News, Notes, and Announcements from 4Cs of Alameda County, November 2025

News, Notes, and Announcements from 4Cs

November 2025

A Note From Our Chief Executive Officer

Dear 4Cs Community,

As we approach Thanksgiving, I am reminded of the importance of gratitude, community, and the shared responsibility we have to support one another. This season, I am especially thankful for the resilience and compassion that define our work at 4Cs of Alameda County.

Over the past two months, we have seen a 32% increase in families seeking food distribution services through our organization. This surge underscores the growing need for basic support among children and families in our community. Behind every statistic is a story: a parent working hard to provide for their children, a grandparent stretching every dollar, or a child hoping for a warm meal. It is our collective duty to ensure that no one goes without.

I want to extend my deepest appreciation to our partners at the Alameda County Food Bank and First 5 of Alameda County, whose unwavering commitment has helped us meet this challenge head-on. Their collaboration and support have been instrumental in expanding access to food for those who need it most. I am also profoundly grateful to our donors, whose generosity continues to fuel our mission and make a tangible difference in the lives of our families.

As we gather with loved ones this Thanksgiving, let us remember that the spirit of the season is not just about abundance, but about ensuring that everyone in our community has the essentials to thrive. Together, we can continue to build a future where every child and family have the support they need to succeed.

With gratitude,

Takija T. Gardner

Chief Executive Officer

Staff Spotlight

Christina Amato

Child Care Services Specialist, Family Services (Oakland Office)

“Seeing [families] overcome obstacles and thrive to where they no longer need our services is a very full circle moment.“

After just a minute or two with Christina, two things become abundantly clear: her love for Disney and her passion for supporting and uplifting families and children. Prior to joining 4Cs of Alameda County - about two and a half years ago - Christina was a preschool teacher and regular attendee of 4Cs trainings and workshops for child care providers. Fast-forward a few years later, and Christina has become an essential part of the 4Cs team in Oakland. Her connection with families, ability to support others with compassion and a smile, and dedication to sharing about 4Cs of Alameda County’s programs and services inside and outside the office have made Christina a valuable asset to the 4Cs community. She takes tremendous pride in watching clients achieve their goals and, like all good Disney heroes and heroines, live their “happily ever after.”

News

2025 Impact Report

Thank you for taking time to review 4Cs of Alameda County's 2025 Impact Report! The report gives a closer look into the positive impact we are making on thousands of families and child care providers. Please share with your family, friends, and neighbors our work and progress over the past year: 4calameda.org/2025-impact-report.

Here are some highlights from this year’s Impact Report:

• 6,208,984 hours of child care were provided to families resulting in $39,442,402.64 in payments to child care providers to cover the cost of providing care

• 5,674 child care resources & referrals were given to parents helping them to navigate and find child care options for their children

• 2,711 families received subsidized care through 4Cs programs and 97% of them were satisfied or very satisfied with 4Cs services

• 4,571 child care providers received technical assistance and support

• 73,564 pounds of food were provided to families and community members through 4Cs food distribution events and the RISE Resource Center

Save the Date: December 2nd is Giving Tuesday

As food insecurity surges, the need for child care support continues to grow, and families are reaching out to 4Cs in record numbers for navigation and essential needs. 4Cs is stepping up every day to meet the needs of families and child care providers. Join us on Giving Tuesday as our community gathers to support 4Cs of Alameda County on this international day of giving. Thanks to our friends at Insperity, the first $5,000 in donations will be matched dollar-for-dollar. Want to contribute now? The 4Cs of Alameda County Giving Tuesday donation page is live! Join the many others who have already contributed here.

DONATE NOW

Toy Donations for 4Cs' Annual Holiday Toy Giveaway

Every holiday season, 4Cs of Alameda County provides gifts to over 300 children, and your support makes it all possible. Our annual Holiday Toy Giveaway will take place in December, and we’re asking for your donation today.

