Vallejo, California, Press Release, Floor Covering Media, January 7, 2016: The Sparrow Project at First Baptist Church and the local branch of the Salvation Army presumably did what they were supposed to do in 2015; take care of the city’s downtrodden, distraught, and down-on-their-luck homeless with either food programs or services, according to Richard Freedman of the Valejo Times Herald,

As the homeless remain homeless and the downtrodden remain downtrodden, The Sparrow Project officially served 64,662 meals; around the same as last year, said Pastor Al Marks, who expects more of the same in 2016.

Dealing with the winter chill is a pressing issue. “We are working with Solano County to be an emergency cold weather shelter for Vallejo,” Parks said. “There are still coverage issues to be solved, but it is doable.” The county sends a mobile medical and mobile dental unit to the church every Tuesday“ for the homeless to have their needs met,” Marks said.

The Sparrow Project is working with Vallejo Together to be a place people can come to wash their clothes, blankets and sleeping bags and get a shower. “The Sparrow Project will provide the place and facilities. Vallejo Together will provide the volunteers,” Marks said, grateful for a $14,000 donation from Northgate Christian Fellowship in Benicia. “We are hoping this will fund most, if not all, the improvements,” Marks said. “People in need will be able to add a measure of dignity to their lives.”

Marks said the Times-Herald’s Community Christmas Card with a Jan. 22 deadline “is absolutely essential to the continuation of the Sparrow Project. Even with help from the Food Bank, it costs so much to provide a hot meal six days a week. Contributions from individuals would not cover the costs.

And it is not just the food. The amount of garbage generated is enormous. While all recycling is free, the garbage removal costs in excess of $500 a month. Most people don’t think about those costs.” Then there’s the electricity, added Marks. There was a 21 percent drop in power usage for the entire building after the purchase of a new refrigerator. “This was only possible with the contribution form the Community Christmas Card,” said Marks. “With the Food Bank’s matching grant of $5,000 and individual donations, we were able to complete the project,” he said.

Another local faith-based nonprofit, the Salvation Army, should again be integral in Vallejo up to Vacaville in assisting the needy. “We hope to complete the remodel of our building and continue to expand the programs and services offered from our Vallejo Care Center,” said Capt. Jonathan Harvey. “Such programs should include after-school activities for children, though it can only happen with financial and volunteer support.

Captains Vicky and Johnathon Harvy, Salvation Army. Photo, Rich Freedman.

Our main need at this point is floor covering. Landscaping will be completed by a local service club in the next month or two.” Harvey noted that the Division Headquarters of the Salvation Army came to rescue for funding an aging and broken HVAC and walk-in fridge/freezer. It will be installed later this month at the building at 630 Tuolumne St. that received a new coat of paint in 2015.

Though Harvey is grateful for being part of the Community Christmas Card, individual contributions “remained rather flat-lined this Christmas,” Harvey said. “The reality is that we have had to seek outside support for years to supplement what is raised in Vallejo just to survive.” though “we will continue to stand firm in our commitment to supporting the Vallejo community, there has to come a point where the community fully supports the programs and services nonprofits provide. We are stretched to our limit.”