There's new NEWS! Lots to share!
- Rosemary Cleaves
- Nov 2
- 12 min read
Thanksgiving Food Drive
News Update: After receiving some feedback about some donor burnout, we have decided to cancel the December Winter Break Food Drive. With the huge increase in families needing food this fall, we think that having a second drive so soon after this huge Thanksgiving drive may be stretching all our resources too thin.
That being said, we’ve just learned that if the government shut down continues through the end of October, SNAP (or formerly known as food stamps or in California, CalFresh) will not go out to our clients in need. California is fast-tracking up to $80 million in state funds, as well as deploying the California National Guard and California Volunteers to support food banks as the ongoing federal government shutdown begins to delay SNAP food benefits for 5.5 million Californians. We will be working with our partner agencies, and we will notify you if we find there are other ways we can help our client base.
Our 7th Annual Thanksgiving Food Baskets drive sign-ups are in full swing. It’s now just 3 ½ weeks until food items need to be signed up for and dropped off! We are truly grateful for all the love you pour into these families in need at this time of year when so many places are asking for your help. We appreciate that it can be a sacrifice for many of our donors. Please know that we love your support for our community, especially at this time of the year,
Key dates:
Sign Up Genius is live until November 14th. Shop whenever and wherever you like, but please don’t drop off until November 10th through the 14th.
November 10th – 14th Drop off food at drop off locations (to be announced)
November 16th – Food delivered to assembly location
November 17th – Inventory and sorting
November 20th – Packing and Delivery
This year we are supporting 220 families (up from 185 last year)! As we have all heard, food insecurity has blown up this year, and it looks like it may get worse. You’ll notice that our list this year is not just Thanksgiving foods but has some general basic food needs.
Below are 3 options for helping us purchase food for these baskets:
Option 1 - You can buy food locally and drop it off in town to various locations. Use this Sign Up Genius form (https://www.signupgenius.com/go/20F0C4BA8AC29A2FE3-59070682-2025#/) to sign up for food and then drop food off at a Womenader's house between Monday, November 10 - Friday, November 14. Drop off locations will be emailed to you after sign up. Please only drop off during 11/10 – 11/14 week!
. Option 2 - You can buy food using our Amazon Gift List & have it sent directly to us. Use this Amazon link https://www.amazon.com/registries/gl/owner-view/FEAFBWO20OSO to purchase food items from our wish list. Mailing address in the Amazon wish list.
Option 3 - You can donate money through our web site, and we will shop for you. You can go to our web site https://www.sslocw.org/ and use our “Donate Now” button.
There are lots of ways to be involved and help out! To sign up for "In Person Volunteer Opportunities" to help sort, pack and deliver the food baskets - Sign up here - https://www.signupgenius.com/go/20F0C4BA8AC29A2FE3-59187381-2025#/
This project is a true example of a village coming together to help the village! Thank you for whatever you are able to give or time you are able to share.
If you have any questions or need help with the forms, please contact Kristin at kbertsch@gmail.com
Potluck Update
The October 9th potluck was attended by 44 people! The 950 Room in Cypress Ridge was definitely the place to be! The guests were able to talk to advocates who came and learn more about what their organizations are facing. As always, the food was delicious, amazing and plentiful!
Our next potluck will be hosted by Candace Guldeman at 6PM on December 10th Mark your calendars! Candace and Phil Guldeman go all out on Christmas decorating their home every two years, and this is one of those years! It is definitely a must-see occasion!
Projects Update
Toiletries Redux!
We recently received a wonderful grant from the California Medical Alliance Association to purchase toiletries for returning students in need. We combined the grant with some funds from the spring Hygiene Drive and have been fulfilling the toiletry list of needs at the programs at our high schools and Families in Transition. Board member, Marcella Gelman, has shopped her feet off!
Laundry Pop-Up
Both our Laundry Pop-ups are very successful. On September 5 they did 61 loads of laundry and used $238.25 in quarters. The day started a little slowly, but almost every washing machine and dryer (that work!) were going when we left. A young man went next door to the bakery and bought us each a sweet roll to express his appreciation. Volunteers were Terri, Beth, Donna and Lane. Thank you!
