May 21, 2026 Newsletter

Toiletries Drive More Updates

Next Potlucks - Lots of NEWS

Projects Update

Help and Items Needed

Funds Received

Thanks to Donors

Where the Money Went

Toiletries Drive Update

In our last newsletter we shared all the excitement of the culmination of our 2026 Toiletries Drive! But wait! there's more! We were on KSBY news and here's their news clip on the distribution:https://youtu.be/mIsx_iRP4zM.

Plus we had a Womenader step up to fund one of the agencies that we couldn't give to because at 21 agencies in our Toiletries Drive, we were pretty stretched. She and members of her church have collected toiletries and cash donations and will be giving them to the Adult Education Program at Lucia Mar. AND that's not all! We had so many generous cash donors that we have enough to fund yet one more agency. We are currently purchasing toiletries for needs at the Family Care Network which has a number of places in South SLO County to house and help young adults aging out of foster care and people transitioning out of homelessness!

Next Potluck Fundraiser - Lots of News!

Our next potluck will be hosted by Karen Kolba on Friday, June 26th at 6PM at the clubhouse at Toucan Terrace 955 Terry Drive, Pismo Beach. https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/womenade-summer-solstice-potluck-june--26

South SLO County Womenade Summer Solstice Potluck

Join us for a relaxed summer evening celebrating community, connection, and the longest days of the year.

June's gathering will feature light garden-party inspired touches, fresh summer foods, a couple of community updates from our agency partners, and time to connect together on a beautiful summer evening.

Friday, June 26

6:00–8:00 PM

Toucan Terrace, Pismo Beach

Hosted by Karen Kolba

Guests are encouraged (but never required!) to embrace the summer solstice vibe with florals, sun hats, breezy summer attire, or other garden-party inspired looks.

We’ll also have a simple flower crown crafting table with flowers, herbs, and greenery for anyone who’d like to participate.

Potluck favorites with fresh summer flavors are encouraged. Sue will be making both alcoholic and non-alcoholic margaritas.

As always, our goal remains the same — gathering together to support local families in our community.

This event also introduces a few updated ticketing options designed to make gatherings more flexible and accessible for everyone, including first-time guests and community partners.

We can’t wait to celebrate summer with you!

We’re excited to welcome Carbon City Lights (https://carboncitylights.com/) to South SLO County Womenade’s first-ever Benefit Concert + Potluck Fundraiser on August 22nd starting at 3:30 PM in Arroyo Grande.

Carbon City Lights is a Central Coast indie alt-rock band blending atmospheric guitars, soaring vocals, and emotionally driven songwriting into powerful live performances rooted in warmth and connection. Fronted by singer-songwriter Michael Venia, the band moves between energetic alt-rock anthems and intimate, reflective moments — all with authenticity at the center of it all.

At its core, Carbon City Lights creates music that helps people feel connected — to themselves and to each other.

Learn more and listen to their music at: https://carboncitylights.com/

Start spreading the news! Let's dance, sing along and bring in lots of relatives, friends and neighbors!

Projects Updates

Laundry Pop-Up - Belinda Benassi, Terri Zielinski and Beth Hersch

The Laundry Pop-Ups in Nipomo and Arroyo Grande and Grover Beach have been very successful. We have many returning families at all locations. Everyone who receives assistance expresses so much gratitude for the help and many remark that they can now put a little more gas in their vehicle or buy some food!

Next Laundry Pop-Ups:

June 6, 2026 Launderia Laundre Mat 505 Orchard St. Nipomo

June 20, 2026 Washboard Laundromat 111 S Halcyon Rd Arroyo Grande

Sign up to volunteer here:

https://m.signupgenius.com/#!/showSignUp/10C0B44AEA82DAAF9C52-50105745-2024

Nipomo Food Distribution - Rosemary Cleaves, Sue McCutcheon, and Mary Anne Morgan - project leaders

The May 12th distribution was our second at Nipomo High School. We were very fortunate to have enough Spanish speaking volunteers to help with signing people in. We are delighted that we have had a number of "younger" volunteers joining our distribution team and this month our numbers were back up to our full 450 families! The next food distribution is Tuesday June 9th, with our team working from 4:00 to 6:00 PM. We have a drive up and a walk up line. It works very smoothly and the new venue keeps the line of traffic off Thompson Rd.

