Community Involvement

Mary’s Mercy Center in San Bernardino provides a wide range of services to the homeless and others in need. The center serves approximately 7,000 balanced hot meals per month, distributes canned goods to the homeless and gives out approximately 1,000 bags a month containing beans, rice, tomato sauce and bread to needy families. Mary’s Mercy Center also provides free showers, clean clothing and toiletries to men, women and children; offers a free medical clinic one morning a week; and assists parents in crisis whose infants need formula, baby foods, diapers, etc.

Mary’s Haven, formally known as Veronica’s Home of Mercy, is a long-term transitional home within Mary’s Mercy Center, which provides a nurturing environment for pregnant women and their children as an alternative to domestic violence, abortion, substance abuse and/or homelessness. In the early 2000’s with the help of CrestWood Communities, Mary’s Haven started the journey of replacing their circa 1920’s facility with a larger modern facility. On December 8, 2009 Government Officials from miles around came out for the Ribbon Cutting of the new home. On that day the 15,000 sqft / 80 bed facility was dedicated to the women and children of San Bernardino. In a matter of weeks the home was filled to capacity.

Terry Kent of CrestWood Communities sits on the board of directors for Mary’s Mercy Center, and Kitty Garvey is chairwoman of the fundraiser that brings in approximately $85,000 for the center each year. CrestWood employees volunteer their time for the annual “Wheel Barrow of Toys” drive to collect toys for Mary’s Mercy children at Christmas. With the help of subcontractors and suppliers, CrestWood is in the process of constructing Veronica’s Home II, a transitional home for battered women and their children.

Mary’s Village, with the help of CrestWood Communities, officially opened on September 15, 2020. This 85-bed facility is the first transitional housing facility in the city of San Bernardino that serves men. This project not only offers shelter, mental health assistance, and job skills training for the homeless, but it is also a model of clean energy building design with zero fossil fuels on site! This four-phase comprehensive project will provide long-term housing, vocational education, job training, comprehensive case management and other customized services to put men back on the path to self-sufficiency.