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Newsletter May 17, 2023

A Wonderful Time Was Had By All - Potluck at Linda Fibich’s

On May 16th Linda Fibich held a potluck with a wonderful gathering of her friends. There were many new faces. Ann McDowell, Susan McCutcheon and Rosemary Cleaves stood in for advocates at the dinner and each represented one of the agencies in depth. There was a lot of interest and many good questions. There were even a couple of men in attendance. As always not only was the company outstanding but the food was amazing along with the fabulous views of Arroyo Grande from Linda’s home.

The Next Potluck

Mark your calendar!

June 15th, Thursday at 6pm is the next South SLO County Potluck at Mariam Shah’s home at 2410 Green Place on the mesa in Arroyo Grande.

If you would like to host a potluck fundraiser for us, please email us at sslocwomenade@gmail.com. These are our main methods of fundraising. We would love a host for August/September! Please help us spread the word!

Happenings

Toiletry Drive– Candace Guldeman and Robin Pisz are leading the toiletry drive effort this year from May 1 to May 31.

Hygiene poverty is an inability to afford everyday hygiene products. People cannot bathe with soap, or wash hair with shampoo and conditioner; using old toothbrushes or no toothbrush without toothpaste; not shaving or using deodorant; cleaning clothes less frequently; delay in changing diapers; using rags for sanitary products or not attending school or work due to lack of feminine hygiene products; being judged or bullied because of how you smell or look; mental health issues caused by the lack of self esteem.

Below is a list of items needed:

If you don’t want to shop, you can go on Amazon or Walmart and have items shipped Sue McCutcheon’s addresses (see below). Drop off locations are:

• Candace Guldeman 524 Mesa View Drive (after May 8th)

• FitForever Gym - 1080 Cypress Ridge Parkway, Arroyo Grande

• Judy Woo - 1402 Vista Tesoro Pl, Nipomo

• Lisa Murdoch – 117 Pearwood Ave. Arroyo Grande

• Lola Zybura – 2367 Brant St. (Cypress Ridge), Arroyo Grande

• Nan Fowler – 630 Cerro Vista Circle, Arroyo Grande

• Nancy Terrell – Avila Bay Club,

• Stacy Murphy – 1975 Northwood Rd. (Trilogy) Nipomo

• Susan McCutcheon – 2342Willet Way (Cypress Ridge), Arroyo Grande

Below is a list of toiletry items most needed (NEW and FULL Sizes):

• Shampoo

• Conditioner

• Soap – bar and liquid

• Toothpaste

• Toothbrushes

• Floss and floss picks

• Mouthwash

• Lotion

• Deodorant

• Shaving cream

• Razors

• Baby shampoo and baby soap

• Chapstick

• Sunscreen

• Bandaids

• Nail clippers

• Feminine Hygiene Products

We Missed the Bus

This year the leaders of “We Love Educators”, Lisa Arakaki, Piper Adelman, Marguerite McCurley, Kim Heyde and Sharon McDaniel are leading our teachers’ school supplies drive. Students have many avenues to receive school supplies before the school year. However, teachers are always dipping deep into their pockets to purchase the supplies they need that the school or district doesn’t provide. In order to take advantage of the sales of school supplies during the summer, we are holding our Missed the Bus Drive from July 6 to August 14th. We’re giving a heads up so we can all take advantage of the school supplies sales when they happen. The team surveyed the teachers and they came up with this list:

Glue sticks

• BABY wipes (to clean their headphones)

• Clorox wipes (to clean surfaces)

• Blue Painters Tape

• Masking Tape

• Colored sets for students

• Large Sharpies for Poster Board

• Dry Erase both Color/Black

• Strong Magnets/Magnet Clips

• Scotch Laminating Sheets

• Durable Folders

• Avery Labels 6427

Laundry Pop Up

Our first “Laundry Pop Up” will take place on May 25th. A small group of volunteers are going to test the waters and kick off this project. We are looking for a team leader or leaders to head up future Laundry Pop Ups. Please let us know if you can be a team leader! sslocwomenade@gmail.com

MANY THANKS TO OUR FABULOUS APRIL DONORS

Emily Myhre, Cynthia Corona, Sandy Strohman, Madeline Stevenson, Linda and Bradley Wilbert, Judith Carleson, Rosemary Cleaves (2), Joann and Stan Benson,

