December 2024 E-Newsletter

Scholarship Opportunity 🧑‍🎓

Did you know every Oakland public school kindergartener and 5th grader has $100 set aside in their Oakland Promise Scholarship account?

In addition, eligible public-school students can get a $500 college savings account from the State of California through CalKids.

Click here to learn more.

Black Santa Photos 🎅🏾

Kids everywhere deserve to have a Santa that represents them.

Bring your kids to tell Santa their Christmas wishes and take photos to commemorate the occasion.

Meet and greets are available on select days between December 8th and 27th.

For more information, click here.

Kids Mental Health Apps 🧠

This month, we'd like to highlight the new free mental health apps BrightLife Kids and Soluna. BrightLife Kids is for ages 0-12, and Soluna is for ages 13-25. Both of these apps provide valuable mental health resources, such as 1-on-1 bilingual coaching via messenger or video, and come packed with tools for users to manage and understand their big emotions.

For more info you can visit: https://solunaapp.com/ or hellobrightline.com/brightlifekids

Punks With Lunch

Team 211 recently had the pleasure of doing outreach at an event hosted by Punks With Lunch.

Punks With Lunch is a non-profit organization run by volunteers dedicated to building community by providing life-saving services and harm reduction resources to underserved and marginalized individuals.

Their volunteers engage in direct community outreach and always need help packing lunches for those who need them.



Packing Days:

• Tuesdays, 5 pm
• 1924 Union St., Unit 1, Oakland, CA 94607
• Masks are required.
• Limited to 10 people per shift, so come early!

Drop by and help make sandwiches and pack supplies for their Sunday outreach! You can also stay later and join their Sunday site on 35th and Peralta:

• Sunday Prep and Site, 1 pm
• 1924 Union St. unit 1 Oakland 94607

Test Yourself 😷

Before you visit your friends and family for the holidays, remember to test yourself and encourage those you're celebrating with to do the same.

It is our responsibility to protect our loved ones, especially if they are members of a vulnerable population, such as the immune-compromised or older adults.

For more information on testing and where to get free testing kits, visit The Public Health Department of Alameda County.

Happy Holidays from CalFresh 🦃



No one should have to go without food this holiday season. CalFresh is for people with low-incomes who meet federal income eligibility rules and want to add to their budget to put healthy and nutritious food on the table.

Applying to CalFresh is easy. You can visit the website, call their information line at 1-877-847-3663, or visit your county office.

You can also schedule an appointment with 211's CalFresh Benefits Coordinator Catrina by emailing benefitscoord@edenir.org.

Thank You For Your Support This Year 🌞

Our programs wouldn't be here without donations from supporters like you.

This past Giving Tuesday, we raised $1,751.09 which was then matched by our Board Chair with an additional $1,500 bringing our total to $3,251.09.

Thank you to all who donated!

There is still time to make someone's holiday by honoring them with a donation.

Thank You To Our Partners

Partner Spotlight - Bilateral Safety Corridor Coalition (BSCC)

BSCC is dedicated to upholding the dignity and well-being of individuals—men, women, and children—who have been affected by labor and sexual exploitation or trafficking, through prevention, intervention, and educational efforts.

Since 2002, BSCC has led anti-human trafficking initiatives along the US-Mexican border, building a network of collaborators, government agencies, and nonprofit organizations in both the United States and Latin America. Over the years, BSCC has directly supported more than 1,700 survivors of human trafficking, including those affected by both sex and labor trafficking.

For more information, visit their website.

Caller Stories

A San Leandro mother of three called 211 in need of upcoming holiday toy drives. 211 staff provided her with several options from our database and an online search, including Davis Street’s annual food and toy basket drive and Beth Eden Baptist Church’s 2024 toy giveaway.

Read more 211 call examples.

211 By the Numbers - November 2024

211 Alameda County:

5,052 conversations handled

15,228 referrals provided



Additional November & Year-To-Date 211 stats

Demographics:

74% female

28% single mothers with minor children

55% living with disabilities

Average Call Length:

6:40 minutes

Average Wait Time:

:51 seconds

Services Database:

73 agency record updates

197 program record updates

Housing Database:

1,906 records updated

388 Housing Units added

Website page views:

31,927

Website Sessions/visitors:

11,928

AHIP (AIDS Housing Information Project)

AHIP (AIDS Housing Information Project) offers housing and human services resource referrals to People Living with HIV/AIDS via a designated phone line and through one-on-one, in-person assistance at clinics and AIDS Service Organizations.

Last month, AHIP provided 534 housing referrals and 191 referrals to services. Year to date, AHIP has provided assistance to 274 unduplicated clients.

www.edenir.org