Placer Caring Connection
Placer Caring Connection is a ministry founded by Auburn Presbyterian Church. The Placer Caring Connection serves as a connecting link between religious congregations and social service agencies so that the faith community is informed as to how it can be actively involved in the greater community to the benefit of all.
A periodic newsletter is mailed to every religious congregation in Placer County plus Truckee and Incline Village (due to the collaboration across county and state lines in the Tahoe-Truckee area), telling them of opportunities for ministry.
In 1994, Pastor Ken mentioned to Bev Anderson, the new Mission chair, his dream of churches cooperating and collaborating in providing services for those in need. That fall, a letter went out to all the churches in Central Placer County asking if they would be willing to financially support the Auburn Food Closet and the Salvation Army, and send people who come to their church for help to these agencies. These agencies know what to do and could more adequately provide help and referrals than a pastor whose focus is on an active congregation. Most churches responded positively and some, like APC, even started making the contributions. This has grown. A number of the other ministries have been helped by this effort. No line is drawn. If the group thinks of itself as being religious, it is added to the list. The designation “congregations” is used as some don’t consider themselves churches.
The newsletter contains news of what is happening in helping the homeless, providing health care, information about organizations that provide help of various kinds to families and individuals as well as news about what churches are doing. The winter issue that comes out in November features information about every Christmas Basket Program in any of these areas. Before each issue, an e-mail is sent to the churches on the e-mail list asking if they have any upcoming event to which the general public is invited. An e-mail is also sent to the Placer Collaborative Network’s e-mail group asking if any organization has news they would like to communicate to every religious congregation. This newsletter has served to inform those who wanted to know about what was going on enough that interest was generated and people in congregations have gotten more involved because of that knowledge.
One of the activities conducted that had a great impact were the luncheons for pastors and church leaders produced jointly with the Salvation Army in Auburn, in 2003 and 2005, and in Roseville in 2005. Ministries open to help from area congregations were presented. Some major advances were made as a result. Bev Anderson has led this ministry with help from time to time. She welcomes anyone who would like to be involved in any aspect.