Compassion Meets Action In Albany

Episcopal Impact Fund Poverty Relief Grant recipient St. Alban’s partners with Albany Thrives Together to create a stronger community

St. Alban's Episcopal Church, Albany provides support to their unhoused neighbors

“Serving our neighbors is a gift that nourishes our souls. We’re deeply grateful for the opportunity to do this work for the unhoused of our community.” –Beth Beller, Program Coordinator, St. Alban's Episcopal Church, Albany

We’re proud to celebrate the inspiring work of St. Alban’s Episcopal Church in Albany, California, a partner in the Albany Thrives Together (ATT) coalition. Through their deep commitment to community, St. Alban’s is helping build a stronger, healthier, and more equitable future for the unhoused.

St. Alban's believes that a strong community includes people from all walks of life and income levels. To fulfill this mission, St. Alban's works in close partnership with local community organization, Albany Thrives Together. Active for over ten years, ATT is an all-volunteer community-based effort to promote health and wellness for low-income and unhoused community members in Albany.

Albany Thrives Together is an interfaith network of local organizations, schools, service providers, and the City of Albany, working collaboratively to address pressing community needs. ATT focuses on improving access to food, housing stability, health care, mental wellness services, and educational opportunities, with a particular emphasis on racial and economic equity.

St. Alban’s proudly supports several key initiatives through Albany Thrives Together, including:

• Free Shower Project: Provides individuals experiencing homelessness in Albany with access to clean, safe showers — helping to restore dignity, promote health, and build meaningful community connections.

• Free Laundry Project: Offers free laundry services for low-income and unhoused residents, addressing a basic need with dignity and helping to remove barriers to employment, education, and personal well-being.

• Free Sandwich Project: Mobilizes volunteers to prepare and distribute fresh, homemade sandwiches each week, ensuring that neighbors facing food insecurity receive nourishing meals and a reminder that they are not alone.

St. Alban’s parishioners are deeply committed to serving their community—volunteering their time and donating essential supplies to support local lunch and shower programs. They regularly provide sleeping bags, pads, tarps, and tents to be distributed to those experiencing homelessness. Beyond direct support, they also advocate for lasting change by championing affordable housing, attending city council meetings, and collaborating with local organizations working to expand housing access. Nearly two-thirds of the congregation is actively involved in serving those experiencing homelessness.

St. Alban's work exemplifies the power of partnerships in creating lasting social change. By embedding compassion into action, St. Alban’s is not just meeting immediate needs but helping to reshape systems for a more just and thriving Albany.

We’re honored to support St. Alban’s and the vital work they are doing with Albany Thrives Together.