It was a wonderful way to kick off 2023 with a great gathering at our First Potluck of the year
Newsletter January 20, 2023
Our first Potluck of the year! A great success!
That’s a whole lot of women! Forty-five women joined together for a wonderful evening of generosity, learning, community and joy. Many thanks to Candace Guldeman for stepping in to host at the last minute and many thanks to Lynn Heinrich for signing up to be the original host. She and Brian are recovered now but we are happy that we were able to find another location.
2022 was our most successful year, so far. We raised nearly $120,000 counting in-kind receipts. That doesn’t include the thousands of dollars of in kind items that we didn’t receive receipts for (eg. Toiletries, feminine hygiene products, food for weekend lunch bags, school supplies, holiday food etc.) Next Potluck
Mark Your Calendars
April 13, 2023 is our next scheduled potluck fundraiser at Ann McDowell’s home at 1793 Farroll Rd., Grover Beach. We will also hold our annual raffle that day, and we will raise funds for our administrative expenses during Admin April. No one at South SLO County Womenade gets paid; however, we do have minimal expenses, primarily for insurance (no board will have members without insurance!) and the cost of Quickbooks (fortunately our fabulous treasurer, Caity McCardell does all the bookkeeping gratis!) and our accountant does our taxes pro bono! June 15, 2023 will be hosted by Mariam Shah at 2410 Green Place 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 and would like to have between 10 and 12 potlucks a year in our regular neighborhoods and new areas to introduce our work to new networks and neighborhoods. MANY THANKS TO OUR FABULOUS DECEMBER DONORS
Linda and Bradley Wilbert, Fran Norris, Rosemary Cleaves, Exchange Club Central Coast, Nan Fowler, Cynthia Peters, Mary De Jong, Karen Kolba, Sheila and Richard Semana (2), Gwen Carton, Kathleen Bond, Winona Smyth, Wendy CastlemanJoann and Stan Benson, Cory Gonzalez (2), Susan Girard, Grace Crittenden, Alex and Jessie Shu, Elaine Stewart, Liz Fritz, Lynda Allen, Consuelo Braun, Valerie Glahn, Nancy Shearer, Fred Donati, Kathy Forenza, Barbara Schader, Ann Tompkins, Rotary Nipomo, Linda Busek, Mary Anne Morgan and Madeline Fay, Gail Applegate, Carol Chenot, Rotary Arroyo Grande, Linda Bishop, Karen Blum, Cory Gonzalez, Susan McCutcheon, Caity McCardell, Deb Sherry, Amazon Smile, Jessica Griffiths (2), Marilyn Gildea, Susan Hughes, Sue Prior, Jacque Fondren, Lori Bishop
AN UPDATE ON FUNDS RECEIVED
12/1/22 to 12/31/22 $26,403.04
1/1/22 TO 12/31/22 $110,160.38
2/1/2019 TO 12/31/22 $335,228.37
These figures don’t reflect in-kind donations.
WHERE DID THE DONATIONS GO?
Nutrition Team - Food for families in need and for school children $89.04 SLO FoodBank Oceano Family Resource Center – Advocate Stella Medina
Homeless family recently housed. All their money was used to move into their home. Family needs gas to get to work and school $100 Shell
Diagnostics on Vehicle. Without the car single mother cannot continue to seek employment, take her daughter to school and Dr. appointments $150 Wrona's Quality Auto Repair
Child is still in an infant car seat which is not safe for child. Parents cannot afford a car seat that fits their child’s needs. Purchased the appropriate size seat at $150.14 Walmart.
