What we do 
Have you ever taken a much-needed shower and said, “I feel human again”?
Imagine not having access to a basic need like personal cleanliness.
Mercy Holistic Ministry delivers not just a hot shower but also clean clothes and even a haircut to those who need them the most. Connecting through heartfelt compassion and love, we aim to restore dignity and hope, establish trusting relationships, and contribute to building a healthier community.
About our founders
Berhanu, Miheret, and their family are originally from Ethiopia, and moved to Sacramento, California from Dubai in 2007. With a passion for helping people who are in need, their goal is for Mercy Holistic Ministry (MHM) to be a bridge between the homeless community and available resources. The ultimate vision is to show the love of Christ for everyone and to see a person’s life changed to the point that they are able to stand on their own two feet.
Right now
At present the shower trailer is active every Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday at five differerent locations. Find us in downtown Sacramento at 1422 C Street (Francis House Center, Tuesday); at 13th and N Streets (Westminster Presbyterian Church, Wednesday); at 28th and S Streets (First Church of the Nazarene, Thursday) and at 16th and C Streets (Dream Center Church, Saturday mornings). We roll to 2911 Rio Linda Blvd (Church of the Harvest) onSacturday afternoons, late in the day. When invited, the trailer rolls to Mount Calvary Missionary Baptist Church at 3407 Altos Way in Del Paso, North Sacramento. Since 2021 we have provided more than 14,000 hot showers and 3500 haircuts! We are proud of those numbers, but we want to do more.
Next steps
"More" looks like 3 more days per week in locations to be determined, potentially in Oak Park, South Sacramento or Natomas. Help us cover the expenses of these new locations.
What your donation would do
We all know hot water costs money. So do clean towels, new underwear and socks, and hygiene kits. Your generosity would provide those for our guests, along with counseling and homeless navigation services. We aim to impart dignity and build trusting relationships in order to help our guests move from their present situations into better and better ones, ultimately to sustainable housing.
We have access to a second shower trailer - we need another vehicle to tow it and we need more staff to operate it.
Your donation would allow us to expand our services as mentioned above. Let's keep the shower trailers busy!
Our staff
We are proud to employ a site manager and assistant as well as an apprentice barber - men who once were recipients of our services. (Yes, that means at one time they were unhoused.) As Executive Director, Berhanu is busy building relationships in the community and even other parts of the state with individuals, corporations, churches, governmental entities, and anyone who will listen to his compelling and loving synopsis of MHM. Our part-time development and community outreach manager supports Berhanu's efforts and actively works to grow our network of friends. We also have a part time admin team member who handles the myriad of behind-the-scenes details common to every organization. We are all committed to the core values and mission of MHM and want to see it grow to be able to serve more people.
Extras
Partnering with St. Matthew Lutheran Church in Rocklin, we host a Bike Giveaway and free bike repair and maintenance four times a year, at our current Saturday locations at Dream Center Church, 15th and C Streets, Sacramento and at Church of the Harvest, 2911 Rio Linda Blvd. in North Sacramento. Priority is given to those who have a job or an interview or who go to school, as lack of transpotation is often a barrier to advancement.
Do you have a bike or two you don’t use anymore? You can take them to St. Matthew Lutheran Church at 3785 Placer Corporate Drive, Rocklin, Monday through Friday from 9:00am to 4:00pm. You can also take them to Town and Country Lutheran Church, 4049 Marconi Ave, Sacramento and Trinity Lutheran Church, 27th and O Streets, Sacramento, both sites by appointment. See our website for more information.
Did we mention haircuts? Our apprentice barber plus an occasional volunteer add to the dignity of our guests by providing a fresh cut. Each shower guest receives brand new underwear and socks plus can select from our clean gently used clothing and shoes. Kudos to Bombas sock company - they really do give away a lot of socks.