Fran Norris, Mary De Jong (2), Kathy Forenza, Nancy Shearer, Barbara Crawford,

Sheila and Richard Semana (2), Karen Kolba (3), Nicki Bywater, Olivia Skawienski,

Gee Gee Southward, Susan McCutcheon (2), Phyllis Sims, Deb Sherry (2), Jann Jeffries, Candace Guldeman, Adrienne Riley, Sandy Strohman, Deb Sherry, Carol Chenot (2), Nan Fowler, Nicole Pazdan, Michelle Moock, Anita Shower (2), Lori Connolly, Lola Zybura, Mariam Shah, Robin Pisz, Linda Busek, Jean Leavitt, Mary Anne Morgan and Madeline Fay(3), Lisa Murdoch, Madeline Koontz, Jasmine Dexter, Wendy Castleman, Fred Donati (2), Elaine Stewart, Gay Evison Groomes, Cory Gonzalez, Karen Blum, Gail Applegate, Fred Donati (2), Trilogy Service Club, Caity McCardell, Alex and Jessie Shu, Karlie Cool, Linda Bishop, Lisa Fraser, Greg Baxley, Susan Hughes, Margaret Donaldson, Christine Gaiger, Shirley Horacek, Jessica Griffiths, Lara Golden, Karen Reinecke, Stella Medina

AN UPDATE ON FUNDS RECEIVED

4/1/23 to 4/30/23 $11,560.38

1/1/23 TO 4/30/23 $35,922.89

2/1/2019 TO 4/30/23 $371,151.26

These figures don’t reflect in-kind donations.

WHERE DID THE DONATIONS GO?

Nutrition Team - Food for families in need and for school children $301.06 SLO FoodBank

Oceano Family Resource Center – Advocate Stella Medina

• Single mother, left abusive relationship and is struggling to pay rent. Needs assistance in paying April rent.$300 Del Mar Property Management (landlord)

• Loss of income due to recent rain/floods and incarceration of a parent. Mom rented out a room but the person will not move in until the middle of the month. Needs rent assistance.$300 Gambril and Associates( landlord)

• Single mother of 2 children struggling to make ends meet with the high cost of living. All family members are undocumented and do not qualify for food stamps. Walmart $100

• Single mom raising a one year old child who is unemployed. Client is in between jobs and needs help with her car insurance. $250.61 All State Insurance

• Single father of 3 boys had to fix his car in order to get to work.The Family needs help with food until he gets his food stamps the first week of May. Grocery Outlet $100Grocery Outlet

• Family of 4 struggling with the high cost of living. The family will access food bank distributions because they not qualify for food stamps but this does not cover all of their needs. The Family is in need of food until they get paid next week. Grocery Outlet $100 Grocery Outlet

• Unaccompanied minor living with grandmother in need of financial support to buy food. The high cost of living and an additional person in the home makes it hard to make ends meet. $100 Grocery Outlet

Nipomo Family Resource Center – Advocate Marivel Pille

• Family struggling to make ends meet. Dad has been unemployed for about 4 months. He is actively seeking employment. Need assistance buying diapers and food for children. $100.00 Walmart

• Mother is requesting assistance with diapers and baby items. She has been unemployed for about 5 months and has not been able to work since she just had her baby. $100.00 Walmart

• Single mother of 4 struggling to pay mortgage. She recently separated from her partner and he is no longer helping with any expenses in the home or with the children. She is working but is struggling to make ends meet. $400.00 USDA-RD

• Family of 5 struggling financially b/c they lost their crops due to the rain. Mother is requesting assistance with medical bill. $268.00 Community Health Centers

• Family of 4 struggling financially, mother just had a baby and dad is the only one working, Dad's hours were reduced due to the rain. $300.00 Maricela Arrendondo (landlord)

Arroyo Grande Family Resource Center – CinthyiaOrtiz-Corona

• Single mother readjusting her household expenses after partner suddenly passed away. Mother needing support w/ utility bill. $102.32 Waste management

• Single mother, in the process of divorce from financially abusive husband. Recently employed in local restaurant but needs support with transportation to get to work and children to school. $100.00 Shell gas

• Single mother currently waiting for child support process to finalize in order to receive additional income. Struggling with multiple bills and having a hard time making ends meet on her own. Walmart $200 to help with basic needs for the children.

