Our TCCC volunteers are the heart of everything we do. They greet clients, distribute supplies, and often serve as the first friendly face someone sees when they walk through our doors. Today, we’re shining the spotlight on Joyce Claffey, a dedicated volunteer who has been with TCCC since day one.
Joyce began volunteering 10 years ago, back when six local churches were offering evening meals and clothing to those in need. She saw a gap and helped fill it by adding toiletry items to the distribution. Soon after, she helped coordinate a partnership with a local gas station to provide supervised showers for clients. As TCCC grew, Joyce played a key role in expanding the program, helping to launch our shower trailer, organizing volunteer schedules, and distributing essentials like t-shirts, socks, and underwear.
Over the years, Joyce has seen TCCC evolve into the multi-service navigation center it is today. Now, in addition to showers, laundry, clothing, and food, clients have access to case managers, outreach workers, and resource navigation. Joyce recently served as Volunteer Coordinator for our new Laundry Service, which began in February 2025. Twice a week, the laundry trailer’s six washers and dryers run an average of 15 loads a day. On two occasions, when the dryers weren’t working, Joyce even coordinated with Spin City to finish loads for free, staying with the clothes until they were ready for clients to pick up.
Joyce and her husband have lived in Tracy since 1985, and her commitment to serving the community extends beyond TCCC. She also volunteers weekly at Tracy Interfaith Ministries, assisting with client intake. At TCCC, she offers steady support, filling gaps when needed, helping with volunteers, and promoting our services through conversations and flyers. She’s quick to highlight the dedication of our case managers and the leadership of Carrie, our director, whom she describes as “always looking for ways to expand and finance our mission.”
For Joyce, volunteering is about authenticity: “Really care about people. Don’t pretend to care. Meet people where they are. Accept them. Be friendly but with boundaries.” Her willingness to go the extra mile is matched only by the compassion she brings to each interaction.
She has countless memories, but a few stand out: helping a working family with three children bridge the gap until they no longer needed assistance; encouraging a woman through conversations that helped her quit drinking, find a job, and begin searching for housing; and reconnecting years later with a man who credited her care with helping him stay on track after a difficult period.
Outside of volunteering, Joyce enjoys sewing, crocheting, music, and spending time with her dog. She’s also in the process of downsizing her home, proof that she’s always moving forward, whether it’s in her personal life or in service to others.
Joyce’s decade-long dedication is a reminder that behind every program we offer, there are people like her making it possible, one warm conversation, clean towel, and caring gesture at a time.
If you are interested in volunteering with TCCC, click here to learn how you can get involved.
At Tracy Community Connections Center (TCCC), our mission is to walk alongside individuals during some of the most difficult moments of their lives and to help them move forward. The following five stories highlight what’s possible when community, compassion, and perseverance come together. These are real people, facing real challenges and making real progress, though their names have been changed or abbreviated to protect their privacy:
1. Mariana: A Young Mother Reclaims Her Future
Earlier this year, Mariana was referred to the Tracy Shelter by TCCC. A young mother navigating probation and early recovery, she faced major obstacles but remained committed to turning her life around. After a difficult relapse, she entered and completed a 90-day inpatient treatment program, an achievement that required enormous strength and focus.
TCCC provided support throughout her journey, helping her access housing services and reconnect with critical resources. Now living sober, she’s preparing to move to Stockton with her child, where she’ll continue building a stable life. Mariana draws strength from her family, her church, and a growing support network, and she’s determined to keep moving forward.
2. O.D.: Safety and Stability for a Family in Crisis
After escaping domestic violence, O.D. came to us in urgent need of support for herself and her two children. In a matter of days, we helped her access emergency shelter, legal assistance, and essential public benefits including CalWORKS, Medi-Cal, and food assistance.
O.D. is now in a much safer, more stable environment and has begun preparing for her future. With her children in childcare, she’s starting a business program to build a path toward independence and opportunity. In just one month, O.D. went from crisis to control and her courage inspires us daily.
3. A.G.: From Nothing to New Beginnings
A.G. came to TCCC with no belongings, no job, and no clear plan. She had just left an unsafe living situation and was looking for a way to start fresh. We connected her to Tracy House, where she found stability and safety while working with our case managers to plan her next steps.
With steady support, A.G. quickly found a job in Modesto and began rebuilding her life. Today, she’s working, housed, and focused on long-term stability. Her story reminds us that sometimes, all someone needs is a safe place to start again.
4. Ann: Dignity in the Face of Homelessness
At 47, Ann never imagined she would be homeless, let alone for two years. A former businesswoman and mother of three, her life was upended by a divorce and job loss. “I’ve slept in park bathrooms and behind dumpsters,” she shared. “But I won’t let it break me.”
Despite living without shelter, Ann chose to stay sober and help others around her survive. With extensive professional experience, she continues to seek stable employment, though the lack of a permanent address, transportation, and basic hygiene access has made the search nearly impossible. “I had the American Dream once,” she says. “And I still believe I can have it again.” At TCCC, we’re walking with Ann every step of the way as she fights to reclaim that dream.
