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Newsletter November 26, 2024
From This to That
Completion of Thanksgiving Baskets
Next Potluck
Matching Grant
Projects Updates
Help Needed
Items Needed
Update on Funds Received
Thanks to Donors
Where the Money Went
As we all head into our Thanksgiving holiday, the board of South San Luis Obispo County are very thankful for each of you for being part of this organization that is helping to provide both financial and material urgent and emergency assistance to those in need in our community. Happy Thanksgiving!
From This to That
Winter School Break Baskets
Hooray, the Thanksgiving Basket project is completed and successful – see story “Completion of Thanksgiving Baskets” below.
So it’s Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle all the way! The Winter Break Basket project has begun.
The Winter Holiday School 3 week break. It is a hard time for families as they don’t receive school breakfasts and lunches over the break.
With your help, we are going to put together bags of food filled with pantry staples to get another 110 families through the winter holiday school break.
We have a quick turnaround time with this project, and we know it’s right on the heels of our fall food drive. We appreciate all of you! As of this writing there are still many items that need sponsors!
Food Drop Off - December 2-5
Sorting and Counting - December 7
Assembly and Delivery - December 12th
Thank you so much for your help!! Please sign up for food donations and volunteering by using this Sign Up Genius form. Instructions are on the form.
Keep your eyes open for any sales for the items! Sign up early! Share in the comments if you see good buys anywhere.
If you are willing would you please share our project on your social media?
Sample Facebook Message:
"Hello friends! It’s time for the 3rd annual food drive for South SLO County Womenade. Food insecurity has increased, and so have their numbers. We are gathering food for 110 families this year (90 last year). If you'd like to help, you can sign up to donate food using the link below and drop it off at various locations 12/2 – 12/5. They’ll send you drop off locations after you sign up. They also need help packing up the food and delivering it to agency locations on 12/12. It's a lot of fun and a great way to meet new friends as well."
Completion of the Thanksgiving Basket Project
Did you see us on the news? Our packing/delivery day was on KSBY. Here’s the link.
Pictures from Packing Day
Pictures from Delivery Day
Thursday, November 21st was packing and delivery day for the Thanksgiving Baskets (actually 4 full bags of food per family!). From the pictures above and the KSBY news story you can see how busy and fun it was. 185 families in south SLO County got all the foods for a wonderful Thanksgiving meal including a turkey and all sorts of additional items to help feed the family during the Thanksgiving break. Thank you to all the donors, shoppers, volunteers, schleppers! Special thanks to Kristin Heenan, our project leader, Marcella Gelman, our dedicated shopper and schlepper, Robin and Jim Pisz for the use of their barn and of course the SLO Foodbank and Taco Works!
Next Potluck – Mark your Calendars
Thursday December 5th at 6PM at the 950 Room
950 Cypress Ridge Parkway, Arroyo Grande In Cypress Ridge
Mark your calendars!
Matching Grant
We are delighted to announce that we have received a generous matching grant for $7,000 to match any donation received between November 15 and December15. Please help us take advantage of this amazing gift!
Donation from Forever Sparkle
The owner of Forever Sparkle is having a Christmas Bling Party on Thursday December 5 and Friday December 6 from 11:00 AM to 4:00 PM at 2293 Tattler St., Arroyo Grande. Christine Mateer is a new Womenader and is donating a percentage of her sales to South SLO County Womenade.
Help Needed – contact us at sslocwomenade@gmail.com
Adopt an Elementary School for Weekend Food Bags – thank you to so many people who have stepped up to adopt an Elementary School for Weekend Food Bags. We are now able to continue our program for our schools from last year. There are still a couple of additional schools who are in need.https://www.signupgenius.com/go/20F0C4BA8AC29A2FE3-53334445-2024#/
Items Needed
A family in need of a refrigerator
A student in need of a bicycle for transportation to school
Toilet paper
Diapers
Pack n Plays
Laundry detergent
Projects updates
Laundry Pop-Up – Belinda Benassi
The December Laundry Pop-Ups need volunteers – see signupgenius below!