• Single mother in the process of getting her education at Allan Hancock. Her son is enrolled at AGHS. Requested support with transportation funding to get to them both to school. $50.00 Shell gas

• Single mother, in household of 7 currently in need of household items, has been struggling as sole income earner. $150.00 Walmart

• Household financially struggling to stay afloat due to significant loss of income during the storms and additional rent increase. Requested support with prom ticket purchase to allow graduating senior to experience opportunity. $60.00 AGHS

• Single mother requested support with baby bottles and diapers for youth. 4 family members currently living on single income. $100.00 Walmart

• Teen parent recently relocated housing that is further away from town. Seeking support with transportation for baby’s follow up appointments $150.00 Shell gas

The Link – Advocate Angel Lopez - Mesa Middle School and Judkins Middle School and Advocate Brenda Gonzalez – Paulding Middle School

• Unaccompanied Youth. In need of a sturdy backpack. The one he had was lost/stolen at the park. $50.00 gift card

• Family is only working two days a week in the strawberry fields and behind payment on gas. Work should be picking up soon but family needs extra support till then. $78.33 So Cal Gas

Mission Hope – Katie Crafton – Oncology Social Worker, Brianda Lemus

• Woman in her 60’s with newly diagnosed cancer, no insurance, and out of work. $75.00 Grocery $25, Gas $50

Casa Solana – Renée Poirier – Executive Director

• Casa Solana was able to provide a gift bed for an additional month to a 37 year old homeless woman who recently lost custody of her four children as a result of her substance use. She recently began working and will be able to pay for her next month’s rent. $800

Lopez High School –Wolf Den – Heidi Boatman and Jann Jeffries

• Men's black vest for Prom $35.37 Amazon

• Men’s boxers $20.45 Walmart

• 11 Hoodies $145.58 Threadsy

• 10 total Men and Women Sweatpants $123.80 Walmart

• Men’s shoes $86.20 Vans

Lopez High School – Jennifer Bowen, Principal, Aurora Munoz admin

• School Sweatshirts, T-Shirts, hats & beanies $12,47.21

Families in Transition Wendy Bruse Coordinator of After School Programs and Deicy Trejo Support Coordinator

• Family struggling financially due to shortage in work hours due to being field workers and crops being damaged due to the rains. Oldest student needs support purchasing graduation gown/cap and tassel. $68.38 Cap and Gown Unit and Tassel

• Family struggling financially, students have been outgrown clothing, parent needs a little assistance this year to buy them new clothing. $200.00 Clothing Gift Cards

• Unaccompanied youth, funds are very limited and needs support purchasing senior items. Her caregiver cannot afford it at this time and the student does not want to burden the caregiver. $125.49 Yearbook and Prom Ticket

• Working with doubled up students, whose parents are struggling financially but refuse to take any support. Student reached out wanting help for a senior yearbook. $75.49 Yearbook

• Twin sisters who are graduating this year reached out for support in wanting to attend prom. Parents are field workers, and the weather has cut their wages short and hours decreased. $100.00 Prom Tickets

• Family that home flooded during the story is struggling financially. Student is a senior and needs assistance with senior activities. $50.00 Prom Tickets

• Family struggling financially with rent increases, cannot provide for students senior graduation. Student asked for assistance with cap and gown. $45.39 Cap, Gown, Stole Unit

HOW TO DONATE:

To make a donation write a check to South SLO County Womenade and mail to:

Our bank asked that checks be made out with the full legal name on the account.

South SLO County Womenade, 1793 Farroll Rd., Grover Beach, CA 93433. We encourage you to become one of our monthly or regular donors. This can be easily done through your bank or charitable foundation. Please remember that if your company has a matching grants program to include us. As you make or update your wills, please consider adding a legacy gift to us for our future sustainability.

or go to our website sslocw.org

or paypal.me/sslocwomenade

Our email is: sslocwomenade@gmail.com

Our website is: sslocw.org

Our EIN# 27-0809744

Phone number: (805) 270-5751

Copyright © 2023 South SLO County Womenade, All rights reserved.

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Our mailing address is:

South SLO County Womenade1793 Farroll Rd. Grover Beach, CA 93433