Adventist Community Services - Abode Services Volunteer 2023

Among the many ways one can give back to the community, one Napa organization provides benefits to Abode Services clients that many of us take for granted: clothing and other necessities.

Karl Riedel, head of the Napa-based  Adventist Community Services (ACS), can vouch for this. With help from his wife, Jeannie, and dozens of volunteers, ACS has been giving away donated clothes and other household items for years to help those in need.

The free program fills a big need in the North Bay, and its volunteers intend to keep helping the community for as long as necessary.

“We are blessed to have a community that provides us with material support, as well as talent and resources,” Riedel said. “So we share those blessings with the community, including those with Abode.”

The program, which is affiliated with the Napa Community Seventh-Day Adventist Church, has been in effect for more than a century. In that time, ACS volunteers have become one of Abode’s most dedicated volunteers in the North Bay.

Abode clients in our South Napa Shelter participate in the program by placing an order with Wendi Moore, Abode Services’ community engagement coordinator in Napa. She places orders with the Riedels in the morning and then returns to the ACS facility later in the day to pick up the free clothing.

A typical order might incudes pants, socks, shoes, sweater, jacket, hat, scarf, dress shirt, T-shirt, and even an umbrella or reading glasses. Nearly all the items are donated by Napa residents. Although it’s a church program, the vast majority of people it serves are not church members, Riedel said.

“We help anyone in need, regardless of their faith,” he said. “We have a responsibilithy to help anybody who needs it.”

Abode places an average of eight orders per week – sometimes more, Riedel said. In addition, when low-income people gain housing, ACS will provide free furniture, linens, kitchenware, and other household items to help them get set up in their home. ACS also gives personal care kits to anyone experiencing homelessness. The kits include soap, washcloths, combs, toothbrushes, toothpaste, dental floss, and shampoo, among other items.

Riedel said the satisfaction he gets from helping people who need it is the greatest reward.

“The best part is interacting with the clients – they’re always so appreciative,” he said. “That’s what keeps ACS volunteers motivated to keep coming back. It’s so rewarding to do good for others. It’s a feel-good experience.”