Family lives in a home without heat. They cannot afford the cost of heaters. Purchased 2 portable heaters to warm their home this winter. $86.96 Walmart
Family of 6 lost income due to rain, illness and car repairs. The client had to use a portion of their rent to get their car fixed to get to work. In need of rental assistance. $300 Maria Chavez (landlord)
Family of 4 displaced by CWS (no fault of the family) family left home with only what they were wearing. Family in need of gas to get son to doctor. $50 Shell
Single mother with 4 children struggling with high cost of living. Mother needs help with becoming a daycare provider to increase her income. $73 Ca Dept. of Social Services
Family’s water was shut off. Landlord refused to pay overdue water bill even though it’s in the lease agreement. Family needs assistance with partial payment to turn the water back on. $126 Oceano Community Services District
Nipomo Family Resource Center – Advocate Marivel Pille
Parents unemployed due to seasonal work being done due to weather changes. Not eligible to apply for unemployment. $200 Arthur Gamboa (landlord)
Arroyo Grande Family Resource Center – Cinthyia Ortiz-Corona
Family requested support w/ utility bill, under single income. Parent been unable to work due to rain and seasonal unemployment $91.57 PG&E
Single mother, employer reduced her work hours. Requested support w/ gas bill $13.18 So. Cal Gas Company
Single mother on unpaid maternity leave. Requested support w/ insurance $201.83 Progressive Insurance
Single income family, father recently fell ill & doesn't have sick time for 2 week period he was out. Requested help with electricity bill.$102.36 PG&E
Single mother struggling to pay utility bills after 2 wk period of being sick & running out of sick pay at work. $126.07 So. Cal Gas Company
Family lost main source of income. on limited part-time employment for family of 5. Need assistance with electricity bill. $73.65 PG&E
Single mother, not working currently to stay home with new baby. Father passed away recently and she is living with her older son. She is several months behind on her bills. $159.67 Farmers Car Insurance
The Link – Mesa Middle School and Judkins Middle School and Advocate Brenda Gonzalez – Paulding Middle School
Client needs help with cell phone bill. Lost his job and looking for new one. Needs phone to look for work $243.74 T-Mobile
Client needs help with electric bill. Fallen behind on rent due to short work hours $297.64 PG&E
Client's hours cut due to weather and no income.Needs help with internet for children school work $44.99 Spectrum
Casa Solana – Renée Poirier – Executive Director
Casa Solana was able to provide a gift bed to a woman in early 50's who is struggling with alcohol and substance abuse. She is currently homeless, has diabetes and other medical issues that have not been treated due to her living situation. $800
Mission Hope – Katie Crafton Oncology Social Worker
Metastatic Cancer unemployed and struggling to get to appointments. Trying to get connected to VTS for transportation. $25 Shell
Department of Social Services/ Transitions Mental Health Association Janine Lambert/Mayra Valencia
Client had recently taken a fall and not able to work because of fall. Client will have to have a cast for 6 months and have surgery $50 Walmart
Family has been struggling. Head of household got injured at work and has not been able to work. Family could use help with some Walmart basic necessities $50 Walmart
Client was laid off work due to weather conditions. Family has no children and finds it difficult for an agency to help with basic necessities $50 Walmart
Client had to reduce work hours due to mental health issues and starting school. Client could benefit from GC $50 Walmart
Families in Transition Wendy Bruse Coordinator of After School Programs and Deicy Trejo Support Coordinator
First generation student requested help in paying for college applications. Parents are struggling financially, the family is doubled up with grandparents, and expenses are tight. Student is doing excellent in school and wants to change his family's living situation one day. $280 College applications
Family had work hours cut due to the rain and season, as they are field workers. Went from 2 working parents to 1 due to mom falling ill. She was put on leave due to heart troubles, and will not be able to return any time soon. Family is struggling to put food on the table for the 3 children they have. $100 Vons
Family has had hours cut due to lack of work, needed support in paying the remaining balance for the student to attend science camp. Student sold what she could in chocolate to cover costs, but was not able to sell anymore $100 Science Camp fee
Family in a health crisis. Mom was recently diagnosed with Stage 4 liver cancer, after just overcoming breast cancer last year. Mom started Chemo and ended up in the hospital severely ill. They recently moved into a house after being doubled up for over a year. Family has nothing in the house except a blow up mattress and paper plates. Grandmother is watching the young boy, and the family needed support in at least getting him basic items to be able to stay there. FIT took grandmother to Walmart to get some of the items since she couldn't go alone due to the emotional distress she was in. Blankets, sheets, pots/pans, shoes, heater, box mattress, socks, and toiletries for sensitive skin. $300 Walmart
HOW TO DONATE:
To make a donation write a check to South SLO County Womenade and mail to:
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 you update your wills please consider providing us or adding us
with a legacy gift 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
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South SLO County Womenade1793 Farroll Rd. Grover Beach, CA 93433