Deb has been a part of Tracy Community Connections Center (TCCC) since its very beginning, first serving as staff and now contributing as a Board Member and volunteer. Inspired by a deep passion for helping those in need, Deb has devoted her time and energy to supporting TCCC’s mission of providing essential services and resources for the homeless in Tracy.
What Deb loves most about being part of TCCC is the dedication and care she sees in every team member, from Executive Director Carrie Grover to the Case Managers, Street Outreach team, and fellow Board Members. She recalls one particularly impactful moment from her time as Street Outreach Director, when she was offered a chair to sit and talk with small groups outside their tents. These conversations allowed her to build personal relationships, learn clients’ names, and truly understand their needs. Deb wishes more people knew just how much every TCCC staff member and volunteer genuinely cares about the people they serve.
Deb Padaong (center, in checkered coat) with staff and volunteers at TCCC
Outside of her work with TCCC, Deb describes herself as loving, faithful, and happy. She has a unique passion for Hawaiian culture and has been teaching Ho’omana Hawaiian Hula for the past 13 years. On a relaxing day off, you might find her in her pajamas watching a good movie, and when asked about her favorite local spot in Tracy, she laughingly replies, “Costco!” If she could have dinner with any historical figure or celebrity, it would be the late Luther Vandross, whose music she describes as deeply touching and inspirational.
Deb’s dedication, compassion, and joy make her an invaluable part of TCCC. Her story reminds us of the power of genuine connection and the difference one caring individual can make in the lives of those experiencing homelessness.
Considering volunteering with TCCC? Click here to learn how you can get involved.
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.
