Mercy Retirement and Care Center celebrated 150 years of senior care in the San Francisco Bay Area and 40 years of seniors helping seniors and the Mercy Brown Bag Program during a virtual Heart of Mercy celebration on October 13, 2022. This event kicked off our Year of Celebration, honoring our donors and our Heart of Mercy Award winners.
Established in 1872 by the Sisters of Mercy, Mercy Retirement and Care Center was founded on a deep sense of faith, dignity, and compassion. In 1907 senior care services relocated from San Francisco to the present five-acre Oakland campus. Since then, more than 10,000 residents have passed through Mercy’s doors. Via a scholarship-type program, Mercy provides care for residents who have outlived their resources. Mercy is the sole Catholic retirement home in the Oakland diocese.
Mercy’s community involvement and care for seniors and vulnerable populations extends well beyond campus borders through programs such as Mercy Brown Bag Program. Notably, Mercy Brown Bag Program provides nutritious food and social connection to more than 8,000 Alameda County low-income, food-insecure seniors. In 2020 Mercy Brown Bag Program was in high demand due to COVID-19 impacts on seniors and made 117,000 home deliveries of grocery bags stuffed with more than 2.3 million pounds of food.
Moving Mercy Forward
Our Moving Mercy Forward Capital Campaign would not have been a success without the support of all our donors. The multi-million dollar renovation project was completed in early 2022 and has already benefited the older adults who call Mercy home. A donor wall has been installed in our lobby, recognizing all who helped make this project possible.
Learn more about the Moving Mercy Forward project here.
Heart of Mercy Award
The Heart of Mercy award recognizes individual or organizational excellence in leadership in service to the elderly, as demonstrated by outstanding dedication, initiative and hard work as a professional, volunteer, or philanthropist supporting older adults in need and inspiring others to do the same. The award recognizes significant contributions to improving the quality of life of elderly in the Bay Area community, including but not limited to Mercy Retirement & Care Center residents and participants in the Mercy Brown Bag Program. This year, the Heart of Mercy award is awarded to Sr. Dorothy Stack and Christine Whelan.
Year of Celebration
We don’t want the Mercy spirit to end. You can help us celebrate during our “Year of Celebration.” We will have various opportunities for you to honor Mercy and help us celebrate throughout the year. You can always make a monetary gift all year long in support of Mercy Retirement & Care Center or Mercy Brown Bag Program online or by check. Visit our philanthropy page for more information.
Help us continue the Mercy mission for the next 150 years.