On September 20 they did 87 loads of laundry and used $300.75 in quarters! There were people waiting for the team upon arrival. Beth made a connection with an older couple who came in to do their laundry. She was speaking with the husband, who did not respond to her offer to pay for his laundry. But then the wife arrived with the rest of their wash. Beth learned that the couple had to be out of their home for a few hours while their house was being fumigated. The wife decided it would be a good idea to head to the laundromat to do their laundry and get rid of any ants in their bedding. She was very thankful for the financial assistance. The husband is in the beginning stages of dementia, accompanied by aphasia. It was obvious from watching her speak with Beth that she appreciated her sympathy and concern. It is not very often that you see strangers hug in a laundromat but today was one of those rare days. Volunteers were Terri, Beth, and new volunteers, Carolyn and Heidi, who did a fantastic job.
The next Laundry Pop-Ups are:
Saturday, November 1st
Saturday, November 8th
Saturday, December 6th
Saturday, December 13th
Check out the Sign Up Genius for opportunities to volunteer:
Nipomo Food Distribution
Rosemary Cleaves, Sue McCutcheon, and Mary Anne Morgan - project leaders
The October Food distribution was on Tuesday October 14th. We had a small but mighty crew of volunteers. You can tell that people are really feeling the impact of food price increases. We had food for 400 families from the SLO Foodbank and we ran out before 6PM!
We work with the SLO FoodBank and the Lucia Mar school district to make the Food Distribution happen. Let us know if you want to be on the substitute list. The next distribution will be on Tuesday, November 11th from 4:30 to 6:30 PM at Nipomo Elementary School.
Help and Items Needed
A project leader for the Toiletries Drive next April – Training and assistance available
Volunteers to help with committee work on the Thanksgiving Basket Projects
Volunteers for the Laundry Pop UP Sign up here: https://m.signupgenius.com/#!/showSignUp/10C0B44AEA82DAAF9C52-50105745-2024
Toilet paper
Diapers
Pack n Plays
Child safety items – drawer and cabinet locks and gates
Laundry detergent
Update on Funds Received
9/1/25 TO 9/30/25 $4,854.56
1/1/25 TO 9/30/25 $85,588.67
2/1/2019 TO 9/30/25 $734,772.43
Thanks to September Donors
Myra Akel, Fran Norris, Linda and Bradley Wilbert, Rosemary Cleaves, Sheila and Richard Semana, Olive and Mike Shu, Lola Zybura, Marilyn Mullany, Mary De Jong, Shari McCarthy, Joann and Stan Benson, Elaine Stewart, Teresa Zielinski, Wendy Castleman, Cory Gonzalez, Mary Ann Hjalmarson, Gail Applegate, Mary Anne Morgan and Madeline Fay, Patty Wiemers, Carol Chenot, Marcella Gelman (2), Sandy Richardson, Susan McCutcheon, Beth Hirsch, Ann McDowell(2), Marcella Gelman, Dana Robertson, Anita Shower, Jessica Griffiths(2), Lisa Murdoch, Nancy Terrell
Where the Money Went
Casa Solana – Renée Poirier – Executive Director
Casa Solana was able to provide a gift bed to a woman in her 50s who is battling medical issues, along with her struggle with alcoholism.By providing a safe, sober place for her, she can focus on her medical needs. $800 Gift Bed
Nipomo Family Resource Center – Advocate Yuliana Molina
SLO Food Bank weekly food bags $52.21 SLO Food Bank
SLO Food Bank weekly food bags $76.82 SLO Food Bank
Grandparent raising grandchildren. She is behind on bills due to recent stressors in the family. She needs support with getting her utility bill up to date so that electricity doesn't get turned off. $ 479.04 Nipomo Community Service District
Single parent, who is unhoused, needs help with car payment to avoid car repossession. Needs car to get daughter to school and to get to work $325 Bridgecrest Acceptance Corp
Oceano Family Resource Center – Advocate Stella Medina
Family of 5 struggling financially due to reduced work hours in the construction business.Work is picking up but dad doesn't have all the money for September rent $300 Carl Taylor verified landlord
Loss of income due to mother's maternity leave and SDI has not been approved. The family needs rental assistance to prevent eviction. $300 Ernesto Andrade verified landlord
Family struggling with homelessness, struggling to get mail. Since they change locations often. Requested support with PO Box purchase/Rental. $96 USPS
