It's raining hygiene essentials!
Newsletter May 11,2024
We Were on the News!
Success! - Hygiene Essentials Drive
Next Potluck
Help and Items Needed
Projects Update
Donor Thank You’s
Where the Money Went
We Were on the News!
Did you see us? We were on KSBY Monday evening at 5:00PM! Here’s the link!
Success! - Hygiene Essentials Drive
Over $26,000 of hygiene essentials collected!
South SLO Womenaders, friends, neighbors, relatives and unknown good people – You made this project sing. First, a round of applause for our tireless project leader, Robin Pisz and her trustworthy assistant Candace Guldeman! Robin counted, catalogued, sorted and priced each item as it was delivered! WOW! What a difference that made in our sorting jobs. Many thanks to the hundreds of donors, sorting and driving volunteers. They say it takes a village and this is an example of how true that is.
This year we raised over $26,000 in hygiene products. To put that into perspective, here are a few of the products we collected:
1,000 toothbrushes
600 tubes of toothpaste
6,780 Diapers in over 70 boxes
611 bars of full-size soap
80 full-size body wash
228 containers of deodorant
When all was said and done there were almost 200 boxes of hygiene products delivered to 24 agencies. We have received many messages of gratefulness with how much these products will help the clients in need in South County!
Next Potluck - The Trilogy Service Club
The Trilogy Service Club is holding a closed group fundraising event for South SLO County Womenade on May 15. It’s called Hats and High Tea and includes a “Fund-a-Need Paddle Raise”. We are very grateful to Carol Morrison and the Trilogy Service Club for all the incredible hard work and dedication that has gone into making this an amazing event.
Next Potluck – Friday, June 28th at 6PM at Mariam Shah’s home at 2410 Green Place, Arroyo Grande.
Help and Items Needed
Help needed (you asked for a list of where we need help):
Leader and Volunteers for a diaper drive
Leader and Volunteers for a second Laundry Pop-Up day (they’re held once a month)
A couple more volunteers for the current Laundry Pop-Up
Substitute volunteers at monthly food distribution on the second Tuesday of each month at Nipomo Elementary School
Hosts for future potlucks in the latter half of the year
Items needed let us know if you have any items:
Toilet paper
Diapers
Detergent
Projects
Laundry Pop Up – Belinda Benassi - leader
At the April Laundry Pop-Up the team of Belinda, Shiela and Richard Semena and Sandy Strohman helped people with 34 loads of laundry at the Laundromat in Arroyo Grande. One young man shared that he was going to use the money we saved him to refuel his car. He shared he is struggling and was having to chose between laundry and gas for his car!
The next Laundry Pop-Up will in Grover Beach on May 18th from 10AM to 12 Noon.
Please consider joining us in the future to pay for 3 loads of laundry per person! It’s a fun event and very rewarding. Each month we only need about 3 volunteers. Belinda Benassi leads this program and could use a few more volunteers. If we had a larger list each volunteer could do it once a quarter! Contact us at sslocwomenade@gmail.com and we’ll put you in touch with Belinda.
Nipomo Food Distribution – Rosemary Cleaves, Sue McCutcheon, and Mary Anne Morgan - project leaders
This picture of us after the March distribution - where 340 families received food - was put out on the SLO Foodbank Facebook page. We work with the SLO FoodBank and Nipomo Elementary School to make the Food Distribution happen. The May Food distribution is on Tuesday May 14th at the Nipomo Elementary School (always the second Tuesday of the month). Thank you SLO Foodbank and all our fabulous volunteers! Let us know if you want to be on the substitute list.
AN UPDATE ON FUNDS RECEIVED
4/1/24 TO 4/30/24 $11,520.90
1/1/24 TO 4/30/24 $37,997.33
2/1/2019 TO 4/30/24 $536,487.69
Thank you to our April donors!