Coming in July - Teachers' School Supplies Drive

Our 7th Annual Teachers' School Supplies Drive will run from July 15 to August 15th just in time for the school supplies sales. Stay tuned for more information on this drive in upcoming newsletters!

Lunch buddies

The Lunch Buddies program for the 2025/2026 school year is drawing to a close. Throughout the school year Womenaders throughout South SLO County, and there are dozens of them, purchase and pack brown bags with food for the weekend for children who don't have food over the weekend. Every week these volunteers have tirelessly packed and delivered over 130 bags every week for these food insecure children. At the risk of leaving someone off the very long list of volunteers, we want to express our gratitude to all these amazing volunteers who have stepped up to meet this need. You have made a difference in these children's lives!

We are setting up a sign up process for the next school year through Zeffy for anyone one new who wants to participate in this valuable project. Stay tuned.

Lopez High School Food Pantry

Throughout the school year, Mary Anne Morgan, a dedicated Womenader volunteer, places the food order and makes the drive to the SLO Foodbank to pick up food for the Lopez High School Food Pantry and additional food we donate and pack for our monthly Food distributions at Nipomo High School.

Mary Anne works with the staff and students at Lopez High School, an alternative high school in Arroyo Grande, and together they put on a twice monthly food pantry for food insecure students and their families. The program has become very popular and there is a waiting list for students who want to help with setting up the bi-monthly pantry.

We greatly appreciate Mary Anne's dedication to making this important project work. If you would like to be a substitute driver on occasion please let us know. You need to have a pick-up truck.

Help and Items Needed

• Grant writing – If you are interested in or have experience in grant writing we would love to talk to you. 

• Committee members for Teachers' School Supplies Drive

• Volunteers for the Laundry Pop UP Sign up here: https://m.signupgenius.com/#!/showSignUp/10C0B44AEA82DAAF9C52-50105745-2024

• Toilet paper

• Diapers

• Pack n Play

• Child safety items - drawer and cabinet locks and gates

• Laundry detergent

  
  

Update on Funds Received

4/1/26 to 4/30/26            $3,836.61

1/1/26 to 4/30/26             $56,942.21

2/1/2019 TO 4/30/26     $903,600.13

Thanks to April Donors

Fran Norris,  Cory Gonzalez,  Olive Shu,  Gay Groomes (3),  Mary Anne Morgan and Madeline Fay (2),  Sheila Simmons,  BJ Bushur,  Nancy Livingston,  Joann Benson (2),  Elaine Stewart,  Susan McCutcheon (2),  Nancy Terrell,  Vanessa Allen,  Marya Figueroa,  Carol Chenot,  Sue Girard,  Carol Lee,  Lea Ojeda,  Colleen Phelan,  Roselyn Heenan,  Dana Starkovich,  Cynthia Peters,  Anita Shower (2),  Mary DeJong,  Diana Henderson,  Nipomo Presbyterian,  Liz Fritz,  Kathy Gibbs,  Marilyn Mullany,  Rita Casaverde,  Ashley Hahn,  Lita Unruh,  Candace Kincade (2),  Karla Cool (2),  Marilyn Knollenberg,  Tina Hahn,  Janet Windman,  Kristen Capalare,  Andrea Chavez (2),  Teresa Lopes,  Linda Fibich,  Nan Fowler (2),  Lisa Chadwick,  Kristin Heenan,  Lisa Chadwick,  Barbara Crawford,  Ashley Hahn,  Gail Hedding,  Karen Kolba (2),  Rosemary Cleaves (2),  Sheryl Patton,  Lita Unruh,  Jessica Griffiths,  Dayna Ravalin,  Beth Hirsch,  Joshua Weisbein (2),  Lola Zybura (2),  Marilynn McDermott,  Kathy Forenza (2),  Karen Brown,  Ann McDowell (2),  Gerti Garner,  Marcella Gelman