There is one on December 7 (run by Terri Zielinski and Beth Hirsch) from 10AM to 12PM at the Laundaria Laundre Mat i505 Orchard St in Nipomo, and December 21 from 10AM to 12PM at Laundromat at 119S. 13th St. Grover Beach. Belinda Benassi leads this program and could use a few more volunteers.
To offer opportunities for volunteers to sign up in advance for the event site and dates of their choosing Belinda put together this Sign-Up Genius https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0B44AEA82DAAF9C52-50105745-2024.
Nipomo Food Distribution – Rosemary Cleaves, Sue McCutcheon, and Mary Anne Morgan - project leaders
The November Food distribution was on Tuesday November 12th at the Nipomo Elementary School (always the second Tuesday of the month). We gave food to 350 families, and once again, we were right on the money at 350! We work with the SLO FoodBank and Nipomo Elementary School to make the Food Distribution happen. Thank you SLO Foodbank and all our fabulous volunteers! Let us know if you want to be on the substitute list. The next distribution will be on Tuesday, December 10th.
Season of Hope
Womenader Marcella Gelman has been working with the SLO Foodbank and picking up food at the 5 Cities Fire Station on Traffic Way in Arroyo Grande almost every day. After picking up the donated food, she sorts them and inspects them for damage and expiration dates before bringing them to be bagged and distributed at the Nipomo Food Distribution.
We Love Educators Volunteers for Teachers- To provide South SLO County educators with hands-on volunteer help in the classroom. Lisa Arakaki – project leader
A number of people have signed up to volunteer to help but there’s always room for more. Thank you to the people who have signed up to volunteer for teachers! Lisa Arakaki has developed the form below that you can fill out and send to her.
You don’t have to be an educator (although that can be very helpful). We need both former educators and lay people to volunteer. You can specify what you’re comfortable doing. Teachers work with volunteers to get the best fit according to their specific classroom needs. Email any questions to Lisa Arakaki, project leader at weloveeducators@gmail.com
In Kind Receipt
Please complete and submit the in-kind receipt to help us track how much you are contributing in donor offered items: This is a jpeg that you can copy, paste and print.
UPDATE ON FUNDS RECEIVED
10/1//24 TO 10/31/24 $12,463.41
1/1/24 TO 10/31/24 $115,696.95
2/1/2019 TO 10/31/24 $614,187.33
Thank you to our October donors!
Linda and Bradley Wilbert , Sandra (Gay) Anderson, Judith Carleson, Linda Fibich (2), Fran Norris, Rosemary Cleaves (2), Robin Gilmartin and Diane Mack, County San Luis Obispo Board of Supervisors, Diana Henderson, Karen Kolba, Sheila and Richard Semana, Marcy Warkentin, Mary De Jong, Marilyn Mullany, Sandy Richardson (2) , Olive and Mike Shu, Joann and Stan Benson, Lucia Cleveland , Elaine Stewart, Wendy Castleman, Cory Gonzalez, Fred & Rochelle Friedman, Lola Zybura, Carol Chenot(2), Mary Anne Morgan and Madeline Fay, Gee Gee (Joyce) Southward, Capitol Impact , Lisa Arakaki. Barbara Vavrina, Jean Leavitt , Jenny Weaver, Susan McCutcheon, Candace Guldeman, Phyllis Sims, Diane Nielsen, Marcella Gelman, Marjorie Musselman, Liz Fritz, Andrea Chavez , Gay Evison Groomes, Kathy Gibbs, Dana Robertson, Anita Shower, Cricket Handler, Jessica Griffiths, Debra Jackson, Dana Starkovich, Nicki Bywater, Lenore Spelbring, Lynda Allen, Kathy Forenza, Karlie Cool, Robin Pisz, Linda Fibich
WHERE THE MONEY WENT
Casa Solana – Renée Poirier – Executive Director
Casa Solana was able to provide a gift bed for a third month to a woman in her 30's. She had been homeless and struggling with alcohol. She is now volunteering in the community, receiving her disability payments and moving to the graduate house where she will be paying her own rent. $800
Nipomo Family Resource Center – Advocate TBD
Client seeking gas assistance and laundry detergent/diaper assistance. Mom has yet to return to work due to child care.$150 Walmart $150 Chevron
Single mother needs help with paying for parts to fix her car. $40.46 Jason Stewart
Single mother needs help with paying for her car to be towed to so that it can be repaired. $125 Central Coast Towing