Ahmad Nafisi, Andrea Chavez, Anita Ikeda, Anita Shower (2), Ardie Heinrich, Barbara Crawford, Barbara Finn, BJ & Chris Bushur, Caity McCardell, Carol Chenot (2), Connie Crane, Connie Moxness, Cory Gonzalez, Dana Robertson, Deb Sherry, Debra Jackson, Diana Henderson, Diane O'Lear, Diann & Jim Spalding, Elaine Stewart, Elizabeth Williams, Emily Myhre, Fran Norris, Fred Donati (2), Gail Applegate, Gee Gee (Joyce) Southward, Gwen Carton (2), Heidi Boatman, Ilanit Unruh, Janet Baxter, Jann Jeffries, Jasmine Dexter, Jayne Turner, Jean Leavitt, Jennifer Bowen, Jessica Griffiths, Joanie Thomas (2), Joann and Stan Benson, Jordis Daigle, Karen Kolba, Karen Reinecke, Karly Reiber, Kathy Howell, Kathy Zack, Kristin Bertsch, Leslie Friedman, Linda and Bradley Wilbert, Linda Busek, Linda Fibich, Lisa Fraser, Lisa Murdoch, Lola Zybura (2), Lori Connolly ,,Lyn Lamison, Lynda Burnsed, Marcella Gelman (2), Marcy Warkentin, Marilyn Chulack, Marilyn Dippell, Mary Anne Morgan (2), Mary De Jong, Michelle Israel, Mindy Bailey(2), Miriam Burlakovsky Correia, Nan Fowler (2), Olive and Mike Shu, Paulette Nighswonger, Phyllis Sims, Robin Pisz, Rosemary Cleaves(2), Sandra (Gay) Anderson (2), Sandra Walzberg, Sandy Richardson (3), Sharon Setchell, Shawn Fox, Sheila and Richard Semana (3), Sherry Bushey, Sheryl Patton (2), Shirley Horacek, Susan Claypool, Susan McCutcheon (2), Susan Randall, Tracy Nelson, Vicki Gaska, Wendy Castleman
In Kind Receipt
Please complete and submit the in-kind receipt to help us track how much you all are also contributing in donor offered items: This is a jpeg that you can copy and print.
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 women in her 30's who struggles with homelessness as well as substance abuse.She is working hard at her sobriety and is now looking for employment $800
Nipomo Family Resource Center – Advocate Marivel Pille
Single mom of 7 financially struggling. Mom wants to go back to school to finish her AA to be a therapist. Unable to register due to a past due balance. $302 Allan Hancock College
Single mother with 3 children needs assistance with electric bill. She is unable to work and dealing with her own mental health issues.$176.53 PG&E
Single mother of 4 children. She is going through a difficult divorce and needs assistance paying her utility bill. Child support was approved but still waiting to receive first payment. $400 PG&E
SLO Food Bank $112.60
Single dad with developmentally delayed daughter. Requesting rental assistance. Dad is missing work due to daughter's med appointments and care. $300 Leonardo Garcia (landlord)
Single mom recently had surgery. Only income is SSI. She is not able to cover all utility payments this month. Needs assistance with PG+E bill. $180.16 PG&E
Single mom recently had surgery. Only income is SSI. She is not able to cover all utility payments. Need assistance with gas bill. $89.74 So. Cal. Gas
Single mother on limited PT income. She requested support with bed purchase for her youngest child. He has been sleeping on floor.$247.40 Walmart
Oceano Family Resource Center – Advocate Stella Medina
Client lost wages because the person she cares for is in the hospital (IHSS). She is in need of support with rent in order to prevent eviction.$250 Gray Properties (landlord)
Homeless family living in a motel. They have secured housing, but they need help with first months rent. Client has full deposit and a portion of first months rent. $300 Del Mar Property Management (landlord)
Single mother with daughter secured housing after being homeless for months. She had to pay $5200 to get into her apartment. No money left over for basic needs. Gave her food card to get them through until she gets paid.$150 Smart and Final
Arroyo Grande Family Resource Center – Cinthyia Ortiz-Corona
Single mother struggling with recent rent increase. She works part time and is afull time student. Requested support w/ water company bill $171.30 Oceano community Service District
Single parent struggling with mental health concerns and accessing resources, tied to limited funding with cal fresh and cash aide, requested support with bed for youth $255.71 Walmart
Family struggling with household utility bill. Lost wages during recent storms and got behind on payments. $273.68 So Cal Gas
Family of 5 struggling with household utility service. Father is employed, mom is looking for employment at this time. $162.17 City of Grover Beach
Single mother going through financial hardship. Family only income is SSI. Need support with rent this month. $148 Triad Property Management
Single mom had to spend extra money on getting her child care license to start working. Short on money for food and rent $300 California West
Single mother limited on work hrs she can take due to childcare. Requested support w/ car insurance fees $76.11 Dairyland Auto
Nutrition Team – Mary Anne Morgan leader
