Always a pleasant experience. Staff and manager are always helpful and friendly…read more Stock is neatly arranged and buyable. Not only is Shepard's Gate worth a visit, but they support our community.

This review is written as an observer at a distance given lack of access during the recovery…read moreprocess. Most info gained through family members who have had direct contact and my own research. This program and organization is unlike any other I've seen or heard of. While being very structured in many ways such as lack of outside communication for most of 11 months, this allows the individual to step out from under the burden upon them, long enough to make the personal changes needed. The facilities are excellent, and the needs of the participants are well met. Religion may not be your thing, but if accepting God into your life helps reduce the anxiety, or other inhibiting factors, why not? If participants learn to think about their actions prior to acting, they learn to avoid problems, and get help when they recognize it on the horizon. Those are much needed skills today. The support shepherds gate receives from all the churches in the tri-valley area is nothing short of amazing! It is evident by the volunteer support the organization receives. This program has attendees learning coping skills necessary to live functionally in today's world. They help them develop computer skills. They help them interview for and get employment. They have access to every resource from sponsors to doctors and therapists. Attendees of the program seem very positive. Some refuse to play by the rules and are removed from the program. In the end this is a free 11 month program. Not because insurance is covering it, they don't charge. Yes that's written correctly. This is a program that gives the time needed to move to a new lifestyle, and have stabilization. I can't imagine what this would cost otherwise. When it seems like everyone's got an angle to rob you blind, here is the purest form of love and support. I had my reservations given its structure. But the feedback is outstanding.

Safe food pantry, with security cameras out front at least for those in need. I understand the…read moreprocess to receive food can take all day because it requires waiting in line for a number early in the day, then returning later in the day when the number is called and people receive food. That seems like it would be very impactful to people's lives, if they need to spend the better part of any given day to receive food. That means a 20% loss of potential time to find work for the week. And even more than that because they may miss calls or otherwise be unavailable to attend to jobs business from previous applications for the better part of a day. It also seems like a lot of time in transit to go back and forth twice from home to the pantry, unnecessarily polluting our air from exhaust from combustion engines in vehicles and power plants where electricity is generated, not to mention the cost for gas and maintenance or vehicles for people who cannot afford it. It seems like a raffle where names are randomly selected from the list of people who have registered online in the morning would be a better service to the customers but I guess the implication is that these people's time is not important because they are not working and they deserve to wait in line for hours during cold mornings, standing on cement. At least there is shelter from the awning for the first people who arrive but the others bake in sunshine. Often the later people to arrive don't even wait in line because there is no room to actually do so, so they wander around the parking lot. Compared to the competition, I hear this is a food pantry but still lacking in services required for humane delivery. I won't even start to share the rumors I've heard about how badly people are treated by some staff and some volunteers, as well as people dropping off food. Suffice it to say that there seems to be an 'Us and Them' phenomenon going on amongst providers, despite their sometimes apparent good intentions.

If you use the food pantry get there early as numbers go quickly. That said, the people that work…read morehere are friendly and helpful. They give a wide variety of food & are really organized. This a good place to go if you need food.

I recently lost weight so I donated a full wardrobe and also gently worn and new shoes. I recommend…read moredonating your gently used clothes, shoes and any other items here rather then a Goodwill because they can be given to the people who need them for free rather then donating to an establishment that will resell them. Some people just don't have the funds to even buy from a thrift or second hand store so giving directly to the people who need it is best.

their breakfast usually suck, but their lunches are top notch. Thank you for everything!read more

I am totally biased, but our church offers beautiful facilities, amazing programs for K-5 children…read moreon Sundays and weekdays, MULTIPLE ways to get involved. Like singing? Our choir is fantastic. Want service options? We work with the Homeless Refuge, local women's shelters, soup kitchens, Habitat for Humanity, bike building/backpacks for students, Heifer International, and more! Have a way you want to get involved? Church always looking for more ways to get involved. The pastor, Steve, welcomes you by saying that we are a community that doesn't claim to have all the answers....also, we are not a place where but a people who. Services are Sundays at 9AM (contemplative) and 10:30AM (traditional, Sunday School at 10:30)

I visited this church first for a wedding rehearsal and then the actual wedding. It is pretty easy…read moreto get to with one way parking entry and exits, they have a nice garden and the bathrooms are located outside. The wedding coordinator was very flexible and thorough. The church was beautiful both inside and outside.

Thank God for access to the Latin mass!!! Sundays at 8 am…read more The traditions that were unbroken for over 1500 yrs until broken by Vatican 2 are still moving and inspiring. Go and see yourself.