Food for food bags for food insecure families $60.90 SLO Foodbank
Family recently received housing from Lumina. They need support with initial deposit. $300 Lumina Alliance
Oceano Family Resource Center – Advocate Stella Medina
An unaccompanied minor needing help with clothing/shoes. He is wearing a pair of size 13 shoes that was donated to him but he wears a size 9. $100 Ross
Single mom of three children with no income due to a medical condition. Receives government assistance and two older children work part time but still struggling and needs help with rent this month $300 California West (landlord)
Homeless family living in a motel. They recently secured housing but they are short with the rent. The Client has the full deposit and a portion of the first month rent but needs help covering the rest. $300 Era Management (landlord)
Single father of three teens asking for clothing assistance for his children. Father has brain cancer and is currently undergoing treatment at Stanford. $200 Ross
Homeless and disabled single mother living in her car with her teen son in need of a propane cook top to make healthy meals. $79.71 Amazon
Single mother of 4 Children lost income because her childcare provider had to close her daycare for a week. In need of gas money to get to work and take the kids to school. $200 Rite Aid and Gas card
Single Mother of a 7 year old daughter. She has not received her child support for the past two months and is not able to afford to pay for her water bill. Water will be turned off tomorrow if a payment is not made.$300 Oceano Community Service District
Single Mother of 3 granted a work permit due to severe domestic violence. Lumina Alliance was to help with the fees but the process took 3 yrs. Lumina do not have the grant anymore to help her. $300 Santa Barbara Immigration Center, Inc
Single mother of two children, her son has a chronic illness that requires regular medical appointment in Santa Barbara. Mother has to miss work to take him to appointments and she does not have any sick time left. In need of rental assistance.$200California West (landlord)
Arroyo Grande Family Resource Center – CinthyiaOrtiz-Corona
Recently widowed mother, fled hometown after the unexpected death of her husband. Her eldest is currently the head of household working two jobs to sustain. Barely affording rent. Request help w/ utilities $37.24 So California Gas and $10.70 PG&E
Family of six struggling with no income since 10/2. Older Daughter went into labor and needs assistance with care for new baby. Family needs some help with bills this month $162.32 PG&E and $31.76 So Cal Gas
Single Father lost employment over 4 months ago. Requesting support with waste management bill which is currently late.$186.02 Waste Connections
Nutrition Team – Mary Anne Morgan leader
Food for Lopez High School Food Pantry and for Thanksgiving baskets $490.14 SLO Food Bank
5 Cities Homeless Coalition – Janna Nichols Executive Director
Client has been living in her car for several years and was recently selected to move into Cabins for Change shelter. Her car was broken into and windshield broken, she requested assistance with getting the windshield repaired so she can safely drive and her belongings are protected. $304.53 805 Windshield Repair
Client has been homeless for over 2 years and recently secured housing with the help of 5CHC. He has limited income and very few personal belongings. 5CHC was able to assist with some basic household items (in addition to soliciting donations of furniture) to get him set up in his new home. $403.41 Amazon
Lopez High School – Keith Gledhill- Principal; Aurora Munoz – Admin
Wolfmarket supplies for Positive Behavioral Interventions and supports. Items purchased: Gatorade,Cheetos ,Mini Takis, Jack's Links Beef Sticks, Chilli Cheese Chips $103.99
Lopez High School Wolf Den – Heidi Boatman
Towel sets, pants, shirts, laundry & dish detergent$300.24
Towel sets, rain jackets, sports bras, socks $352.09
Lucia Mar Adult Education – Jennifer Bowen, Principal
LMUSD Printshop: Bookbags, Coffee Mugs & T-shirts for student incentives (Mug for 1st course completed, Bookbag for following, T-shirt for Graduating!) $1,572 for all various items at different LMUSD Vendors
Families in Transition – Wendy Bruse Coordinator of After School Programs, Deicy Trejo–