Where the Money Went

Casa Solana – Renée Poirier – Executive Director

Casa Solana was able to provide a gift bed for a second month to a woman in her 30's who is a domestic violence survivor.  She lost her home, and her children were placed in foster care. She is getting stronger every day and has been able to have a visit with her children. $800

Nipomo Family Resource Center – Advocate Yuliana Molina

• Family is experiencing financial stress. Dad was recently laid off, in the process of looking for employment. They need financial assistance with their utilities. $247.78 Nipomo Community Services District

Oceano Family Resource Center – Advocate Stella Medina

• No expenses

Arroyo Grande Family Resource Center – Cinthyia Ortiz-Corona

• Family received childcare through YMCA over the summer. Unfortunately, they have a large outstanding balance due to multiple sessions. Mother was able to obtain debt forgiveness for a large portion; this covers the remaining balance $310 SLO YMCA

• Youth on his own, family deported to Mexico. Youth requested support with fee to receive her birth certificate for her records. $32 Salt Lake County Health Dept

• Family of six struggling with home expenses.  Family needs support with utility bill so that they can cover recent medical expenses. $355.02 PG&E

• Unaccompanied pregnant youth does not have family support. Requested assistance with maternity clothing.  $58.24 Amazon

• Families head of household had a heart attack and is not able to work while recovering from surgery. Family needs support with rent this month $500 MGF Enterprises-Vista pacific apartments

Nutrition Team – Mary Anne Morgan leader

• Food for the Lopez High School Food Pantry $103.40 SLO Foodbank

 5 Cities Homeless Coalition – Devon McQiade, Executive Director

• Client was recently approved for his SR22 and requested assistance with the cost of reinstating his Driver's License so he can begin using his car again to look for employment and housing. $165.41 DMV - DL Renewal

• Client is currently looking for employment and has history of commercial truck driving but had let his CDL expire. He requested assistance with renewing his CDL so he could find work in this field again. $46.90 DMV – CDL Renewal

• A senior living alone on a fixed income had some unexpected expenses and fell behind on her rent and utilities. 5CHC was able to utilize another funding source to pay for her April rent, but utilities were not an eligible expense. 5CHC was able to utilize Womenade funds to get her caught up for the month. $199.89 Bar K Trailer Park – Utilities

• Client has been working with 5CHC on housing stability for several months. She recently had an injury and required surgery which required time off work and she is currently only receiving disability income which has set her back financially. Her vehicle registration is past due, and she will be returning to work soon and requested assistance with that payment so she can ensure she is able to cover the rest of her monthly expenses with her current income. $391 DMV – Car Registration

• Client reached out for assistance with a significant car repair. She was able to cover a portion of the expense but requested assistance with the remainder so her car could be operable again and she can get to and from work. 5CHC was able to cover the expense but will continue to work with this individual on budgeting and financial stability to ensure she can maintain her housing. $518.59 DeLong Fabrications – Car Repair

• Client required to obtain birth certificate for potential housing opportunities; however she is unable to obtain her original birth certificate and requested assistance with the cost to obtain a copy from out of state.$31 Birth Certificate

Laundry Pop-Up Belinda Benassi – Project coordinator; Terri Zielinski and Beth Hirsch in Nipomo

• In Nipomo - We served many of our regular guests throughout the day. Belinda and I talked about how we rarely see people bringing in sheets to wash, but instead often see thick blankets. It’s a quiet but stark reminder of the economic reality many of the people we help are facing and may be sleeping on floors or sofas, using a blanket as their only bedding. 63 loads $210.50

• In Arroyo Grande – April's event was slower but eventful. We had Supervisor Jimmy Paulding drop by our event, which offered us the opportunity to describe what SSCW does to assist the South County community. Supervisor Paulding donated a $100 Kiwanis Club dinner and raffle ticket to a family we identified would greatly benefit from the ticket. The family was excited and grateful for the gift. I took a picture of the family with Gay, as she was the one that invited Supervisor Paulding to come speak with the SSCW volunteers and offered this opportunity.  $236.25

