Spiritual Connection in the Quiet Hours In the early morning hours of March 15th, 2025, young women from the Youth Collective gathered for Youth Sahoor, an intimate pre-dawn gathering during the month of Ramadan. The main purpose of the event was to strengthen bonds within the group by coming together for a shared spiritual experience.

A Full Room and a Stronger Connection On March 12, BAYCC opened its doors to over 80 guests for our Muslim Families and Friends Iftar—an evening that brought together a truly multigenerational group, from toddlers to elders. We were honored to welcome Fatima Kaneez from ICNA Relief USA, who spoke before iftar about the importance of supporting relief efforts and acknowledged the ongoing involvement of BAYCC volunteers in ICNA’s work.

Iftar at LAUMC On Sunday, March 9, 2025, Los Altos United Methodist Church opened its doors for a Community Iftar Dinner, welcoming guests from various faith backgrounds for an evening centered around Ramadan, dialogue, and togetherness. The program began with a warm welcome from Pastor Dave, setting the tone for a night rooted in hospitality and shared values.

A Night of Learning and Friendship On March 9, university students gathered at the Mountain View Senior Center to share iftar, learn about Ramadan, and meet new people. The evening started with a welcome speech by Dr.

A Night of Community and Connection On March 6, 2025, university students gathered at UC Santa Cruz’s RCC Red Room for a special Ramadan Iftar Party. The evening was more than just a meal—it was a chance for students from diverse backgrounds to connect, learn, and share in the traditions of Ramadan.

Iftar with Community Leaders On March 5, 2025, community leaders, faith representatives, and local officials came together at the Sheraton Grand Sacramento for the California Iftar Dinner, co-hosted by the Pacifica Institute and BAYCC. The event was centered around the values of Ramadan—reflection, compassion, and connection—and served as an opportunity to build bridges across different communities.

Abrahamic Alliance International invited three faith houses—Congregation Shir Hadash, The River Church Community, and Pacifica Institute—to prepare and serve Thanksgiving dinner to the residents of the encampments at Roosevelt and Columbus Parks on November 24th. Sixty volunteers from the three faith houses came together to serve over 150 unhoused neighbors.

This Thanksgiving, on November 21, 2024, the Bill Wilson Center, a transitional housing facility for homeless youth aged 18-24, hosted a special dinner that brought together over 60 young individuals for a heartwarming and meaningful gathering. The event was a collaborative effort between the Bill Wilson Center and BAYCC, underscoring their shared commitment to creating a nurturing environment for these youth.

BAYCC and Pacifica Institute organized a Harvest (Thanksgiving) lunch for the participants of the monthly Interfaith Coalition of Alameda County meeting, which took place at West Side Missionary Baptist Church on November 14th. Mr.

BAYCC, Pacifica Institute, Building Bridges Together, Silicon Valley Interreligious Council (SiVIC), and Christ Episcopal Church of Los Altos collaborated to organize the Interfaith Thanksgiving Dinner 2024, a heartfelt celebration of unity and gratitude. Held at the Christ Episcopal Church of Los Altos, the event embraced the theme: “The Spirit of Thanksgiving: Grateful Hearts, Shared Blessings” and brought together diverse communities in a spirit of togetherness and appreciation.

On November 11, 2024, BAYCC volunteers delivered clothes collected through a clothing drive to Hope’s Corner on Mercy Street, Mountain View. The donation included 885 pairs of socks, 165 pairs of underwear, hundreds of t-shirts, and a closet full of other clothing items.

The memorial service for M. Fethullah Gülen was held on November 11, 2024, at the Google Community Space in San Francisco.

BAYCC volunteers extended their compassion and dedication by preparing and serving food at Hope’s Corner in Mountain View, supporting families and children staying in the Cold Weather Shelter. This shelter, managed by HomeFirst—a partner organization of Hope’s Corner—provides a vital refuge during the harsh winter months, offering warmth and safety to those in need.

A heartfelt memorial service for M. Fethullah Gülen was held on Saturday, November 2, 2024, at the BAYCC Community Center in Santa Clara.

On the morning of Saturday, October 26, 2024, BAYCC volunteers hosted a Halloween-themed event at Family Supportive Housing, welcoming over 50 attendees. The volunteers worked tirelessly the night before, transforming the venue with festive decorations, and returned early in the morning to prepare a warm breakfast for the guests.

The interfaith lecture, organized by BAYCC, Pacifica Institute, and the Maryknoll Society, titled “Christian Spirituality as Understood Through the Teachings of Pope Francis,” was held on Saturday, October 19, 2024, at the Maryknoll Society in Los Altos, California. This enriching event focused on exploring Christian spirituality through the lens of Pope Francis’s teachings, offering attendees profound insights into the Pope’s approach to faith and spirituality.

On October 5th, 2024, BAYCC volunteers visited Family Supportive Housing in San Jose to prepare and serve dinner to families and children residing at the center. This heartfelt evening provided a meaningful opportunity to connect with the residents, fostering a sense of community and care.

In partnership with Compassion Week, YouthLink organized a heartwarming event focused on preparing school supply kits for foster care children from Rebekah Children’s Services. Leveraging generous past donations, YouthLink procured and gathered essential items such as backpacks, folders, pens, pencils, notebooks, and other school supplies.

Compassion Week (an initiative by Los Altos Methodist Church) is an annual event in the South Bay Area that consistently fosters collaboration among organizations to serve the community. Hilal and Aysenur from Pacifica Institute and BAYCC are among the organizing committee members, and our community has been proud partners in this initiative over the years, contributing to various service projects to support those in need.

On Saturday morning, September 14, 2024, BAYCC volunteers had the privilege of preparing and serving breakfast at Family Supportive Housing (FSH). The morning was about serving a meal and building connections as volunteers and residents shared the breakfast in a warm, communal atmosphere.

In recent months, the BAYCC Weekend School partnered with Embrace Relief to launch a successful fundraiser to build water wells in Uganda. The weekend school students organized various fundraising activities, from bake sales to educational campaigns, inspiring students, families, and the wider community to contribute generously to the cause.

The Peninsula Multifaith Coalition (PMC) organized the annual “Prayers for Peace” event on September 2, 2024, at the Redwood Picnic Area in Twin Pines Park, Belmont. This gathering, traditionally held on Labor Day, serves as a platform to bring together individuals from various faith traditions in a shared pursuit of unity, harmony, and peace.

On August 20, 2024, the BAYCC and Pacifica Institute hosted a meaningful interfaith dinner at the BAYCC Community Center in Santa Clara, California, welcoming guests from Maryknoll Church. The evening was marked by a collective prayer for peace, prosperity, and food, fostering a spirit of shared knowledge and unity among the faith communities.

The AAi Meal Service event on June 23, 2024, facilitated by Abrahamic Alliance International, was a collaborative effort organized by three faith communities: Congregation Beth David, Lincoln Glen Church, and Pacifica Institute. This event successfully brought together Jews, Christians, and Muslims to prepare and serve 150 hot meals to unhoused neighbors, fostering interfaith cooperation and compassion.