About HART of Folsom

I was born and raised in San Francisco and met my husband there. We moved to the Sierra Foothills in 1987 and chose to settle in the rural community of Cameron Park with our young family and pursue our careers.

For most of my career as an educator, I focused on professional training, program design, and curriculum development with an emphasis in literacy for El Dorado and San Luis Obispo counties. The programs were focused on helping at-risk youth in middle and high school. After retiring, I enjoyed working with students one on one as a private literacy instructor.

My husband and I were blessed to raise three children as part of a church family. Teaching Sunday School and Vacation Bible School, directing church plays, facilitating bible studies both within the church and in our neighborhood, and participating in studies led by others, were central to our family life and heart.

The beautiful city of Folsom is a special place to me. My youngest child was born at Mercy Hospital, and my daughter and her family live in Folsom. My heart is drawn to the unsheltered folks living locally. I’m honored to join hands with HART of Folsom as we reach out to those in need and help many find a home.

After living in El Dorado County for 30 years, Bev moved to Folsom in 2014. She retired in 2018 after working 13 years for the State of California in software development. While working downtown Sacramento, she saw people every day who had nowhere to spend the day and night but on the street. She saw that God had always provided what she needed and more, her heart was moved with empathy and concern for these people. We are no different in God’s eyes – God loves and values each one of us. When HART of Folsom began in 2017, Bev and her husband Gary knew that they needed to be part of serving unhoused folks in Folsom. She’s excited to see all the services that HART and other groups caring for the homeless community have been able to provide since that time.

Bev has been involved with the HART Winter Shelter each year since its inception. In 2022, Bev is the Winter Shelter coordinator, following after Judi Alexander. She is always reminded that (1) we are all in this big boat together – what affects one, affects all and (2) we all do better when we all do better. We don’t want to leave anyone behind if we have the ability to help them on to a better situation.

Janie’s roots are in Honolulu, Hawaii and has been in the northern California region since 1995. Raised Catholic and attended a private Catholic school, she has had her beliefs grounded in God from an early age. She always carries the “Aloha spirit” within her heart and shares it abundantly. Her career has been in office management and her studies in Computer Science and Finance. Currently she is working for the Shingle Springs Band of Miwok Indians and also part time for River Rock Church, which she attends. Among her favorite things to do is volunteer for HART of Folsom winter shelter and is also on the Fundraising Committee. She is also a foster parent for the SSPCA. You can find her volunteering at two churches in hospitality, on the care team, and in administration. Janie has been married to Brian since 2017 and they have three cats Pickles, Sully and recently adopted a third kitten, Camille. She loves to travel locally and internationally, gardens, and is an avid water fan. Her outlook on life is simple – give back generously, and as often as possible.

We moved around a lot before coming to Folsom in 1979. Sometimes we would live with my mom’s parents, sometimes we would be camping. Sometimes we had a apartment. We even rented a 3 story mansion once. We lived mostly in the country 30 miles east of Placerville. I didn’t realize till later in life that we were homeless at times.

My father always worked but without a high school diploma he didn’t make a lot of money.

I guess I get my heart for homeless from the way I was raised. I never thought about peoples status, I saw everyone as God’s people. My parents used a VA loan to buy a house here in Folsom. A few years later my father seriously injured his back at work, and my mother found out that she was having a surprise baby. Well… We now had NO income. Family friends brought us salmon and steelhead and we held onto the house because dad had disability insurance on the loan. We could have easily been homeless… again but now with 4 kids.

I left home and started working at 16 years old. I met my spouse of almost 33 years at 18. We have 3 grown children, 1 with ADHD and OCD ,1 with Asperger’s and 1 with ADD, OCD and Autoimmune hemographic Anemia.

We started feeding hungry and homeless or as I now like to call them “unhoused” people in the parks of Folsom about 8 years ago.

Today, with many volunteers, we feed 2x a week. We serve them a full meal and sit and talk with them. We get to know their stories and always talk about resources to help them find a better way in this life we are all doing together.

The 1 thing to take away from my story is that….Anyone can become homeless thru no fault of their own.

Eric is a new member of the Folsom community but has lived in the Sacramento area for 10 years. A native of Eastern Montana, he came to California, by way of Utah, to work as a fundraiser for UC Davis. After 10 years as an Aggie he is joining his wife Karen partnering to support the online business she has built. Together they have four kids and are excited to participate in the community through school, church and other activities for their busy family.

He was first introduced to HART through their Rancho Cordova branch where he volunteered for their winter shelter program, participating through the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. After moving up the hill he was introduced to HART of Folsom and joined the board to serve in building the programs that reach out to reduce homelessness in the community, fulfilling the mission of serving those in need.

I have been living in Folsom since 2002 and has raised two children here, who are both now in college. I am empathetic to all fellow humans no matter what kind of choices they made, and I would like to help everyone for as long as they need it, as much as I am able.

Since moving to the USA from India 25 years ago, I feel very blessed having experienced two of the world’s best cultures even though they are philosophically different. I life’s purpose to combine the best of both.

I work as an IT manager for the great State of California. I have worked as IT programmer, systems analyst, data and solutions architect and Manager for last 30 years. Having blessed to have the ability, I have volunteered by donating blood, serving on Folsom public library commission, founding, and leading several Indian cultural organizations, volunteering at the Big Brothers Big Sisters organization, and HART of Folsom. I love HART of Folsom because it positively impacts the lives of the unhoused. I strongly believe that no human should have to be homeless in this age and time when human civilization is at its best in history.

I would like to thank HART of Folsom for giving me the opportunity to serve on the board where I hope to contribute to its good work.