We need lots of new, unwrapped toys and books for children ages 0-10. Of course, we invite you to shop wherever you prefer. For your convenience, we have created an Amazon Wishlist at this link: 4calameda.org/4CsToyWishlist. You can shop the registry, order, and have the items delivered directly to the wishlist address (Hayward Office, 22351 City Center Drive, Hayward, CA 94541) or to you. Be sure to include a gift message with your name if you would like an in-kind donation acknowledgement letter.

We’re starting early to give plenty of time! Please send your toy donations anytime between now and Monday, December 8. If you have questions, please contact Jeanette at rise@4c-alameda.org.

View the flyer here.

Become A VITA Volunteer for 2026 Tax Season

We are looking for dedicated volunteers to join one of the longest-running free tax preparation sites in Alameda County! As a volunteer for 4Cs of Alameda County's Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) Program, you will provide friendly, free, and high-quality tax services to those who need them most.

NO EXPERIENCE NECESSARY! We provide FREE training for all volunteers. Volunteers are required to attend training sessions and commit to a minimum of 4-5 hours per week during the tax season (late January through mid-April 2026). View the flyer here.

Volunteer Roles:

• On-site/Virtual Tax Preparers: Help clients complete their tax returns.

• On-site Intake Specialists: Collect and organize client information.

• Translators: Provide language support in Spanish, Chinese, Punjabi, and Farsi.

Our tax preparation service will be 100% virtual this year. We’ve partnered with Code for America to offer online filing via the Get Your Refund secure platform.

Interested? Visit 4calameda.org/vitavolunteer or contact Alicia Broussard via email at vita@4c-alameda.org or phone at (510) 925-4018.

Resources

Food Support During the CalFresh/SNAP Freeze

4Cs of Alameda County is here to support our families, providers, community members who are impacted by the CalFresh/SNAP payment disruption. Below are resources that may be available to you.

Virtual Food Assistance

• Visit FoodNow.net and use the Food Locator to find the nearest food pantry

• Call the Alameda County Community Food Bank's Emergency Helpline at (510) 635-3663 Monday through Friday from 9am to 4pm for food referrals in multiple languages

• Dial 211 to access free, 24/7 support with Eden I&R for information on food, housing, and other emergency services

• Check your specific Board of Supervisor's website for district-specific food resources

Food Programs

• BANANAS Care Program - Provides help for families with children ages 0-5 who are experiencing homelessness, including vouchers for food, housing and more

• WIC (Women, Infants, and Children) Program - Offers nutrition education, breastfeeding support, and special checks to buy healthy foods for eligible women, infants, and children

• California's Universal Meals Program - Free breakfast and lunch every school day to all public school students in transitional kindergarten through 12th grade, regardless of income

Food Distribution Sites

• 4Cs of Alameda County's Monthly Food Distributions - First Thursday of every month from 1pm to 3pm (registration required)

• Crowd-Sourced Bay Area Food Distribution Spreadsheet

• Oakland Promise Flyer - Food distributions, restaurants serving free food and/or drinks, and holiday meals in November and December

Grants Available for Community College Students

Are you attending community college and studying early childhood or child development? If so, you may be eligible to apply to the 2025-2026 Early Childhood Education (ECE) Educational Support Grant (ESG). If you are looking for support covering your education costs, please view CDTC ESG Flyer to see if you might qualify. All eligibility criteria are included in the application.

Featured Events & Trainings

Community Care Licensing (CCL) Webinar: Personal Rights

in Family Child Care

*Training for Child Care Providers

Friday, December 5 | 7pm-9pm | Virtual

Prepare with confidence for your annual Family Child Care Home (FCCH) inspection. This workshop offers practical guidance on navigating Title 22 requirements, avoiding common deficiencies, and understanding key tools like the CARE Tool and Personal Rights regulations. You’ll leave with actionable strategies and resources to support a successful inspection. Please note that this is not a Pre-Licensing Orientation Workshop.

To register, click here.