The Tracy Community Connections Center 2025 annual report is now available to read below. We’re very proud of the work we achieved in the last year, including the 219% increase in services delivered which indicates of how vital our role is in supporting the community.
Tracy Community Connections Center is excited to share our appreciation for the generous support of our local Texas Roadhouse restaurant. Their manager recently reached out with an offer to donate leftover food on a weekly basis, and we couldn’t be more grateful. Thanks to their kindness, our clients have already enjoyed hearty, delicious meals including corn, mashed potatoes, chili, and green beans.
These donations make a real difference for the individuals we serve. Debbie, our Director of Shower and Laundry Programs, ensures the food is distributed to clients at our shower program, giving people a warm meal along with the hygiene services and support they receive. It’s a simple act of generosity that brings comfort, nourishment, and dignity to those who need it most.
Community partnerships like this remind us how much good can happen when local businesses step up to help their neighbors. Thank you, Texas Roadhouse in Tracy, for being part of the TCCC family and helping us care for our community!
At Tracy Community Connections Center, our work is powered by people who truly care about making life better for others. One of those people is John Mello, a dedicated Case Manager for our new Transitional Rent Program in Stanislaus County. John brings experience, compassion, and heart to everything he does.
John joined TCCC with extensive hands-on experience working with vulnerable populations. Over the years, he has built a career focused on uplifting underserved communities and improving quality of life in challenging urban environments. That background makes him a natural fit for the mission of TCCC, helping people move from crisis to stability with dignity and support.
When asked what inspired him to join the organization, John gives credit to our Director of Programs, Shiree McCarty-Hopkins. Her encouragement and leadership played a big role in bringing him onto the team.
What keeps John here is simple: the shared passion for helping others.
“What I love most about being part of TCCC is the passion to want to help the community,” he explains. “Everyone here truly cares about the people we serve.”
That commitment shows up every day in the way John works with clients. Whether he’s helping someone navigate housing challenges, connect with resources, or take the next step toward stability, he approaches each situation with patience, understanding, and a genuine desire to make a difference.
John wishes more people understood just how much effort goes on behind the scenes.
“I wish people knew how hard we work to provide services,” he says. The TCCC team spends countless hours coordinating care, solving problems, and walking alongside clients through difficult circumstances. It is work that often goes unnoticed but changes lives every day.
If John had to describe himself in three words, he chooses: Helpful, Fun, and Experienced – a combination that perfectly captures his approach. He brings knowledge and professionalism to his role, but never loses his sense of humor or warmth.
Outside of work, John has plenty of interests that keep life exciting. A fun fact many people don’t know about him? He loves officiating sports. Staying involved in athletics is one of the ways he connects with his community and enjoys his free time.
Asked who he’d want to have dinner with, John doesn’t hesitate: “Derek Jeter – he played for the NY Yankees.” Like many lifelong sports fans, John admires Jeter’s leadership, dedication, and professionalism.
When he’s not at TCCC, John’s favorite way to spend a day off is simple and meaningful – time with his grandbabies. Family is clearly at the center of his life, and those moments recharge him for the important work he does.
And if you ever run into him around town, there’s a good chance you might spot him at one of his favorite local places: Market Square Café right here in Tracy.
John Mello represents the heart of TCCC. We are experienced professionals who show up with compassion, humor, and a deep commitment to serving others. We’re grateful to have him on our team and excited to see the continued impact he’ll make in the lives of our clients and community.
Thank you, John, for all that you do!
Photo: Credit to Bob Brownne with Tracy Press. Pictured: Carrie Grover, TCCC’s Executive Director, sharing her thoughts during the ceremony. Read the article from Tracy Press for more photos and details, including many of the beautiful words spoken by Carrie.
On December 20, 2025, Tracy Community Connections Center gathered with community members at Redemption Road Church to honor neighbors who died while experiencing homelessness. Held on the longest night of the year, our annual Homeless Memorial is a time to pause, remember, and acknowledge lives that mattered deeply, even if their struggles often went unseen.
This memorial is part of the National Homeless Persons’ Memorial Day, observed across the country each year on or around December 21. Communities nationwide come together on this date to recognize the human cost of homelessness and to remember those who passed without stable shelter.
At the memorial, TCCC staff, volunteers, faith leaders, and local residents stood together in quiet reflection while names were read aloud. Each moment served as a reminder that homelessness is not abstract or distant. It exists here, in our city, affecting people with stories, families, and histories.
The names of those remembered: Jared Jones, Barbara Ezzihar, Dennis Wayne Rudd, Deedra Gollihar, Raul Madrigal, Frank Bonilla, and Lisa Nurse, were read aloud as a bell rang in their honor.
Events like this are difficult but necessary. They ground our work in humanity. They remind us why outreach, housing navigation, hygiene services, and case management matter so much, especially during the coldest months of the year. Winter is often the most dangerous season for people living outdoors, and the longest night carries symbolic weight for those experiencing isolation, loss, and vulnerability.
We are grateful to everyone who attended, supported, or held space for this event. As we move into the new year, we carry these names with us, not just as memories, but as motivation to keep showing up for our unhoused neighbors.
To learn more about our outreach work or how to get involved, visit tracyccc.org/get-involved or call us at (209) 407-9649.
We hosted a free financial workshop led by Kendra Willis, Financial Educator with World System Builder, who volunteered her time to teach the basics of budgeting, saving, insurance, and long-term financial planning.
Clients and staff of Tracy Community Connections Center gathered to learn practical strategies for managing money, understanding workplace benefits, and taking meaningful steps toward financial independence. For many attendees, these topics felt intimidating at first, but the workshop quickly turned that around. One participant shared that she learned more than she expected and walked away ready to start saving and finally understand the benefits offered at her job.
Workshops like this help our community gain confidence, reduce stress, and feel more in control of their future. We’re grateful to Kendra for sharing her expertise and to everyone who participated. And we’re excited to say this is just the beginning! TCCC plans to host more learning opportunities to support individuals and families on their path to stability.
If you’d like to attend or support future classes, stay tuned for updates on our website and social channels!
