Adopt-A-Family

The holidays are a special occasion spent with families and friends; it is a time of hope and jubilance. Many people enjoy seeing old friends and giving gifts to the people they care about. While this is true for many, there are those who struggle to make ends meet and cannot afford to have a Christmas. Imagine life as a teen mother abandoned by her family and expecting her first child, or a parent working a minimum wage job with four young children and struggling to put food on the table. The NVCSS Adopt-A-Family program strives to make the holiday season cheerier for North State families by providing gifts of clothing, food and toys. In 2009, over 1,100 families were “adopted” by caring individuals, families and organizations in Butte, Shasta, Siskiyou and Tehama counties.

Without aid from the community Northern Valley Catholic Social Service (NVCSS) would not be able to spread cheer to the hundreds of families who’ve been helped throughout the years. There are many social groups, organizations and individuals who adopt families in need and give these families a Christmas to remember. Some of these caring individuals are neighbors, friends, family, or individuals from local businesses. NVCSS likes to think of them as Santa’s helpers and they help NVCSS fulfill its mission of reaching out in care and in love to those in need.

There is one organization that has taken the lead in helping NVCSS spread the word of the Adopt-A-Family program. For many years the Record Searchlight has worked closely with NVCSS to share the stories of families who are given a Christmas, of volunteers going above and beyond to help families in need and stories about the Adopt-A-Family program that touches the heart. The Record Searchlight works tirelessly to report the news and share it with the public. They go above and beyond to help the Adopt-A-Family program.

The Record Searchlight has written grants in the past to receive money to contribute to the Adopt-A-Family program. With a grant this year the Record Searchlight contributed $5,000 to the program. In addition, the staff of the Record Searchlight put together a breakfast club with the purpose of adopting a family from the NVCSS program. The staff gathered around the table, they choose a family to adopt and they all participate to help give the family a magical Christmas. With the Record Searchlight’s help NVCSS has been able to increase the number of families being served each year. NVCSS heartily thanks the Record Searchlight for their generous contributions.

During the holiday season our thoughts turn gratefully to the Record Searchlight and everyone involved in making Adopt-A-Family a success. It is important to remember there are individuals who are desperately in need of some holiday cheer and it is up to members of the community to make the magic happen. Even though it may seem like the magic of Christmas has slipped away for some, it is restored through Adopt-A-Family. NVCSS is proud to be a part of a community that shares in making a difference for North State families.

For more information about NVCSS Adopt-A-Family please visit www.nvcss.org or call 530-241-0552.

New Housing Project Offers Opportunities for the Mentally Ill and Low-Income

The Groundbreaking Ceremony for Villa Serena, a housing complex of Northern Valley Catholic Social Service (NVCSS), took place on August 4, 2010. This new housing development will provide housing for low-income people with persistent mental illness in Chico, CA. It is funded by The Department of Housing and Urban Development and the City of Chico. NVCSS is collaborating with local organizations to see the project through. Plans for the project were produced by Larry Mayer of Mayers Architecture. The complex will consist of ten units: nine 1 bedroom units and one 2 bedroom managers’ unit. Villa Serena is designed to be two stories with an energy efficient design and an outdoor community area. Sunseri Construction is the contractor for the new development and construction is in progress. The Butte County Director, Bob Michels, is thrilled about the new project and says, "Villa Serena will have a lasting impact in Butte County in that it will provide much needed affordable housing for people with persistent mental illness.”

The community anticipates that Villa Serena will improve lives down the road just as similar developments have. For instance, Kevin Jones (name changed to protect confidentiality), a tenant of Saint Clare Court (a NVCSS housing project), states living there is helping him regain his confidence as a young entrepreneur. Jones is happy to be a part of something that does a lot in the North State. Before his current situation his life was unstable; Jones lost his job as an architect and funds were drying up due to his mental health issues. His family knew he was struggling and encouraged him to apply to live at Saint Clare Court. He did and says it was the best move he made in a long time. Everything for Jones is clear and consistent which is what he needs. There is a new spring in his step; Jones plans to get back on track and feel the energy of meeting new people. He feels blessed with the opportunity given to him and wishes to help NVCSS with future endeavors.

Northern Valley Catholic Social Service (NVCSS) Housing Program provides housing opportunities for special needs populations including seniors, low-income or homeless individuals and families, individuals with developmental disabilities or mental illness. The NVCSS goal is to promote supportive services within an environment that will contribute to the ability of residents to lead independent lives. NVCSS believes that programs benefit people only when they contribute to the individual’s freedom and independence.

For more information about the NVCSS Housing Program please contact Housing Director, Bobbi Sawtelle, at 530-241-0552.

Kohl's & NVCSS partner again for Kohl's Cares for Kids!