5. R.A.: From Survival to Serving Others
In 2021, R.A. was living in El Pescadero Park when she first met TCCC staff through our Warming Center. She was struggling with addiction and living in survival mode. But R.A. made a brave choice by entering the City of Tracy shelter and starting treatment. She didn’t stop there. While staying at the shelter, she completed her medical assistant certification and commuted to Stockton three days a week for her internship.
Today, she’s working part-time at San Joaquin General Hospital, using her experience and training to care for others. R.A.’s journey is proof that with the right support, people can not only recover, but thrive.
Want to Read More Success Stories Like These?
These five stories are only a glimpse into the work happening every day at TCCC. Each person we serve brings courage, resilience, and hope. And with your support, we’ll keep walking with them until stability isn’t the exception, but the norm. We continue to post stories like these on our social media channels, so please follow us if you’re not already: FacebookInstagram
For our unhoused neighbors, access to basic hygiene isn’t guaranteed. That’s why Tracy Community Connections Center (TCCC) operates a mobile Shower Program. Three days a week: Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. we welcome anyone in need at New Heart Church (1647 Bessie Ave.). With the support of our partner church, we’ve transformed their parking lot into a safe, welcoming space where people can refresh, recharge, and reconnect with dignity.
In 2024, we provided 3,289 showers and we’re on track to serve even more this year.
More Than a Shower
When someone arrives at our Shower Program, they’re met by caring staff—not just with a towel and soap, but with conversation, kindness, and support. Every guest has free access to:
A warm shower
Hygiene products
Clean clothes
Food
Restroom
Phone charging station
Resource referrals and case management
A genuine, human connection
Haircuts offered Mondays 9am – 1pm
Our team is there to listen, build trust, and support the next steps toward stability.
Tracy Police Department’s Familiar Faces Program, helping connect repeat system users to services
And of course, our host, New Heart Church, whose generosity makes this program possible
Why It Matters and How You Can Help
The ability to shower, wear clean clothes, and feel human again shouldn’t be a luxury. It’s a basic human need and it’s often the first step toward recovery, employment, and housing. We’ve seen it time and again: a clean body can lead to a clearer mind, a restored sense of dignity, and a renewed desire to seek help.
It costs just $25 to cover the cost of a shower, hygiene supplies, and clean clothes for two people. If you believe everyone deserves a clean start, consider donating today. You’ll be making an immediate impact right here in Tracy.
In fiscal year 2023–2024, Tracy Community Connections Center (TCCC) served 202 individuals from 51 households through the HousingWORKs program, helping families in San Joaquin County avoid homelessness. Funded by First 5 San Joaquin and CDSS, HousingWORKs assists CalWORKs families facing eviction by offering rental assistance, landlord mediation, benefit applications, and referrals.
77% of participants were from historically underserved racial and ethnic groups, and 64% were able to stay in their housing after entering the program. All surveyed participants said TCCC’s support helped them avoid eviction, and 100% were satisfied with their experience. Services focused on helping families resolve “Notices to Pay Rent or Quit,” stabilize their housing, and connect with community resources.
TCCC’s hands-on support model offering financial aid, landlord negotiation, and personalized referrals makes a lasting impact, securing real stability in moments of crisis.
We’re proud to share that we were awarded the 2025 Nonprofit of the Year for California’s Senate District 5. It is a recognition that shines a bright spotlight on the tireless work our team has been doing in the Tracy community since 2015.
This honor was announced by Senator Jerry McNerney, who selected TCCC for our efforts in tackling homelessness, providing housing support, and offering crucial social services to our most vulnerable neighbors. TCCC was formally recognized at the California Nonprofits Day celebration on May 21 at the State Capitol in Sacramento. The annual event, hosted by CalNonprofits, brings together nonprofit leaders and elected officials from across the state to celebrate the vital impact of community organizations.
Our Executive Director Carrie Grover and Board Chair Stephanie Burrell-Hammer were proud to accept the award in person. “This recognition is a testament to the unwavering dedication of our staff, volunteers, and partners who work tirelessly to support the most vulnerable members of our community,” Grover said.
This award reflects the partnerships, community support, and local collaboration that power TCCC’s mission. Since opening our doors, we’ve served hundreds of individuals and families with free showers, clean laundry, hygiene products, case management, and resource navigation. We meet people where they are, without judgment, and walk beside them as they take steps toward stability.
This recognition also affirms what we already know: that real, lasting change starts at the local level. Our programs work because they’re built with community in mind, connecting people to housing, health services, and a support network that doesn’t disappear when the paperwork is done.
Being named Nonprofit of the Year won’t change our focus. We’re here, day in and day out, doing the work. But it does give us a moment to celebrate with you, our community, the progress we’ve made and the partnerships that make it possible.
We’re honored. We’re grateful. And we’re just getting started.
If you’d like to join us as a sponsor, get involved, or support our work in other ways, reach out. There’s still more to do, and we’re always stronger when we do it together.