I volunteer to serve lunch weekly. The staff are friendly and amazing. They go above and beyond…read moreserving this community. The shelter guests are the reason I help out. They are such a blessing and so grateful for anything you do. Listening to their stories gives me a real perspective and understanding. Jolie Egusa

Awesome food bank bring a cart because they give away so much food damn they are awesomeread more

As a parent of a gender fluid child, I appreciate how truly welcoming St Clare's is to all people…read more This isn't a church that claims to have all the answers. Instead we welcome anyone to seek answers together, to love unconditionally, and to celebrate the diversity of God's creation.

Although my wife and I live in Minneapolis our daughter and her family reside in Livermore. Spring…read morebreak for the children plus two birthdays near April 1 have resulted in our being in the Livermore/Pleasanton area at Easter time. Although not regular church goers we try to go at least at Christmas and Easter. Our California family goes to St Clare and we have ended up attending Easter services there several times recently. If we lived in the area it would be our church also. St Clare is small. It is informal and welcoming but still maintains a traditional format in the service which is important to us. Easter is a perfect time in the area with trees in full bloom whereas in Minnesota trees are still bare. We have found worship at St Clare to be a rewarding experience.

I had the privilege of seeing Amma on her tour in 2018. My son really likes hugs and when I heard…read moreabout Amma--who is known for many things, including having hugged more people than anyone else in the world--I figured it would be a good cultural experience. My husband, son and I went and it was a wonderful experience. She hugged us: first son, then son +husbnad, then son+ husband+me. I didn't know what to expect but it was quite moving. If you visit when Amma is here, you get an intro video that explains her work (impressive), some meditation (nice). Newbies are invited to sit at the front and you get hugged early on. After that, you can shop the visiting vendors and buy some yummy food they set up outside. The grounds are beautiful too. Try to arrive early. Identify yourself to the greeters as a first-time visitor. Amma's volunteers do lots of interesting things on site when she isn't here: gardening, making food for those in need, recycling projects. They also COOK FOOD AND DELIVER IT EVERY SATURDAY. This can be combined with delivery of fresh fruits harvested from the Amma center. Check out the Food From Home Yelp review for more information on that.

Amma (Sri Mata Amritanandaymayi Devi) is a God-Realized being who has nothing to gain from us, or…read moreanyone. She is the spiritual mother to millions traveling the world to give solace, advice and comfort to those that seek it. She is only here on this earth plane to uplift all of humanity, and does so through a simple glance, Her embrace, Her very breath. One is not required to follow the religion of Her birthplace which is called in the west "Hinduism", but in reality is Sanatana Dharma -- eternal wisdom -- a philosophy that welcomes all regardless of their spiritual path or religious orientation. Amma's religion is Love. Amma owns nothing and every cent donated goes towards supporting Embracing the World -- all of the charities and initiatives created by Amma. Donations are strictly voluntary. Amma never asks anyone for money. The majority of the staffing is also voluntary, with no salaries in most areas. Amma Herself monitors how every penny is spent and every resource is utilized and emphasizes the importance of minimizing waste.

ABSOLUTELY do not know how to follow through with anything they tell you they will do. They strung…read moreus along for months because there was "something they were working on for us", and all kinds of promised help that never came through. All up until they kicked us out of the hotel they had put us in, never came through with somewhere to go from the hotel (even after reassuring us they had somewhere for us). So now we are back to living on the streets and wishing we had never even heard of this organization.

I was discriminated against two different ways, going there for a meal…read more Never again; I had a bad feeling I regret not following, that this would be the case. It was really blatant, too. They favor their friends, the guys that work there. I don't want your food, at the end of the day.

I am a volunteer for this organization and they provide well needed services to the Tri-Valley…read moreresidents. Their main office is located in Livermore and they have another office in Pleasanton next to the senior center on Sunol Boulevard. I volunteered for the caring visitors program and currently doing office support, where needed. The staff are friendly, engaging, and passionate about their work. City Serve offers homeless services, care advocacy, caring visitors program for seniors 60+, and finding wellness. I have inquired about resources for myself within my community and they were able to guide me to the appropriate organizations. Their holiday pop-up shopping event where resident can shop for Christmas toys for their kids as well as shop for basic personal needs is a huge hit. I have gone, get there early; I was able to get some gifts and much needed household and personal items.

A wonderful resource for family caregivers of relatives with dementia. They provide support and…read moreinformation regarding health services and programs.