John Anding has made Grand Rapids his home for over 40 years, where he co-founded a local law firm. His work in the community has included serving on parish councils of St. Stephens and Sacred Heart of Jesus Catholic Churches, the board of the YMCA and as President of Catholic Lawyers Association of Grand Rapids. Beyond founding Deus Caritas Est he has been involved in various charitable outreach programs that have served the homeless, orphans and children experiencing food insecurity. His passion for serving seniors in Grand Rapids facing hunger spawned the founding of Deus Caritas Est in 2007.
Stacey Bybee was raised in a small community in Michigan’s “Thumb” but has made West Michigan her home for the past 35 years. For years she has served on various outreach boards through her church supporting local, national and international charities. Through one such charity, she and her husband have sponsored children in Haiti and currently sponsor a child in Rwanda. She has been a volunteer with Deus Caritas Est since 2007, meeting with local schools, churches, and public agencies to identify needy seniors and then working through the Foundation to find avenues for best meeting those needs. Stacey has been a member of the Board of Directors since 2018.
Morgan Anding Gomes was born and raised in Grand Rapids, where she now works as a paralegal at a local law firm. Her community outreach has included serving as a missionary with NET Ministries across the United States and mentoring to children both in Grand Rapids and Chicago. Involvement with Deus Caritas Est has allowed her to broaden her charitable work to include at risk seniors. She is privileged to have served the elderly and those less fortunate through Deus Caritas Est since its formation in 2007. She joined the Board in 2018.
Pedro Gomes was born and raised in Johannesburg, South Africa. After beginning his career in finance, he felt called to make the leap to work in social projects run by the Catholic Church. Pedro has experience in working or volunteering at over a dozen faith‐based organizations. These include volunteering in a Salesian Youth Center in the Brazilian Amazon, working as the project manager for the Salesian and Porsche Training and Recruitment Center in Cape Town, and as a house father in a home for street youth in Johannesburg. Pedro came to the USA to complete a Master’s degree in Philanthropy and Nonprofit Leadership and currently resides in Grand Rapids. He is drawn to the work of Deus Caritas Est because of the simple practicality of its mission – responding to the call of Christ to “feed the hungry,” especially the most vulnerable seniors in our community.
Bruce Tuttleman has made his home in the greater Grand Rapids area for 43 years, drawn here from the East Side of the State. He is the proprietor of F. David Barney Clothiers, and has been in the retail menswear business for 50 years. Serving the needs of his community has been a lifelong commitment. He has a passion for feeding the poor. And the mission of Deus Caritas Est allows him to pursue that work by feeding seniors in need. Mr. Tuttleman’s deep commitment to our mission and ability to touch the many that he contacts daily with our message is a valuable addition to our work.
Deus Caritas Est is funded solely through donations and we would be grateful for your support of this mission! Consider a $275 gift to feed a senior in need for a month. 97% of your contribution goes to our seniors.