Homelessness — Another Way"

The Clara Mateo Alliance (CMA), located on the grounds of the Menlo Park VA facility, serves individuals and families "in transition," usually working, and often in recovery. Typically the residential facility houses between 100 and 120 guests, about 80 single men, and about 40 guests in families. A commercial vendor typically supplies the food, but whenever volunteers prepare and serve a meal, according to one social worker, the food is healthier, the funds saved can be used for recreational events and the residents feel that someone believes in and cares for them. This Trinity outreach ministry occurs once a month.

The program for women and children at CMA is named after a Trinity parishioner. Elsa Segovia was the victim of a hit-and-run accident in 2000, and while the newspapers described her as "a homeless person," she had been, prior to a downhill battle with mental illness, an active member of the Trinity community, teaching Bible classes and caring for an adult son. Holy Trinity suggested the name for the center in honor of "one of our own," in hopes that it might help other women and children in similar circumstances.

Responsibilities: Volunteers prepare food at the Trinity kitchen, bring it to C-M center, serve and join the residents for dinner.
Contact: Carla Posthauer - 650.325.9059
Time Committment: Cooking time, or 2 hours on the first Sunday of the month
Timeframe: Evenings, weekends

Snapshot: "The Women of Trinity agreed to organize a dinner for CMA on Labor Day weekend. How would it work? Would anyone help? The end result: it was a wonderful success with many helping hands! We planned the menu, prepared the food in the Trinity kitchen -- some brought desserts from home -- and with several family members assisting served dinner to a very appreciative group (many came back for seconds and thirds!) As we recently read in Hebrews: 'Let brotherly love continue. Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.' I don't know how many angels we entertained, but it was great fellowship and great fun! " --Pam Shangler