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.
Volunteering doesn’t have to mean a huge time commitment or doing work that makes you uncomfortable. In fact, the best volunteer efforts come from people who understand their own capacity, know what they’re good at, and care enough to show up again and again. At Tracy Community Connections Center (TCCC), we work with volunteers of all types: retirees, high school students, busy parents, and even corporate teams. The one thing they all have in common? They decided to start.
Here’s how you can do the same, and make a real difference in your community.
Step 1: Figure Out How Much Time You Can Give
Be honest with yourself. Can you commit to once a week? Once a month? Once a year for a special event? All of these are valuable. What we don’t need is people overcommitting and then burning out. Consistency matters more than quantity. Even if you only have time to help at one annual hygiene kit drive, that’s still useful. Start with what’s realistic for you.
Step 2: Think About Your Skills
You don’t need a social work degree to help a nonprofit. Maybe you’re great with spreadsheets, writing newsletters, or organizing events. Maybe you have experience in customer service, IT, or logistics. If you’re retired, think about the work skills you spent years building. We guarantee there’s a way to apply them. Don’t underestimate your everyday abilities. Nonprofits like TCCC need help behind the scenes just as much as we need it in the field.
Do you get fired up about helping people experiencing homelessness? Want to support animals, education, or the environment? Focus your energy where your heart already is. Passion fuels commitment. If the unhoused population in Tracy is something that pulls at you, TCCC is a great place to start. If it’s food insecurity or youth development, there are local partners doing that work too.
Step 4: Search for Local Organizations
Hop on VolunteerMatch.com and search for opportunities in the area. In Tracy, you can start with trusted names like Interfaith Ministries, El Concilio, or of course, TCCC. You don’t have to pick the perfect fit right away. Ask questions. Tour a facility. Attend an event. See what feels right.
One-off help is appreciated, but what we really need is consistency. When you commit to coming back — even once a month — we can rely on you. We can plan better. And you’ll see your impact build over time. If you’re not ready to be on-site, consider other options. Could you make phone calls from home? Organize a sock or hygiene kit drive at work or school?
Get Creative and Involve Others
Got kids? Some organizations have age restrictions, but there are still ways to include your family. Organize a family-friendly volunteer day, or have your children write kind notes to include in care packages.
Work for a company that supports volunteering? Ask if they offer paid time off to give back. Better yet, suggest a team volunteer day. You might be surprised how many coworkers want to help – they just need someone to take the lead.
Tracy needs you – not to do everything, but to do something. Start small. Do what you can. Show up with a willingness to help. And if you’re not sure where to begin, just reach out to us at Tracy Community Connections Center. We’ll help you find your place.
When you see someone experiencing homelessness in your community, it’s natural to want to help. But knowing what actually helps, and what might unintentionally do more harm than good, can be difficult to figure out. At Tracy Community Connections Center (TCCC), we work every day with individuals experiencing homelessness, and we’ve learned what makes the biggest difference.
Here’s what we want the Tracy community to know:
Start With Respect and Connection
Before anything else, remember this: unhoused people are just people. They are parents, veterans, workers, neighbors. Many are dealing with trauma, disability, or situations completely outside their control. One of the simplest things you can do is acknowledge their humanity with a smile, a conversation, or just treating them with the same dignity you’d want for yourself.
If you’re considering giving money directly to someone, know that it’s a personal decision, but in the long run, it’s more impactful to support local organizations that are already doing the work. Groups like TCCC have the relationships, the case management tools, and the experience to address not just today’s need but the root causes.
Partner with Organizations That Know the Work
We get it – you want to hand out hygiene kits, blankets, or snacks. And yes, those things can help in the moment. But it’s even better to coordinate with people who know who needs what, and when.
At TCCC, we already deliver emergency supplies to our clients and know their health histories, vulnerabilities, and specific situations. Partnering with us, or with other local programs, means your donation or time goes where it’s actually needed.
Show Up For the Long Haul
Real change takes more than handouts – it takes sustained support. Here are a few ways you can show up for the long run:
Donate to local nonprofits like TCCC who are doing direct outreach every day.
Volunteer at one of the local churches that provide free meals every night of the week in Tracy.
Attend the Tracy Homeless Advisory Committee (THAC) meetings and learn how city decisions impact homelessness. View THAC meetings here »
Get Involved Smartly
Want to help more? Donate supplies or funds to local service providers. Volunteer your time at organizations like TCCC, Interfaith Ministries, or El Concilio. Not sure where to start? Just ask us. We’re happy to connect you to the right place.
If you’re interested in hosting a fundraiser or organizing a drive, talk to us first, so that you know you’re collecting the items that are most in demand.
Using Your Voice and Your Platform
Educating others is powerful. Posting well-researched facts on social media can debunk myths, as does speaking out at organized awareness campaigns in schools or workplaces. But the message needs to spread further than your friends and neighbors. Reach the people and places that can really make a difference by asking local nonprofits how you can help. Contact your local legislators and city council members to ensure they represent the needs of their community.
Involve Your Kids (With Care)
Teaching children about empathy is important, and getting them involved in service is a great way to do that. With TCCC’s guidance, you can organize a donation drive with your family or encourage kids to write kind notes for care packages. Just remember: not every nonprofit can allow kids on-site, so check ahead before planning any in-person volunteering.
We’re Here to Help Without Judgment
If you’re reading this because you or someone you love is struggling, know that you are not alone. TCCC is here to connect you to every available resource, with compassion and without judgment. We’ll help you figure out what you qualify for and walk alongside you as you take the next step.
Want to get involved? Call us or stop by our office to learn how you can make a real difference, right here in Tracy.
