Community Spotlight: Sacred Heart Community Services

Sacred Heart Community Services is a local non-profit with the mission to “build a community free from poverty by creating hope, opportunity, and action.” Located at 1381 S 1st St, Sacred Heart provides a vast array of essential services. They believe that poverty is not inevitable, and that it is fixable through a community that is committed to caring for and protecting its’ most vulnerable community members. Check out their website! You can register online to become a member.

Hours

  • Monday, Wednesday, Thursday 9:00AM-4:00PM
  • Tuesday 9:00AM-6:00PM
  • Friday 9:00AM-12:00PM

Services

Two people exchanging a food box in the foreground, others moving around the pantry in the background

Food Pantry

  • Open during regular operating hours listed above
  • Not zip code restricted
  • Visits are available to you once a week
  • You get to select the food you want from what they have available, it’s like a mini mart!


Two images depicted. Left image shows two people smiling at the camera in front of a full trunk of clothes. Image on the right has a woman smiling, separating donated clothes into bins.

Clothes Closet

  • Open during regular operating hours listed above
  • Visits are available to you once a week
  • Clothes for the whole family! Five items per person, per visit!


Learning center for children filled with gifts for a Holiday program

Education

  • Preschoolers, Early Childhood Education, and Parenting Support Safe, Secure, and Loved for children ages 0-3
    (408) 709-4590 or email: leslyu@sacredheartcs.org
  • Preschool classes for children ages 3-5 with participating ESL parents
    (408) 916-5066 or email: jacquelinem@sacredheartcs.org
  • Afterschool & Summer Education Programs (408) 916-5067


Survival Sack

  • Available 1st and 4th Thursday of each month 9:00 - 10:30 AM
  • Sacks are available to each individual once every three months
  • Includes: a backpack, hygiene products, underwear/socks, blanket/sleeping bag, no-cook food

Utility Assistance

  • For energy assistance you can find the application online: https://sacredheartcs.org/utility-assistance, or you can request it by phone: (877) 278-6455 or email: heap@sacredheartcs.org, or pick it up in person! To turn in the application you may turn it in by mail or in person to the drop box outside the main door. The LIHEAP team is not helping in person.
  • For water assistance you can find the application online: https://sacredheartcs.org/utility-assistance, or you can request it by phone: (408) 916-5014 or email: heap@sacredheartcs.org To turn in the application you may turn it in by mail or in person to the drop box outside the main door. The LIWHAP team is not helping in person.
  • Weatherization assistance - provides FREE home Weatherization Services to eligible households – call (408) 675-1910

Rent or Deposit Assistance

  • Call (408) 709-2364 or email: housinginfo@sacredheartcs.org to schedule an over the phone appointment
  • Housing staff is available in person for emergency appointments and questions: Monday, Wednesday, Thursday 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM | Tuesday 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM | Friday 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM
  • The housing program is very busy and may not have available appointments soon
  • For more information visit online: https://sacredheartcs.org/programs-housing-financial-assistance

Economic Justice Network

  • Please call or email to schedule an appointment:

La Mesa Verde

  • Learn to grow your own organic vegetables and join an active community of urban gardeners committed to food justice
  • All plants and materials needed for garden beds are supplied free of cost to eligible families
  • For more information you can visit: https://lamesaverdeshcs.org or call (408) 386-7706

Policy & Organizing

Graduate in a graduation gown smiling leaning over a sign that reads "School of Social Work Building" with tree branches reaching overhead

Who am I?

Thanks for reading! My name is Julie, and I’m a program specialist in the Library’s equity and inclusion services unit. I help coordinate our Social Work in the Library projects. I’m originally from Georgia, and graduated from the University of Georgia with my social work degree in May of 2020. I moved to the South Bay that summer and started working with San José Public Library as an AmeriCorps VISTA in 2021. I was hired on as a program specialist after completing my VISTA service year. As a part of my work, I engage with local organizations like Sacred Heart to foster collaborations that allow us to better serve our community’s needs. I hope you found this blog helpful, and if you’d like to chat with me to learn more about resources or services that might be available to you, please feel free to call me at (408) 808-2357 or email julianna.black@sjlibrary.org I’d be happy to help you achieve your goals!


Learn more about Social Work Services