Food for food distributions at Nipomo Elementary School and Lopez High School Food Pantry $253
5 Cities Homeless Coalition – Janna Nichols Executive Director
Client is currently homeless and moved into 5CHC's Cabins for Change program at the beginning of April. Within his first week he secured a job at a local restaurant and needed assistance paying to renew his Food Handler's Certificate. $8.98 Food Handler's Certificate
Client is currently homeless and moved into 5CHC's Cabins for Change program at the end of March. She is applying for a job as an In-Home Supportive Services care giver through the County and needs assistance paying for her live-scan background in order to be cleared for her first client.$59.50 Live Scan Fingerprinting
Client has been living at Cabins for Change since October 2023. She has finally secured permanent housing and is requesting assistance with some basic necessities to move into her new place. All other furniture items and cookware were generously donated! $496.35 Move-in items (bed, frame, cleaning supplies
Lopez High School – Jennifer Bowen- Principal; Aurora Munoz – Admin
School gear/beanie provided for student with special needs. Still wears face masks to cover his face. $20
Wolfmarket supplies, for Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports, support students' behavioral, academic, social, emotional, and mental health. $193
Families in Transition – Wendy Bruse Coordinator of After School Programs, Deicy Trejo
Student in need of support with grad night ticket. Family is unwilling to help due to financial hardship that the family is going through and increases in their rent. $130 Grad Night Ticket
First generation high school student needs support with cap and gown. Parent cannot afford it, she has not started working yet. She would like to be the first in her family to walk at graduation. $45.59 Cap and Gown Unit
Migrant family in need of support with the cap and gown unit for their son. Parents did not understand why the student couldn't walk without it. Supported students' wishes. $45.59 Cap and Gown Unit
Family of 7, living in a rundown trailer. Had extra expenses this month for the trailer, and the student needed to make a payment on his cap and gown. $45.59 Cap and Gown Unit
Nipomo family recently relocated to a low income apartment in Oceano. Senior student would like to finish her year at NHS but is struggling to have her parents take her due to their early morning field work hours. Student would like to try and use public busing to get to school. $84 1 RTA-31 day bus pass and 1 SCT-31 day bus pass
Unaccompanied youth in need of a bus pass. Has been struggling to get to school due to trauma and missing her family. Would like to try riding the bus before continuing to try walking $37 SCT-31 day bus pass
Family with 2 students in need of assistance with lice treatments. Single dad cannot afford financials right now, has already spent on one lice treatment and cannot afford another. $$54.30 Lice treatment Kits (2X)
Family recently relocated and student is further away from his home school, needs support to get to school. Requested SCT bus pass to ease having to ask for rides. $37 SCT 31 day bus pass
Pregnancy and Parenting Support – Cami Statler Executive director
Economically disadvantaged mother of two small children in Arroyo Grande requested a safe sleep space for her newborn. Funds paid for the purchase of a new bassinet / pack 'n play where baby can safely sleep for several years.$58.52 Walmart
Lumina Alliance – Debby Nicklas Chief Philanthropy Officer
Survivor left abuser after she experienced physical abuse in January 2024. Abuser was the sole provider and was arrested. Survivor was able to secure employment and is in need of assistance with rent while she generates income. $500 Landlord
Client fled Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) relationship and was living with double income. After fleeing, the client only has her Government Assistance to survive with while she waits for her upcoming appointment with the career center she is a client of. Client needs her car to get to the career center and to her doctor appointments $453.19 Insurance
Client fled IPV relationship after abuser crashed the client's car after a rampage. Client is now renting a car to get her to and from her appointments. Police report was filed and the case was listed as "hit and run" $500 car rental
Client fled IPV relationship and is not able to use her own car due to her abuser being able to notice her. Client's car is at her brother's at the moment and would like to use the bus as a mod of transportation in the meantime $68 RTA Bus pass
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
Our email is: sslocwomenade@gmail.com
Our website is: sslocw.org
Our EIN# 27-0809744
Phone number: (805) 270-5751
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