Arroyo Grande Family Resource Center – Cinthyia Ortiz-Corona
Single disabled parent on limited SSDI, requested support covering credit Check fee for local Peoples Self-Help Housing application pending. $26 The Duncan Group
Single mom who is struggling with a large service bill was furloughed over summer. She recently started earning income again. Needs support to avoid service shut off. $246.61 PG&E
Single mother on limited SSI income, has been struggling with basic household supplies cannot purchase certain items due to CalFresh limitation $110.83 Walmart direct purchase
Nutrition Team – Mary Anne Morgan leader
Food for the Lopez High School Food Pantry $162.70 SLO Foodbank
Lopez High School – Keith Gledhill- Principal; Aurora Munoz – Admin
Field Trip Scholarship, for student who could not afford to pay. (San Francisco) $50
Lopez High School Wolf Den – Heidi Boatman
Girl's joggers & hoodies $261.06 Walmart
6 Bath towel sets Costco $81.46 Costco
Families in Transition – Wendy Bruse Coordinator of After School Programs, Deicy Trejo
Unaccompanied youth requested a bus pass, will be using transportation to get to school daily. Has been struggling to get to school on time by walking and will be trying the transit system. $37 RTA-Regional bus pass
Nurse reached out, working with a student that has been wearing uncomfortable undergarments due to them being too tight. They have been causing lesions, and the mom is not responsive. Assisted student with getting new undergarments. $125.15
Student reached out for support with a public bus pass; he needs to be able to get on the bus since his parent is disabled and can't drive him. $37 RTA-Regional bus pass
Pregnancy and Parenting Support – Cami Statler Executive director
Womenade funds were used to purchase two car seats for a Grover Beach mother with premature twin babies. Given that they were premature, these babies required car seats that were approved for smaller babies so they could pass the NICU car seat test and be transported safely. PPS' Certified Car Seat Technician taught the mother how to properly install the seats and position the babies.$324.08 Walmart
Mission Hope – Katie Crafton – Oncology Social Worker
Man in 60’s with biliary cancer who is struggling to pay mortgage on top of accumulating medical bills. $200
Woman in 60’s newly diagnosed with breast cancer struggling to pay all her bills including mortgage while also getting all her scans. $200
Department of Social Services – Theresa Johnson – Division Manager
Gas and Walmart cards $650
Mattress purchase $395.86 Amazon
County Nurses – Meryl Castro – County Nurse Supervisor
Diapers $300
C.A.R.E.4Paws – Libby Williams-Cabral – area administrator
When we spoke with Pan’s "grandma", she was calling from the vet’s office, anxious and overwhelmed. Pan isn’t just their pet; she’s her disabled son’s therapy bunny and a lifeline to comfort and connection. The son is mostly bedridden and unable to leave the home, but Pan lies beside him outside in the fresh air and sleeps indoors at his side. The bond is deep and healing. Sadly, Pan became very ill, and the vet suspects a serious gastrointestinal issue requiring labs, X-rays, and medication. The mother, also disabled, managed to pay for the initial exam and has very limited Care Credit, but the cost of continued care is out of reach. The vet confirmed Pan's condition is serious. With your help, we committed $75 toward her treatment. The family is doing what they can, but they couldn’t do it alone. Thanks to Womenade funding, we could assist with $75. This family lives in Nipomo. $75 Cat and Exotic care
Facing overwhelming financial times, Chantelle called us for help with her dog Sniffy after a visit to the local pet ER. He is a sweet 15-year-old dog, suffering from a painful tooth root abscess. With underlying health conditions, including a heart murmur and arthritis. His care required careful coordination and his family, already managing ongoing medications, was overwhelmed by the added cost of urgent dental treatment. Thanks to Womenade funding, $150 was shared to help cover a portion of the initial diagnostics. Dr. Bell ran lab work to ensure it’s safe to move forward with the dental extraction, and Sniffy’s mom is applying for other grant funding to move forward with the dental so this beloved senior pup can be on the path to relief. Chantelle lives in Nipomo. $150 Monarch Dunes Vet
