December 2023

To read this newsletter in Spanish, please click here.

Dear Emmanuel,

Happy holidays! As we wind down 2023, we are reflecting on everything we've achieved this year. Friends and supporters like you are a huge reason as to why we accomplished so much this year! We are grateful for you, and I hope that our programs and resources have impacted your lives as well.

In this newsletter, you'll read about the continuation of our 40 Years of Action fundraising campaign. We need your help to reach our $40,000 goal before December 31st. Can we count on your support?

You'll also learn about our recent baby formula distribution events for families in need. You will also see how we saved Ventura County families over one million dollars in water bill payments this year, as well as see how Supervisor Jeff Gorell stopped by for a tour of our headquarters.

Thank you for so generously supporting CAVC in 2023. We look forward to an even more successful 2024 as we build more pathways out of poverty across Ventura County.

Susy Lopez-Garcia

Executive Director

Our 40 Years of Action fundraising campaign to raise $40,000 through December 31st continues! We're nearly halfway to our goal that will help us make crucial repairs to our Oxnard headquarters.

We launched this 40 Years of Action in May to commemorate our 40th year in our Oxnard home. Can we count on you to get us to our goal? Make your gift today by clicking on the button below!

Ensuring babies receive the essential nutrients for a healthy start is at the heart of our recent initiatives. Over the past two months, we've hosted three baby formula distribution events, reaching out to and supporting over 100 families with infants.

These events, held at both our Santa Paula satellite office and our main office in Oxnard, aimed to provide families with access to the ideal nourishment for their little ones. Whether through human breast milk or FDA-approved infant formula, we recognize the importance of giving babies the best start in life.

As we embrace the spirit of giving, we're excited to announce two more baby formula distribution events scheduled for January 2024. Stay tuned for updates and details on these events, which will be shared on our social media platforms. Participating is simple—all that's required is proof of the baby's Medi-Cal card and the completion of a brief intake form.

Together, let's continue to nurture the health and well-being of our littlest community members.

2023 was another impactful year in our history in so many ways. All of our programs and resources directly support families and communities in need, but one in particular had a profound impact in Ventura County.

Our Water Bill Assistance program has helped families make payments on growing water bills throughout 2023. The program expires in 2024, but its impact on Ventura County families will be felt for years to come. The chart below is a total number of dollars saved by families in each city - money that is then put back into their communities. In total, the amount saved across the county surpassed one million dollars!

Last month, we had the privilege of hosting Supervisor Jeff Gorell and his team for a tour of our headquarters. Supervisor Gorell's 2nd District covers Thouusand Oaks, Newbury Park, and parts of Camarillo, so we were thrilled to share the latest updates with our neighbor over the Camarillo grade.

Supervisor Gorell and the rest of the County Board of Supervisors have long supported our programs and our mission to eradicate poverty in Ventura County. We are grateful for their ongoing partnership!

We're thrilled to share some exciting news with you! We extend our congratulations to our very own Executive Director, Susy Lopez-Garcia, who has recently become a board member for our esteemed partner agency, Mixteco Indigenous Community Organizing Project (MICOP).

MICOP is dedicated to supporting, organizing, and empowering Indigenous migrant communities in California's Central Coast. Did you know that California is home to an estimated 170,000 indigenous migrants from the Mexican states of Oaxaca, Guerrero, and Michoacán, including Mixtecs, Zapotecs, and Purépechas?

These communities face unique challenges, including language barriers, as they predominantly speak their native pre-Hispanic indigenous languages. Susy's role as a board member underscores our commitment to collaborative efforts in addressing these challenges our diverse communities in Ventura County face.

Our Vision:

We envision a community successfully lifting people out of poverty.

Our Mission:

Helping our community establish pathways out of poverty through advocacy, partnerships and services that promote dignity

and self- sufficiency.