Since 1948, the Modesto Gospel Mission has been giving. But on Comcast Cares Day — Saturday, May 4, 2019 — it will be their turn to receive.
The Modesto Gospel Mission provides nutritious meals, warm beds, and a place of safety to thousands of poor and homeless men, women, and children. Through various services, they are able to help someone go from homeless to home.
Modesto Gospel Mission receives no Government funding and depends completely on the gifts of individuals, churches, groups, foundations, and businesses that care about the poor and homeless in Stanislaus County.
“I am so proud that Comcast is stepping up to be one of those businesses that care,” said John Dalpogetti, an Xfinity Sales Development Manager with Comcast in California who nominated the Modesto Gospel Mission as a Cares Day project. “The Mission’s purpose is to ‘touch lives and offer hope’ and that aligns so perfectly with our approach to Cares Day. We want to give something back to the groups like this that are always giving so much to others.”
John has always had a passion for volunteering. He first got involved with the Modesto Gospel Mission when they needed support during the holiday season in 2017. As he learned more about the organization, he was compelled to help further and decided to nominate them as a Comcast Cares Day project site for 2019. Working alongside John as project co-leaders are Tech Supervisors David Vargas and Bradley Carlson, as well as Aida Miller in Administrative Services.
“The Modesto community has a lot of need, and the Gospel Mission offers a hot meal to eat, a safe place to sleep, and a chance to get back on your feet,” he said. “I could not have been more thrilled when the Gospel Mission was selected for Comcast Cares Day and I am honored and humbled to be one of the project leaders.”
On Comcast Cares Day, more than 200 volunteers will join John to work on a variety of projects ranging from building bookshelves and improving the basketball court to planting flowers, building gardens, cleaning, painting, repairing swing sets and refurbishing the play-area’s sandbox. The work will focus on the Youth Center and the Women’s and Children’s areas.
“We want to help make the space more beautiful and inviting,” John adds. “There are people coming into these areas for the first time who are going through extremely tough life experiences – loss, trauma, abuse or other difficulties. We want to create an environment for them that is welcoming and comforting – that lifts their spirits. Sometimes the simple things can make a big difference. I have been blessed in my career and am fortunate enough to be in a position to give back.”
The Modesto Gospel Mission seeks to minister to the whole person – physically, emotionally, and spiritually. “We do this by providing shelter, clothing, meals, Bible studies, life skills classes, GED and adult high school classes, employment assistance, addiction recovery, medical assistance, and more,” says Jason Conway, Executive Director. “But none of this would be possible without collaborating with the community and getting support from business partners like Comcast. We are so grateful for their contributions, and their ability to generate volunteer engagement.”
Anyone interested in volunteering can come out to the Modesto Gospel Mission – located at 1400 Yosemite Blvd., Modesto, CA 95354 – on Comcast Cares Day, Saturday, May 4, from 8am to 1pm. To learn more about Comcast Cares Day or to sign up to volunteer at other California projects or locations, visit https://comca.st/2J1Fhdq