Lopez High School – Keith Gledhill- Principal; Aurora Munoz – Admin

•  No Expenses

 Lopez High School Wolf Den – Heidi Boatman

• No Expenses

 Lucia Mar Adult Education – Kristin Anderson, Principal

•  No Expenses

Families in Transition – Wendy Bruse Coordinator of After School Programs, Deicy Trejo, Karina Ayala

• Graduating senior, family recently evicted from home. Student went to stay in an RV and has been struggling with the situation. Wanted a yearbook to remember his senior year and give his mind a break. $95.99 Yearbook

• Unaccompanied youth recently started working, would like assistance with her prom ticket to be able to experience the last dance of her senior year. $55 Prom Ticket

Pregnancy and Parenting Support – Cami Statler Executive director

•  No Expenses

Mission Hope – Katie Crafton – Oncology Social Worker

• Man in 50’s with brain cancer is out of work and struggling with rent payment $200

• Woman in 40’s with metastatic ovarian cancer who has been unable to work and has faced a lot of difficulties with treatment. Family is down to one income and struggling with mortgage payment. $20

• Man in 50’s with metastatic prostate cancer who has stacking medical bills and is struggling to pay mortgage. $20

• Man in 40’s with metastatic colon cancer who has struggled with transportation to appointments this month. $25

• Woman in 30’s with breast cancer traveling daily to Santa Maria for radiation struggling with gas costs being out of work for an extended time $25

• Man in 80’s with colon cancer who has struggled to pay for his scans and has struggled to afford food. Assisting with partial payment of house payment. $200

SLO County Office Of Education CSPP – (California Pre-School Programs) – Shannon Pimentel Program Coordinator

•  No expenses

Department of Social Services – Theresa Johnson – Division Manager

• 3 clients needed assistance with transportation to SLO for appointments 3 bus passes $16.50

County Nurses – Meryl Castro – County Nurse Supervisor

• An older mother is expecting twins in 2 weeks. She has issues with transportation, so she walks a lot. County nurse was trying to find her a stroller for the twins.  Womenade purchased the stroller for the mom.  She has had the twins and is so happy she can get them back and forth in her new stroller. $289.56 Amazon

C.A.R.E.4Paws – Libby Williams-Cabral – area administrator

• Arroyo Grande cat mom’s cat Mia showing signs of pain. She had a serious mouth condition, and the vet said she would need dental work, including some tooth extractions.  The cost was staggering and the worry was affecting cat mom’s health. Thanks to funding from SLO South County Womenade, she was able to get the cat the needed surgery $100 Primary Care Veterinary Hospital

• Oceano resident was concerned about her elderly dog and was concerned about the cost of a checkup. With assistance from Womenade she took the dog for a checkup, and the vet found a large immobile mass affecting her hind area. Although surgery is not an option they treated the dog with antibiotics. $42.03 Main Street Vet

• Client’s dog developed a growth. Client’s husband had recently been deported, leaving her with financial difficulties. Fortunately, the doctor determined the growth was benign which brought great relief. $100 Primary Care Veterinary Hospital

People’s Self Help Housing – Caity McCardell - Director of Resource Development

• Resident is in need of small bins to organize her unit better, as well as women hygiene products. $32.10

• Resident is in need of cleaning supplies, bins and trash bags for treatment for their unit. $99.90

• Resident is in need of extra bins and trash bags in preparation for treatment in their unit. $59.74

• Client is internet deficient, and is in need of a router due to damage sustained from a power outage that damaged their router $80.95

• Client is a single mother of 3 young school aged kids. She is the sole provider for the family. Client has recently returned to work as the school was on break and was attending without pay. She is requesting assistance to pay 2 bills, DMV and PG&E. The DMV bill has amounted to $184.53 and PG&E amounts to $94.32, amounting to a grand total of $278.85

• Client is in need of fly repellent, as she is having a serious fly issue in her unit. $19.25

