Volume 5 | September 2017
Notes from the Executive Director
Good morning, fellow volunteers!
As you know, volunteers are our most important resource. And we are delighted and encouraged to have more of you joining us each week. We frequently hear from others about how helpful a particular volunteer is, and receive many compliments on our happy, helpful, volunteers, in general. Thank you for carrying WPE values out into the world. You are making life that much better for each one you touch. And we are so lucky to have such an able and kind staff to help you with your work.
We look forward to celebrating together at our “barbeque” on October 1st. I hope you will bring your families and friends. We will also be sending out our annual volunteer survey in October. Your feedback is important to us, as shown by how your interests last year affected our 2017 Strategic Plan. And, at your request, we have made a much better attempt of keeping you informed about what is going on in WPE. You can let us know how we are doing on this year’s survey.

This fall, Food Rescue hopes to start expanding our School Pantry Program.
Click here to learn more about this exciting project.
Also, I am excited to tell you that you are the first to know - on our 4th birthday, Sept. 22nd, we will be unveiling a new logo and tagline to take
White Pony Express forward.
They will be unveiled to the public on October 1st.
What's Hot!
WPE Kicks Off “Cold Weather Clothing Project”
Continuing its work of the last two years, WPE recently launched its 2017 “Cold Weather Clothing Project,” whose purpose is to help homeless people endure the cold and often wet winter conditions. Last winter, WPE
distributed about 10,000 articles and hopes to give out the same number this coming fall. 
Donations of needed items are always welcome, including the following: warm coats, hats, gloves, and scarves; umbrellas, waterproof boots, raincoats, ponchos, and tarps.
If you are able to donate any of these, please bring them to the WPE’s Free General Store in Pleasant Hill.
Click here to find out Donation hours.
Visit this short video to learn more about last winter’s work:
RECENT EVENTS
Click here to see more photos of WPE Stands up for Vets at the Stand Down.
WPE Stands Up for Vets
at the “Stand Down”

JR Wilson had a dream. As Founder and President of the Delta Veterans Group, he had run “Stand Downs” before: gatherings of homeless and at-risk veterans brought together for four days where they could get access to a variety of services – dental, medical and vision screening, legal counsel, employment assistance and mental health services.

On the first day, vets are provided with a set of clothes and boots, according to the sizes listed on their registration document. Sometimes this part can be impersonal and regimented. Or else it could be a chaotic scramble of several hundred vets over piles of goods. JR’s dream was to give the veterans something better: well-organized and courteous customer service, where participants would feel respected and welcomed. He didn’t know what to call it, but he was describing an FGS Mobile Boutique!

JR and FGS found each other this year and we incorporated our style of boutique into Stand Down on the Delta in Antioch on August 11th.
That's Our Banker!
Carry Warner is Walnut Creek Retail Banking Manager for F&M Bank, where WPE now has an account. Almost a year ago she decided to look for volunteer opportunities in our community. She found WPE and was impressed. She saw that we need drivers and food runners and that we partner with 70 different recipient agencies. She signed up, motivated by the thought that her service would “have a ripple effect,” benefiting the people served by all of our recipients. Beyond her work in Food Rescue, Carry volunteered for the Stand Down. Asked why, she replied that she had grown up in Antioch, had seen the changes in that community, and was concerned for homeless persons and especially veterans. She spoke with several vets at the Stand Down and was impressed with how much they valued comradeship and shared experience, even more than just access to goods and services.
Thank you Carry!
COMING UP
Sunday Oct.1st - Join Us for the 2nd Annual Volunteer Appreciation Event & WPE 4th Birthday Celebration

This year’s volunteer appreciation event will be held on Sunday, October 1st from 12:30-3:30 pm at the Pleasant Hill Park & Rec picnic areas at 147 Gregory Lane.

We have a great event planned and we'll be serving:
Kinder’s Fabulous Barbecue Food
and of course WPE 4th Birthday Dessert!

Lunch will be served from 12:30 to 1:30 pm.
There will be a special presentation at 1:30 pm and everyone will receive a special volunteer gift.

All come and join the fun!
Volunteers, employees, family, friends and invited guests

Please RSVP by Sept. 22nd so we can confirm the food count.
Enjoy Live Music by
Cindy and Harry Liedstrand

Circle Cafe
Our next Circle Cafe will be in November. Stay tuned for more details.
 VOLUNTEERS MAKING A DIFFERENCE
Open Volunteer Positions
For A Few Hours a Month You Can Make a Difference  
For just a few hours each week, you could make a difference in reducing hunger and poverty in our county—and have fun, too! Here’s the type of volunteers that WPE currently needs:
- Food Rescue: Distribution workers, van drivers, and runners
- Free General Store (clothing, toys, and books): Volunteers for workshops to sort and prepare items during the following times: Monday 3-5 pm, Wednesday 3-5 pm and Saturday 3-5 pm  

If interested in any of the above positions, please email Mandy or call her at 925-818-6361

We also need an on-call driver for the Free General Store Distribution Center. Please email Dana about this position. 
A PONY TALE
Leslie (right) offers
Jeannine Scott one of her cookies
Leslie and Her Big Heart
Leslie Sheldon, one of our most active and reliable volunteers, has worked at the White Pony Express Distribution Center every Wednesday since April 23, 2016. Before she retired she was a Clinical Laboratory Scientist at John Muir Health. When she learned that WPE was rescuing 10,000 pounds of food a month and delivering to those who are hungry, she knew she wanted to be a part of this. “I love working in the warehouse helping sort food. Everyone is friendly, calm and fun to be with.” Leslie starting baking for volunteers when one day there were some overripe bananas that were going to be thrown out. Leslie said she would like to make some banana bread which she served to volunteers the next day. “I enjoy baking and serving treats to WPE volunteers who are doing so much good” Everyone agrees that she is an exceptional baker with a big heart. When she is not volunteering for White Pony Express, you will find her at the Lindsey Museum caring for animals in need. Watching her in action gives us all the motivation to continue serving our community.  
We want to hear from you on Facebook or Twitter!
Please share your thoughts, experiences, pictures or a video on why you like to work with White Pony Express. We will post them on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram and make you a star! Email them to Rosalind or Text (925) 351-7773

Click on the WPE social media links in the footer of this newsletter.
Sign up. Helping others in need brings joy. Share the WPE joy!
White Pony Express | 3380 Vincent Road, Pleasant Hill, CA 94595