Date Issued: August 2026

Summary: This newsletter highlights our 25th season as an emergency shelter program and celebrates the community support that has kept it going through a difficult year. It shares how volunteers, churches, families, and donors help provide meals, clothing, and hope to people in need, while also recognizing the organization’s resilience and the generosity that helped keep its doors open. It also features a success story from a former guest who rebuilt stability with the shelter’s help.

Date Issued: May 2026

Summary: We Care highlights the renewal of CDBG-PSG funding for its Substance Use Disorder services, which provides onsite counseling and support groups to individuals experiencing homelessness. Between August 2025 and March 2026, the shelter served 188 unduplicated individuals and provided 11,012 beds. Upcoming initiatives include a Men's Mental Health Resource Fair on June 3rd and a summer clothing drive for lightweight apparel and hats. Community members can also support the organization by volunteering for dinner service, donating items from their wishlist, or providing tax-deductible financial contributions.

Date Issued: February 2026

Summary: We Care highlights the organization’s recent success in securing a two-year Federal ESG to support its RRH program, which has already helped two individuals transition into permanent homes. As the non-profit prepares to celebrate its 25th anniversary this July, Executive Director Corey Mai expresses gratitude for the community support that sustained them through a difficult 2025. It also outlines immediate needs for household donations and meal preparation volunteers, specifically inviting help on February 27th to prepare casseroles for the shelter.

Date Issued: December 2025

Summary: We Care reflects on a year of community compassion and successful initiatives, such as their recent annual Open House where Board member Kelvin Jasek-Rysdahl and Executive Director Corey Mai led tours of their 49-bed emergency men’s shelter. Looking ahead to 2026, the organization plans to expand its support services and will host The Longest Night Memorial on December 21, 2025, to honor homeless individuals lost over the past year.

Date Issued: October 2025

Summary: We Care emphasizes community support as the program remains strong despite recent challenges, promising greater transparency. A crucial focus is preparing for winter, urgently requesting donations of men's winter coats, sweaters, and thermal wear to stock their clothes closet.

Date Issued: March 2025

Summary: We Care highlights the successful housing of two individuals through the Rapid Rehousing Program in January and February. It includes a message thanking all volunteers for their commitment for helping out at the shelter. We also announced we will participate in the Turlock City Wide Yard Sale on April 26, 2025, and is accepting donations for the event, with all proceeds going toward the shelter.

Date Issued: January 2025

Summary: We Care featured a "2024 Year in Review" highlighting the hiring of a new Director of Operations, Corey Mai, the completion of the new kitchen to feed shelter guests, and the revival of the Rapid Re-Housing Program, which successfully housed three men. We Care also announced the return of the Community Lunches starting January 27, 2025, inviting other non-profits to offer resources.

Date Issued: November 2024

Summary: We Care shares significant operational achievements, including the completion of the new kitchen, two men transitioning to independent housing through the RRH program, and acquiring an Affordable Housing complex for four low-income families. We Care announces the official retirement of Maris Sturtevant on October 31, after over 30 years of service. To celebrate, an Open House is scheduled for Friday, November 22nd. We also invite the public to the Longest Night of the Year Memorial on Saturday, December 21, at 5:00 pm, to honor members of the homeless community who passed away in the last year.

Date Issued: August 2024

Summary: We Care celebrates the conclusion of their 22nd season, during which they were open 350 nights, served 330 unique individuals, and provided 14,694 shelter beds. Looking ahead to the 2024-2025 season, the program is excited to reintroduce the social room and anticipates soon gaining access to their new kitchen and elevator. Additionally, We Care has partnered with Target as a Circle participant, asking supporters to vote for them until September 30th.

Date Issued: May 2024

Summary: We Care highlights significant progress on the new dining hall and kitchen for the men's shelter, which will allow dinner providers to prepare and serve meals on-site. The organization has also undergone restructuring and management changes, which included the elimination of the current shelter manager due to financial difficulties. We introduces the new Director of Operations, noting that the previous Executive Director is reduced her time and role at We Care.

Date Issued: February 2024

Summary: We Care provides an update on the progress of the dining hall/kitchen building, which they hope will be completed by mid-April. Since reopened on July 17, 2023, the emergency shelter program has served 244 unduplicated homeless men. The Navigation Center closed on January 31, 2024, after the Turlock City Council decided not to extend the six-month pilot program.

Date Issued: December 2023

Summary: We Care reports "Housing Success" with the placement of two more chronically homeless individuals into housing in November through the HUD-funded Permanent Supportive Housing Program. Shelter updates show progress on the dining hall/kitchen building. The organization is also collaborating to extend the operating hours of the Day Use Navigation Center, which has served 309 unduplicated persons since June 7, 2023, and this expansion will be possible once the kitchen/dining hall completion allows the dinner meal to be accommodated at the shelter.

Date Issued: September 2023

Summary: We Care highlights several "Huge Successes," including placing three homeless households, totaling five people, into housing during August. Progress continues on the Shelter, with finishing touches like the elevator structure, a new water line for the fire sprinkler system, and with the goal of utilizing the brand new kitchen again for volunteer groups. The Navigation Center pilot program also showed growth in August, providing 16 haircuts, 30 one-on-one mental health therapy sessions, and hosting the Mobile Clinic, the HAT team, and various resource providers.

Date Issued: April 2023

Summary: We Care announced the start of kitchen construction, with framework for the foundation poured by April 20th, aiming to consolidate the shelter, dining hall, and kitchen on one site. Additionally, the organization hosted a successful resource fair on April 25th at the USF and We Care campuses, which included partners such as a mobile health clinic, USF food box day, DRAIL, CSA, and Catholic Charities.

Date Issued: January 2023

Summary: We Care announces that the organization is celebrating 20 years of service on January 31st, and is moving forward with updates, including hiring a new case manager, reopening their Rapid Re-Housing Program, and aiming to increase their Permanent Supportive Housing units. We also share the sad news of the passing of longtime member and supporter Bill Sturtevant, who was a leader in fighting hunger and homelessness for nearly three decades and impacted many lives. Additionally, the program received significant support during the holidays.