Student in need of a bike to use as transportation. Single mom with a lot of medical issues, and can no longer drive. Student has been unable to get his license and is struggling to get himself to school. Student is motivated to be more independent for his mom. $158.06 Walmart
Family currently rehoused in this area, staying in a RV. Mom unable to work due to seizures, and family struggling to get propane in the RV. Requesting assistance with propane support to be able to cook and bathe the students. $50 Propane
Unaccompanied youth would like support to purchase wrestling shoes. He tried using loaners but they didn't fit his feet. He has managed to raise his grades up to participate and does not want to quit after all the hard work he has put in. Wrestling Shoes $75
Family in need of support to purchase their student wrestling shoes. Family has been struggling to get basic needs met due to not being able to work due to disability. Wrestling Shoes $75
Family has 2 kids in desperate need of clothing. Both elementary kids have outgrown their clothing and the family is struggling in all types of ways. Grandfather recently diagnosed with cancer, parents are struggling to work and assist their parents. $150 Old Navy $52.46 Lice Treatments (2)
Student in need of a bike to transport himself to school. Student had been riding SCT buses but parents can no longer afford the bus passes for the year. Student is on the heavier side and cannot walk the whole way to the high school. Student asked for a possible 3-wheeled bike to feel more stable as he is riding due to his weight. $235.78 3wheeled bike, helmet and lock
Student requested SCT bus pass to use as transportation. Grandmother had her disability payments lowered for the month; he has not been able to work due to his extracurricular. $37.00 RTA
Family lost their housing and went back to living in a small RV. Student is further away from his school site, and needs a bike to use as transportation. $163 Bike, helmet and lock
Family is struggling financially; student just got accepted into the middle school basketball team. Needs support to purchase basketball items needed to play. $100 Big 5
Pregnancy and Parenting Support – Cami Statler Executive director
Public Health Nurse alerted PPS to a mother who was in need of a stroller for her newborn. PPS used funds to purchase a stroller that will function from newborn stage through to advanced toddler age. She is an economically disadvantaged mother of three and the stroller will help her meet her family's needs. $113.10 Walmart.com
Mother in Grover Beach requested a sturdy stroller to help her transport her children. She has four children under aged 5 and under (including a newborn) so funds were used to purchase a double stroller. $152.24 Amazon
Teenage expectant mother requested support from PPS as she is currently unhoused (residing with a family member in Grover Beach) and walks 3 miles to doctor's appointments regularly. PPS used funds to purchase a stroller system (car seat and stroller) so the mother could transport her baby to appointments by walking or by car (when should could arrange a ride). Public Health Nurse confirmed this as an urgent and important need for this expectant mother.$173.99 Amazon
Lumina Alliance – Heather Mullin, Development Director
Financial assistance was used toward the security deposit. Client was experiencing homelessness when she fled from the abuser $500 Rent assistance to landlord
Client was able to secure housing and move out of the home where she and her children experienced abuse from the husband/father. Funding was sued towards the security deposit $500 Landlord
Mission Hope – Katie Crafton – Oncology Social Worker
No expenses this month
The Link – Advocates – Mesa Middle and Judkins Middle -Yuliana Molina; Paulding Middle - Fernando Alvarado
Mom is requesting financial assistance with paying for student's school sport uniform for basketball. Mom just got laid off and is unable to pay for the uniform. $120 School Uniform Assistance
Mom and 4 kids under age are homeless. Family stays with family friends some days out of the week. Mom is in great need of new tires for her vehicle, she is requesting assistance for the tire fees. Mom did try multiple different tires stores to see which would give her the least expensive. Figueroa tires was the store with the best price with a total of $560 for all tires. I reached out to FIT, they will be assisting with $260, mom will be able to contribute. $100 Figueroa Tires
