Another Holiday Card But Better | |
 | |
Dear CRC,
While December is full of many delightful things for most of us, it can be a time of heartache for others. That is why I am encouraged this time of year by the many ways I see people supporting one another.
We recently had our 41st Annual Holiday Baskets Distribution at a local Target. It was festive, it was fun, it was full of smiling people. And in looking over all of the photos from the day, I was most struck by one of a volunteer embracing a client in the parking lot. They had just finished shopping together, and they had formed a connection during that brief time. It was a beautiful reminder of the WHY we do what we do, whether staff or volunteer.
One client wrote of the Holiday Baskets experience, "You made our day and our season merrier. Thank you so much! The joy in my kids was
priceless and I loved watching them enjoy their time."
Read on, to see more of the ways CRC volunteers have been present in the lives of those we serve and ways you can continue to support our work! All updates are done in "Holiday card-style" - feel free to print and put on your refrigerator if you choose to!
| |
Warmly,
Sara Rosenbaum, CVA
CRC Volunteer Manager
| |
Giving the Gifts of Hope and Compassion | |
|
More than 300 volunteers showed up to Target Encinitas on December 9th before the sun was up, to donate their time to care for others. CRC clients shopped for gifts and necessities, and received a warm blanket, fresh produce, pet items and personal care items at our Resource Fair. Volunteers even provided gift wrapping services and Santa was on hand to visit with the kids (and young at heart!). Thank you to those who volunteered behind the scenes as well, getting ready for the big day.
When asked what their favorite part of Holiday Baskets was, one client wrote, "The volunteers!!!! We felt so loved and it really made our day, thank you so so much for all of your help and hard work!!!"
| | | |
|
It was a family affair for our Holiday Backpacks program this year, for Letitia and David Fleming, with daughter Anitra Black, who organized donations for 50 backpacks. The backpacks supplied CRC clients experiencing homelessness with essentials that will help support them as the weather gets colder. A volunteer team lead by Sue Dowd decorated the breezeway on 2nd street and had breakfast treats on hand to create a festive environment during the hand-offs. Thank you all for making this wonderful event happen!
| | | |
|
Thank you TVIA (Teen Volunteers in Action) SD5 chapter, Youth Advisory Board Members and other volunteers for coming out to support our Jingle and Mingle Fundraiser! Guests shopped for fun holiday gifts and participated in a raffle and auction. They heard the story firsthand of someone who experienced Domestic Violence, and of the hope and healing that comes from organizations like CRC. The volunteers kept the event running smoothly, from start to finish and provided energy and enthusiasm. And the icing on the holiday cookie? We exceeded our fundraising goal for the evening, bringing in more than $78,000...thank you!
| | |
San Dieguito Academy Clubs Inspire Service | |
San Dieguito Academy's Just Serve Club came out on December 17th to deep clean the Encinitas Resale Store and pull old items off the racks. They were inspired by the Japanese Honor Society Club, which had come out the month prior, and wanted to be part of the work we do. The Just Serve Club enjoyed their time so much, they are planning to sign up for future opportunities. We love to see teens giving their time to help others. Thank you!
| |
|
Tokens of Appreciation
CRC staff likes to take an extra moment in December to celebrate our amazing volunteer teams. This year, our Encinitas and our San Marcos stores held holiday parties for volunteers, and they were a big hit. Our FNC and administrative volunteers had a special treat waiting for them, and volunteers with over 100 hours this year should have received a holiday card, drawn by a child in our Therapeutic Children's Center. We hope each of you feels our gratitude for your partnership and support!
| |
|
Congratulations to CRC's Volunteer of the Month Jen Tipton!
Jennifer is an intern in our Domestic Violence Department and has provided valuable support during a planned staff absence recently. According to Becca Nussbaum, CRC's Chief Program Officer, Jen is "communicative, committed, and an exceptional intern for the DV program."
Siboney Montoya, Jennifer's supervisor writes, "Jen cares deeply and it shows when she is working with families in our shelter. She has gone above and beyond when showing up for our team. Jen always makes herself available when we have team members out of the office. Additionally, when working with families in our program, they have had nothing but positive things to say about how it was to work with her."
Thank you for your incredible support! We are grateful!
| |
|
CRC has seen an increase in Emergency Food assistance in our Food Pantry by 69% over last year. Grocery store donations are down. We need your help! To find out more about the types of items we need, see the flier or check our website here to print it.
If you prefer to donate funds so that we can purchase items, you can go to this link here. Thank you!
| |
Leadership Opportunity for FNC Deep Cleans and Community Engagement | CRC has increased our Group Opportunities for weekends and evenings, and are looking for 1-2 people to join the leadership team to oversee those! Are you outgoing and articulate? Do you care about the mission at CRC? Are you available on occasional nights and weekends? Email us to find out more! | |
Are you a group of 5-15 looking for a way to partner in CRC's mission? There is currently a once-a-month Food Pantry and Resale Store group opportunity available on weekends. This may include deep cleaning, sorting, or stocking items. To learn more, contact the CRC Volunteer Manager. | |
Learn More from the CRC Newsletter! | |
The volunteer newsletter primarily highlights the work that our volunteers are doing and provides training and updates that apply to the volunteering experience. The CRC newsletter focuses on client stories, CRC in the news, mission updates, and fundraising opportunities. If you would like to receive that newsletter, you can sign up for it here.
You can also check out the most current newsletter, full of great information, below!
| |
If you have a good story of volunteering, please share with me at volunteer@crcncc.org. I can include those stories in future newsletters as an encouragement to our team.
| |
Community Resource Center
| | | | |
