May Community Events

On Sat May 17, The City of Seaside held a Community Resource Day at Laguna Grande Park.

Mara Cole,  Aiko Matsuyama, Misty Faulis along with Sara Tortorelli from Refresh Start manned the table under our newly acquired Pass The Word banner.

We were able to share with many passersby what Pass The Word does each Saturday morning. We invited people who requested currently needing our services as well as encouraged interested parties to come out and volunteer with us while explaining our location and exactly what services we provide to the unhoused in our community. We also shared with other organizations that were present and gathered some of their resource materials. Some of the organizations represented were: The Salvation Army, Gathering for Women, VNA, Empathy In Action, a project of the Transformative Justice Center "building bridges of empathy, healing and insight between the incarcerated and the public" as it states in their brochure.

The Alliance on Aging, Legal Aid- Defense Attorney's, Substance Abuse and Mental Health program information, Cal Fresh food programs, Monterey County Family & Child Services among many others who all provided valuable information.

This event organized by Derrick Elder who works for the City of Seaside with Seaside Homeless Commission provides a gathering and dissemination of information from many of the service organizations in our area who provide to those in our community who are in need of assistance. Pass The Word Ministries was proud to be included in this gathering in the hopes of spreading the light of loving our neighbors as ourselves. Thank you Derrick for including us.

On Tuesday, May 20, 2025 the Bridge Ministry Ribbon Cutting ceremony took place at their new facility on the grounds of  the former Ave Maria Catholic Convalescent facility. Allen and Sally Boden set up a table with the banner "Sick and Tired of Being Sick and Tired?" to provide information to participants re: accessing addiction recovery programs and information, including QR codes. They also provided some information for Pass The Word Ministries. (PTWM)

PTWM provided business cards along with the list of Weekly Free Meals and Food provided at various locations around the Monterey Peninsula. The Pacific Grove and Monterey Chamber of Commerce conducted the Ribbon Cutting ceremony alongside the Director of The Bridge Ministry, Mike Casey with several of his program staff present. Other invited dignitaries such as the Sheriff of the County. of Salinas and other prominent business owners were present.  Pass The Word Ministry Secretary Aiko Matsuyama, and Board Director Mara Cole were honored to represent and witness the festivities. Another Board Director, Chuck Drake, is very much involved with the program as a mentor. This was an incredible display of the community's efforts to partner and provide care and services to those who struggle with addictions and often need it most.