• Client is the single head of the household who works as a caregiver part time. Client has a variety of health issues that she manages. This April she had a deterioration in her health that resulted in emergency room visits with an infection and ultimately an emergency amputation of her toe. Due to this, the client missed significant hours at work, currently returned to work but is working to get back on track with finances. Her vehicle is in dire need of new tires quoted at $475. She needs transportation for work purposes and can't afford tires at this time. If assisted, this client will be able to continue commuting to work safely. $474.83

• Client is a disabled individual that struggles with various physical/mental health concerns. Client is on a fixed income with various medical expenses. This client described having an exacerbation in physical symptoms resulting in difficulty addressing bills and other affairs. Client is on notice to have electricity shut off and current has HEAP benefits on her gas bill. If assisted she will be able to get back on track until she can re-apply for HEAP. $428.09

Transitions Mental Health -Tricia Ochoa

• Purchased 50 dollars of gas to help out a low-income family attend appointments and maintain school attendance. Client was a single parent who needed the support to ensure she could make appointments and take her kids to school. $50

• Purchased items to help 3 clients in a PSHH complex prepare for roach abatement. We purchased bins to help pack their items for safe storage and supplies to clean afterward. $172.59

• Purchased a Chromebook for single mother to support her in her employment. This Chromebook has allowed her to complete work and school assignments to help sustain her employment and better herself. $231.29

• Purchased Organic baby formula to help supplement a low-income family facing food insecurity. $71.96

• Gave funds to help with the purchase of new tires to a mother with 2 kids.  She was told tires are unsafe to drive on. The family only has one vehicle for all their transport needs. Helped with 300 hundred dollars towards purchasing new tires. $300

Hearst Cancer Research Center – Julie Neiggemann and Ashley Hahn

•  No Expenses

 Family Care Network – Lupita Ducharme

•  No Expenses

 Welcome Home Military Heroes – Executive Director Cheryl Tolan

• Welcome Home received a request from a VA representative at Millburn Harbor to assist a disabled veteran and his wife. After she was laid off, their car registration expired in February and required a smog certificate, leaving them with limited resources and unable to seek employment. We were honored to step in and provide a cashier’s check to help them get back on track. Beach Front Auto was incredible to work with and coordinated directly with us for payment after completing the smog. When we presented the support, both the veteran and his wife were deeply grateful, truly emotional and humbled. Moments like this are powerful reminders of why we do what we do. $282.00 DMV

• We received a request from a VA representative at Millburn Harbor to help a Veteran in urgent need. Just four days earlier, he had been rushed to the ER with dangerously high blood pressure. The doctors were able to stabilize him but made it clear that monitoring his blood pressure every single day is now critical to his health. Living on very limited resources, he simply didn’t have the means to purchase a blood pressure monitor—or even the fuel to get to his follow-up appointments. Because of your support, we were able to step in and provide him with a blood pressure machine, along with a fuel gift card to ensure he can get the care he needs. When I delivered these items, he was overwhelmed. His eyes filled with tears, and in that moment, it was clear—this wasn’t just about equipment or a gift card. It was about being seen, supported, and reminded that he’s not alone. $88.58

Martha’s Place – Tony Huffacker. Supervisor

• No Expenses

 Healing Heroes through Horsemanship Yvette d’Unienville

• Veteran is a Healing Heroes program graduate and volunteer facilitator, scheduled to graduate from Veterans Treatment Court on May 23. He is eligible to reinstate his driver’s license but cannot afford the upfront costs for insurance and DMV fees. Without a license, he is unable to secure consistent employment. Assistance will enable him to obtain transportation and pursue stable work. $364.47 Freeway Insurance and DMV

HOW TO DONATE:

You can click on our donate button: https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/donation-form/donate-to-south-slo-county-womenade

or You can write a check to our full legal name: 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 or update your wills, please consider adding a legacy gift to us for our future sustainability.

We are transitioning to "zeffy" throughout 2026, and we are still working through the "how to" for things like receipts, Thank You acknowledgements for your donations. If you have a question about any donation you made and are missing a receipt, please email us at sslocwomenade@gmail.com.

website: sslocw.org

email: sslocwomenade@gmail.com

EIN# 27-0809744