Summer vacation is just around the corner and kids are excited to have a break from school. They are dreaming up summer adventures and the days to be filled with pure bliss. Just the thought brings smiles to their faces. But as quickly as summer springs up, it fades away. As summer comes to a close most kids become excited about going back to school with their new Mickey Mouse backpacks or Hannah Montana lunch boxes. Parents and children will plan and prepare for the first day of school, including where to shop, what to buy and how much money they will spend.

Unfortunately, many low income families struggle to make ends meet and are unable to provide their children with the excitement of shopping for new clothes. They have never enjoyed the boost of self-esteem that comes from wearing crisp new clothes and sharp looking shoes on the first day of school. “Back to School” can be extremely uncomfortable for them as they feel noticeably different from the other children, wearing hand-me-downs, or worse, wearing the same shoes from last year.

Fortunately, Kohl’s Cares for Kids provides back to school shopping for school-age children in need (Kindergarten- 5th). As the non-profit partner, NVCSS raises money for the children to participate. Last year 144 children were helped and went back to school with new clothes and school supplies. The goal this year is to raise $15,000 and to serve 150 children. For every $100 dollars contributed, one more child will start off the school year wearing new shoes and clothes. If you would like to volunteer for the event to shop with a child please contact Tiffany Eckman, Volunteer Assistant, at 530-247-3330

The ultimate goal of Kohl’s and NVCSS is to work together to help take the burden off of low-income families and to boost their children’s self confidence and allow them to focus on academics and learning. For more information, please contact Kim Lewis, Development Technician, at 530-247-3333.

A Royal Thanks

On Thursday April 22nd, NVCSS recognized Shasta County volunteers at the Volunteer Appreciation. The event was held at NVCSS to honor the valuable time that our volunteers have given to us in 2009. Guests enjoyed delightful hors d’oeuvres prepared by Tapas Downtown. The food was absolutely delicious and volunteers enjoyed jicima lettuce wraps, mini chorizo empanadas, Spanish steak bites and more. Once everyone had settled down Cathy Wyatt, the Shasta County Director, commenced the event.

Cathy Wyatt spoke about the dedication and commitment our volunteers give to NVCSS. They address the unmet needs throughout the North State and they provide service, dedication and inspiration. The volunteers lend a hand, they are someone who will understand, a person who will always be there, they are without a doubt someone who cares. Volunteers inspire devotion and we are inspired by their devotion to community service and they inspire those they help. That cycle of kindness made everyday by the volunteers of NVCSS truly makes a difference in the lives of those they touch.

There were five categories of NVCSS volunteerism: Boardsmanship, Retail, Program, Event, and overall Volunteer of the Year. The well-deserving award winners included: Margaret Remedios, Board of Directors; Kathy Ruhe, A Second Time Around Thrift Store; Gretchen Hoagland, Counseling Program; Greg and Ashley Unger, Adopt A Family; and John Kenny, overall Volunteer of the Year. Additionally, the CASA program manager, Karen Schaefer., and the first 15 advocates of CASA were recognized for their hard work and dedication to the program.

NVCSS volunteers promote good and improve the human quality of life. They voluntarily give their time to make a difference in the community. The volunteers of NVCSS have put in over 25,000 hours of volunteering agency wide which is almost the equivalent of 12 full time employees. Executive Director, Don Chapman, recognized and thanked our volunteers. He thanked all NVCSS volunteers for lending a hand, for giving themselves without condition, but with full devotion.

Sinbad is coming to Redding!

Widely recognized comedian and actor, Sinbad, is coming to the Redding Cascade Theatre on Sunday, April 25th, 2010. The show starts at 5:30PM and will end at 8:00PM. Sinbad is well known for his HBO series, his roles in the movies Jingle All the Way & Houseguest, and is ranked as one of the top 100 standup comedians by Comedy Central. The basis of Sinbad’s humor comes from everyone he meets, everything he's seen, and everything he's done.
Proceeds from this event will benefit the Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) Program of Shasta County. CASA is a nation wide program that has a positive impact on the lives of children in the foster care system. Shasta County has approximately 550 children in foster care. Some of these children will have between 2 to 14 foster placements or more in their lifetime and others may spend their entire life in the foster care system. The CASA program gives a voice to the Shasta County children.
Tickets are now on sale for $35-$39. VIP passes are also available. A few lucky people will have the chance to meet Sinbad, receive an autographed photo, and more by purchasing VIP Passes. There are a limited number of VIP Passes so make sure to contact Northern Valley Catholic Social Service (NVCSS) to get them today! To purchase tickets please contact the Redding Cascade Theatre online or at (530) 243-8877, or NVCSS at (530) 241-0552. Come and enjoy a night of fun and a make a lifelong difference in the life of a child.
If you would like to receive more information about CASA or are interested in volunteering please contact Karen Schaefer at (530) 241-0552.