The Sacramento Kindness Campaign partners with families to improve their quality of life no matter where they were born.  We address the immediate need, work to build bridges and foster community connections and strive to increase competency in life skills for all who are in need.

Campaign Connections

No need is too big or too small for us to provide support. Through our network of volunteers and wide range of connections, we have provided transportation, interpretation, clothing, job opportunities, literacy training, job seeking, skill building, furniture, meals, friendship, safety from harm, guidance, life skills training, mentoring, maternity care, child care, family connections and community building.   We work with local agencies across the Greater Sacramento Area to address the immediate needs first and then move forward so that those who are ready can utilize resources, build confidence and thrive in their communities.  Please reach out to us if you have a need or if you are ready to help us build bridges in your community.  Together, through our collective efforts, we can make a difference.

 

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Contact

 

Meet Us

Sarah started cooking at a young age for her family and learned that good food nurtures laughter and love.   Sarah’s passion has always been preparing delicious food and gathering people around the family table to enjoy life, love and community.  In 2015 Sarah founded Sarah’s Kitchen and quickly realized she’d found her life’s work.   Sarah also has a passion for helping others who are struggling, so one day she reached out to a grieving woman offering her love, kindness, and a quiche.  One quiche, made with love and given to a person in need, started a movement and Sacramento Kindness Campaign was born.

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Sarah, Jill, Carlos, Joe and Donesha are five of the founding members of the kitchen staff in Sarah’s Kitchen.  Their stories are those of family, homelessness, obstacles, hope, perseverance, tribulations, triumph and bountiful new beginnings.   We are blessed to share time together in Sarah’s Kindness Kitchen and together and prepare and serve meals made with love.

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Melanie likes to drink coffee and spends a lot of time in front of her computer…she does what she can to help the team.   You won’t see her in the kitchen anytime soon, but you will definitely see her filling her neighbor’s cup in the Mentoring Center or a local community event.

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Matthew Stauss
Self-educated chef of nearly 26 years, Matthew started as a dishwasher at age 15. Within months he became a line cook and never looked back. Matthew has cooked for some of the finest restaurants in the Sacramento area. He has been involved in the opening of at least 8 new restaurants including Plates cafe and most recently Woodlake Tavern. While opening Plates cafe Matthew was the Executive Chef of St. John’s Shelter for Women and Children where he was responsible for feeding 115 Women and their children three times daily, on the smallest budget imaginable. During his short opening involvement with Plates Cafe he built on a culinary training model he’d used at the women’s shelter to help build up or introduce culinary arts to beginners helping them gain a leg up when ready to re-enter the work force. Matthew is incredibly enthusiastic about The Sacramento Kindness Kitchen and its base mission to aid refugee families and recently homeless new mothers through donation, job readiness and the sale of Sarah’s Kitchen meal subscriptions.

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Stories of Kindness

Meet Kelli. She got into a car accident with insufficient insurance and lost everything in one day. She, her husband and 14 year old son spent the next three years living in tents or a car. Somehow, her son still managed to thrive in school. He is pretty amazing.  Sacramento Kindness Campaign helped Kelli to make a connection with a  great job. Once the connection was made, Kelli, wearing interview clothes supplied by Sacramento Food Bank and Family Services, was ready. She interviewed for the position and got the job!   Now, she is empowered. She is challenged and made stronger by her job every day. Everyday, she is earning wages, benefits and paid time off. She is doing this on her own.   Watching individuals and families navigate off the path of welfare and social assistance and onto the path of independence is remarkable. Observing formerly disconnected people make friendships in the community is beautiful.   This is the heartbeat of Sacramento Kindness Campaign. It is who we are.   Much love to you, Kelli!  Sacramento Kindness Campaign thinks you are pretty special and is so happy that you are part of us and we are part of you.   Life is good.IMG_6345

 

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Tonight I am in labor and delivery with Habiba. I do not speak Farsi. She does not speak English. But it is ok. We are friends. We teach each other a few words at each visit. And in the past few months,  we have grown very close. At parting, she puts her hand on my heart and says, “Dusta durum.” I love you. I put my hand on her heart, “Dusta durum, Habiba.” I love her too.    Tonight we have been walking laps around labor and delivery to help the baby progress. On the first pass, we looked at all of the pictures on the wall. We studied the baby footprints on construction paper positioned like flower petals. We greeted all of the nurses.   Each time we passed her room, I gestured at the door and again to the hallway to make sure she wanted to keep walking. After a few laps, we were done looking at the art. We’d already greeted the nurses a few times. So we started teaching each other to count in our language. We can now count to 20!   We are both trying to get some rest now so that when it is time we will be ready.   I know that Habiba misses her family so much, especially now. Her mother in law was with her for the births of all of her previous children. But her mother in law is not here.   I would never try to take the place of her family. She already has a beautiful family. But I am her friend. She is not alone. And I know that going through this together will give us a special bond for life.    I am grateful.