News & Events

The Passing of Cathy O'Neal

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September 12, 2016

Cathy O'Neal (center, right)

A message from HART's President:

Cathy knew how I felt about her, I loved her. I would often kid her saying that I wanted to be like her when I grew up. What’s that look like? A godly woman who saw the pain of others the way Christ sees them.To care for them when they needed support, to walk with them when they were lonely, to carry them when they could no longer walk. She even set a beautiful example of how to be a good wife, shutting down the clothes closet at noon so she could go home and fix lunch for Mike each day.

When Mike died, we had lunch and I asked her how she had survived first the tragic loss of her daughter and then, her beloved husband. She said grief could defeat her, or she could use it to motivate her. She worked tirelessly, not only for organizations like the Clothes Closet and Food Bank, the St. Vincent de Paul Society and HART, but she those hurting on a personal level. She often paid the homeless to do odd jobs for her, always feeding them lunch afterwards. She took in the cat of a homeless girl so she could go to rehab. She would spend the night - all night - with the homeless during winter sanctuary. She worked with the police to send a young homeless woman back to her mom.

Elk Grove is a better city because of Cathy. To say she will be missed simplifies the tremendous loss of the most selfless, openhearted and giving person I have ever known. While her time here on earth has come to an end, she leaves a beautiful legacy.

Backyard Project

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September 12, 2016

Members of the Rotary Club of Elk Grove installed a swing set, play house, playground mulch and stepping stones into the backyard of a transitional house for homeless families in Elk Grove on Saturday. The backyard will be enjoyed by 4 families that currently occupy the house. Funding for the materials came from the Rotary Club of Elk Grove and the Rotary district 5180 Foundation.

One Year Homeless. How a Family of Five Found Gratitude While Living in a Van.

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June 29, 2016

By Tracy Rivera
@RiveraTracyM

Not many people can say they’ve been touched by an angel; Amy* believes her family has been touched by several. The young family of five are moving from Meadows House, a live-in program for homeless families, to an apartment after spending the last year homeless. It won’t take long, all their possessions fit neatly in 10 boxes.

How does a family become homeless? “Gradually,” Amy assured me. We settled into the communal office, a slight hum in the air from the computer running in the corner. They’ve shared this house with three other families over the last six months. “It’s been one interesting adventure.” She tucked a leg under her flowing skirt and sank into the couch. Pink cheeks and damp hair speak of a recent shower.

The family does not take running, heated water for granted. “It used to take three gallons of water to shower behind the van in the parking lot.” Amy had to boil water on a camp stove to wash the children.

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Elk Grove HART Featured in Ardent for Life Business Magazine

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February 22, 2016

Elk Grove HART is featured in the current issue of Ardent for Life Business magazine.

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Ardent for Life is a magazine created to ignite ideas and enrich the lives of the contemporary woman. - www.ardentforlife.net