Greetings.

My name is Rod Ellenberger, and I am writing this newsletter at the direction of the Side By Side Steering Committee, to provide an update on the status of our ministry. We are alive and well and Side By Side has begun the journey towards becoming an independent non-profit organization. In July of this year, our founder and Director, Linda Kelly-Baker, accepted an appointment to Hope United Methodist Church in Sacramento. Upon announcement of Linda’s plans, the Side By Side volunteers met at a retreat and committed to continuing on with the vital mission and work of Side By Side that Linda has developed over the past 10 years.

In July I entered into a contract with the Steering Committee to serve as a part-time Administrator for the Side By Side ministry. I am currently working 16 to 20 hrs per week in the office at Friendship Park (and also from home and around town). I can be reached at our office at 916-443-4362, or my cell @916-617-1861, or by email at rodellen@gmail.com. I am generally in the office on Wednesday and Thursday afternoons, and from 7 to 3 on Fridays.

In the past three months we have expanded the Steering Committee to seven people, assisted with the Friendship Park Anniversary Celebration, assisted with the Thanksgiving Celebration at Loaves and Fishes, continued with memorial services in the park, and continued working on plans to grow and expand our ministry as we go into the next year. With that in mind, we are actively seeking to add to the great team of volunteers we currently have in this active and growing ministry. At this time we have eight volunteers engaging in prayerful listening with our guests, and leading Morning Prayer group in Friendship Park. We hope to add five more volunteers to our team as we go into 2012.

We are proposing a training period for new volunteers that will include a one day (4hrs) training session on Spiritual Direction, followed by orientation and mentoring with a current volunteer. Please contact me if you or someone you know is interested in volunteering with our ministry. I am also available to come and speak for churches or other groups about Side By Side or about the homeless situation in Sacramento. If you are a past donor to Side By Side, we would like to thank you for your support. If you would like to continue to donate to Side By Side you can donate here or mail your donation to: Side-By-Side Spiritual Companions P.O. Box 980250
 West Sacramento, CA  95798-0250.

Your donations will continue to be tax deductible and greatly appreciated as we grow into the next phase of our ministry. We are also continuing to distribute Bibles and crosses in Friendship Park and we greatly appreciate donations of these items. We have prayer circle in our Listening Space Mon. through Fri. from 7:30 to 8:30am, and we welcome all to stop in and join us. Thank you for your time and your support.

Rod Ellenberger- Program Administrator- Side By Side With the Homeless