Robyn, a low-income Pismo resident, had called all over, desperately trying to find help with her dog Smooth. Smooth is a lively 5-year-old poodle who was facing a painful hip luxation that left him unable to move without pain. Surgery was the only viable option to give him a chance at a normal, pain-free life. Her devoted owner, determined to do everything possible for her beloved companion, sought help despite limited resources. Thanks to Womenade, $150 was contributed toward Smooth’s much-needed orthopedic surgery. With additional support from another local nonprofit covering the remaining costs (amounting to $1600), Smooth now has a real chance at healing and continuing the joyful life he deserves with his mom. Robyn is struggling with housing and may also soon be without a home. She has committed to repaying the other local non-profit who stepped in to help with the bulk of the cost. $150 Morro Bay Vet
Monica and her family have been through an incredibly difficult year. Most of it spent navigating the trauma and recovery of their daughter, who now lives with a trach tube after accidentally ingesting a button battery. Between hospital stays, medical bills, and daily caregiving, their emotional and financial resources are stretched thin. In the midst of all this, their beloved cat, McLovin, fell suddenly ill with a high fever, lethargy, and severe nausea. After spending nearly $300 at a local vet with little improvement, the family was left frustrated and worried. Libby visited their home to check on McLovin, provided more fluids and nausea medication, and taught the owner how to continue supportive care over the weekend. By Monday, McLovin was showing some signs of improvement. The family borrowed money from friends and family to pay for the necessary lab work to ensure McLovin wasn't needing additional care. Thanks to Womenade funding, we were able to cover the $84 exam fee with Dr. Bell. This small act of support made a meaningful difference for a family already carrying so much. (Arroyo Grande family) $150 Monarch Dunes Vet
People’s Self Help Housing – Caity McCardell - Director of Resource Development
Resident lives with a budget of under $1200 and needs some mechanic work on her car. Request for $372.85 for front axil boot. $372.85 Auto Experts
A client needs assistance with cleaning supplies and other things such as pampers for her son. She is on a fixed income, and this well help her out tremendously. $200 Walmart
Client is on fixed income and this will help with toiletries and to be able to feed her emotional support animal. This will be able to help her out tremendously $60 Walmart
Client is a single mother of 5 school age kids. She had 2 jobs but recently she was let go of one. The income of one job covers some needs but not all. Her income was affected and now she needs assistance. Client is requesting financial assistance to feed her children ($140). If assisted a single mother will keep her family healthy and well fed. Client is job seeking to get back on her feet. $140 Smart and Final
Client needs help regarding her son, who needs pampers and other necessary baby materials. This would be a great help as client is transitioning into the workforce $150 Walmart
Laundry Pop Up
97 loads Beth made a connection with an older couple who came in to do their laundry.She was speaking with the husband, who did not respond to her offer to pay for his laundry.But then the wife arrived with the rest of their wash.Beth learned that the couple had to be out of their home for a few hours while their house was being fumigated.The wife decided it would be a good idea to head to the laundromat to do their laundry and get rid of any ants in their bedding.She was very thankful for the financial assistance.The husband is in the beginning stages of dementia, accompanied by aphasia.It was obvious from watching her speak with Beth that she appreciated her sympathy and concern.It is not very often that you see strangers hug in a laundromat, but today was one of those rare days. $300.75
61 loads We had one person who declined our help.Another person made a small donation $238.25
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