Shelly Pinomaki RESPECT Project

Normally I write about people who have finished their life of great contributions to others and have passed through the Pearly Gates. But I’d like to tell you about a very-much-alive contributor, Chaplain Shelly Pinomaki, and what she’s doing in her community.

Shelly is a First Responder Chaplain with the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department. Trained in crisis/trauma care, her job is to serve the law enforcement community and their families.

But she wanted to do more to serve her community, and that’s why she got involved in the RESPECT PROJECT.

The Respect Project was created by two San Diego Sheriff Deputies, Dustin Nelson and Todd Baker, to help at risk youth find purpose and direction in their lives. The RESPECT project is a character building and mentoring program for at risk youth in North San Diego County.

They celebrated the grand opening of its San Marcos headquarters in February 2021, and many kudos to the men and women of the San Diego Sheriff’s Dept. for their foresight and commitment to this effort.

RESPECT Project students are generally referred from local schools, law enforcement / probation officials, or from family members. Participation is strictly voluntary. Approximately 10-15 students are enrolled in a 20-session introductory academy for 10 weeks.  Throughout each academy, students work alongside law enforcement officials and community members in the hopes that each participant forms authentic relationships with positive role models.

Upon completion of the introductory academy, students are encouraged to maintain their mentoring relationships and to continue using the RESPECT Project headquarters throughout the week. Graduates can take advantage of a myriad of services including employment assistance, counseling, academic tutoring, community service, or they can simply enjoy a safe place to relax with staff and positive peers.

That’s the goal of this program—to help youth mature into responsible, productive citizens.

Chaplain Shelly offered her services to the RESPECT Project and became the Community Outreach Coordinator. “Shelly lives out the good neighbor spirit,” says Nate Alcorn, campus pastor at CRB, The Church at Rancho Bernardo, which under her encouragement, has also gotten involved with The Respect Project.

“The Respect Project was like a calling,” said Chaplain Shelly. I’ve always had a passion for helping the next generation coming up to make choices and create opportunities for themselves, and so when they started sharing more about Respect, I thought I want to be involved in that,” she said.

Her initial goal was to fill their pantry with food. Churches like CRB, The Rock Church, and others are committing to filling the pantry, taking turns on a monthly basis. “When these youth see how much others want to help, it makes a huge impact,” Shelly said.

It certainly does. Stay tuned. Shelly has many more ideas in mind for The RESPECT Project—all in helping others. And isn’t that what life’s all about?

Watch this VIDEO of people helping people. Of people loving on people.

RESPECT Project

San Diego County Sheriff’s Dept.

151 E Carmel St

San Marcos, CA 92078

(760) 842-5780

respectproject@sdsheriff.org             sdsheriff.net/respectproject