COVID-19 – One Year Later |
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This time last year, we were just beginning to feel the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. At Saint John’s, we had just closed Plates Café, Plates Midtown and First Steps Child Development Center. We had suspended our volunteer program, closed our campus to visitors, and canceled or postponed our fundraising events. We started looking at several new ways to conduct business and provide services for our women and children. Despite what was happening around us, we remained optimistic that life would return to normal soon. We never dreamed COVID-19 would follow us into 2021.
What a year it has been for all of us and what a difference a year makes. This month, we eagerly welcomed back volunteers to our campus! Our First Steps Child Development Center re-opened. Construction started on our new residential space, Saint John’s Square. We look forward to hosting our first Guest Chef Dinner of 2021 in June and our annual Party for Change in October. And while Plates Café and Plates Midtown remain closed for dining, our new social enterprise, Red Door Desserts, is really taking the cake!
We’re beginning to feel a sense of normalcy returning. And while masks are being worn by all (staff, clients and volunteers) and social distancing and sanitizing practices are still in place, we all feel a bit lighter. Although we don’t know what the future may bring, one thing is certain, our women and children’s future guides our decision making and your commitment to their success helps us deliver new and stronger programming-no matter what obstacles we face. Thank you for being a part of our Saint John’s Community.
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INSIDE THIS ISSUE:
Brittany's Story
Saint John's Square
Volunteer Updates
Red Door Desserts
Job Announcements
Party for Change
Red Door Reflections
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A Different Kind of Change – Brittany’s Story
When asked what life was like before coming to Saint John’s, Brittany doesn’t hesitate to say,
“I was addicted and co-dependent in New York City.” She grew up in Sacramento and received a scholarship to the New York School of Film and Television, with her heart set on acting.
After graduating, she needed a job to pay for her lifestyle, one with the flexibility to accommodate auditions. Her job in the restaurant industry led her from casual drug use to a full blown addiction.
In 2017 she came back to Sacramento and entered the first of several rehab experiences. It was during this time that she was referred to Saint John’s. In August of 2020, Brittany walked through the red doors of Saint John’s Program for Real Change ready to find her purpose.
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The most notable change on our campus this year is all of the construction work! Thanks to the City of Sacramento, HomeAid Sacramento, Project Home Key, and Roebbelen Construction, eleven new modular homes are coming to the Saint John’s campus. Six of these homes are here now!
Saint John’s Square, a new transitional housing community at Saint John’s Program, will house up to 44 women and children and will provide residents with a lived experience in running and maintaining a household and help prepare them for independence. Each two-bedroom, one-bath unit, will be used as interim shared living for individuals, smaller families, or as a single-family home for larger families.
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Volunteer at Saint John's! |
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We are overjoyed to have volunteers finding their way back to our campus and for their presence in our kitchen, warehouse, and office! To all of our amazing volunteers who make what we do possible, welcome back and THANK YOU!
If you’re curious about how to volunteer at Saint John’s, and have never attended one of our orientations, follow this link: New Volunteers. If you’re a returning volunteer and eager to serve our women and children, follow this link to create a new profile and sign up for a volunteer shift: Current Volunteers. We hope to see you soon!
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Spread spring cheer with our delicious Easter Dessert Boxes! Our Easter Dessert boxes Include: Lavender Shortbread Cookies with a Lemon Glaze, Rice Krispies Treats dipped in white chocolate, and our Signature Salted Chocolate Chunk Cookies.
Easter Boxes are $30/box. Orders will close March 26 at midnight. All Easter Dessert Boxes will be shipped out on March 31. We ship nationwide!
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Sacramento’s job force just got SEVEN women stronger! Congratulations to Brittany for her new job at River City Learning Center; Elisabeth for her job at O’Reilly Auto Parts; Arefa for her job at Taco Bell; Sandy for her job at Burger King; Haleigh for her job at Roseville Honda Motorsports; Frida for her job at Dollar Tree; Cheri for her job at Kaiser.
These women are enacting REAL CHANGE in their lives and in the lives of their children, we couldn’t be more proud!
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Party for Change - October 16 2021 |
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Today is the perfect day to support Real Change. |
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Springing forward is easy if we’re only talking about clocks.
Moving forward for the women and children at Saint John’s isn’t always easy. It takes time to adjust and it takes practice and bravery. I often compare running a marathon to the journey at Saint John’s....there’s no “springing” about it.
Like entering a marathon, women who walk through the Red Doors have signed up for a race – a long and steady race. A hard race. At the beginning it may seem easy to some, and for others, it may be the very first time they will “run a race.” Just like each and every marathon I have run, I have “hit the wall,” become tired, frustrated, and often doubtful. I share this with the women who are here, that they may “hit a wall” too. And, if they do, the staff and volunteers at Saint John’s are beside them and will help them around or over that wall to get to the finish line.
Thank you to all who help women run this marathon. They cannot cross the finish line without everyone cheering alongside them!
In gratitude,
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For more information, please contact info@saintjohnsprogram.org.
Saint John's Program for Real Change
Nonprofit, 501(c)(3)
Tax ID: 68-0132934
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