Mom requesting financial support with family’s rent. Mom is the only working adult at the moment, dad got laid off work. Rent is $1,595. Family has part of their rent; $500 is need to complete the rest. $500 Rent Assistance
Single mother of two pursuing a nursing degree through Cuesta needs help with her internet bill. Recently there was a hold up on financial aid disbursement from her school which interrupted her budget capacity to keep the internet service in place. Typically with the help of financial aid she is able to cover her internet bill but Womenade is stepping in to cover this brief gap in funding. Paulding student needs internet to complete his homework., $276.44 Spectrum
Single mother of three was recently housed after 4 months of being homeless. Mother needs help paying for her cell phone bill, between being out from work due to Covid and paying her motel stay she’s finding it difficult to make ends meet. They were recently housed and will no longer need to be paying for Motel stays, alleviating this bill will allow the mom to stay connected with the resources she utilizes to keep advocating for her family. $300 Verizon
SLO County Office Of Education CSPP – (California Pre-School Programs) – Shannon Pimentel Program Coordinator
no expenses this month
Department of Social Services – Jannine Lambert – Division Manager
PT has no current income and seeking employment, needs clothing for interviews $50 Walmart
PT has no transportation needs to get to court he missed last 2 court dates to hospitalization and needs to be there $25 Gas
PT is homeless and needing warm clothing for the cold season $50 Walmart
County Nurses – Meryl Castro – County Nurse Supervisor
Womenade helped a client who was pregnant and was living in her parent’s living room with 3 other children. Father of the children was living in a car in Santa Maria. Client needed transportation desperately to get to her medical appointments and getting her children to school. We were able to find a van that client was able to afford, but she was short about $400. Partnered with SAFE to get some funds, so that she was able to purchase the Van. Client had her baby 10/24/24 and was able to get to the hospital with her new Van. The client is very grateful for the assistance that she received from Womenade and this has allowed client to be self sufficient in so many ways. $400
C.A.R.E.4Paws – Libby Williams-Cabral – area administrator
Low income senior living in Grover Beach had an emergency need for veterinary care for her 9year old dog, Gidget, after another dog attacked her while on a morning walk. Gidget sustained multiple lacerations to her neck and body and needed urgent vet care. Gidget needed to undergo surgery to repair those wounds or she would have lost her. $198.56 Monarch Dunes Vet (formerly Oak Park)
People’s Self Help Housing – Joanna Domínguez - Director of Resource Development
Client’s husband is the only provider. Client is the mother of two young children. She is requesting $250 for food, gas, and hygiene items for her family and herself. Her husband had dental surgery and did not work a few days. Their income was affected, and they now have a bill to pay. If assisted she will be able to keep her family clean and well fed. SW will use the credit card to buy a food and gas $250 Walmart
Residents power is shut off. This worker will work with case manager to get HEAP moving forward. She thought THMA worker had submitted HEAP application but this worker checked with CAPSLO and no application was submitted $671.83 (exception granted ) PG&E
Clients tire was punctured. Client needs to purchase a new tire but is on unemployment and does not have the funds. Social worker is working with resident to assist with finding a job. $120.96 Figueroa Tire
The resident is on SSDI and has limited funds (less that $700 per month). He recently moved into PSHH apartments and is requesting assistance for funds to buy a vacuum and cleaning supplies as well as hygiene products. $200 Walmart.
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