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Dear CRC,
"Our human compassion binds us the one to the other." - Nelson Mandela
Just last week I was at a conference with other professionals in the volunteerism field. One of the speakers talked about how lucky we are to do what we do. That we get to be catalysts for people "being the good they want to see in the world." It was encouraging not only to hear one good quotable statement, but to be in a virtual room with people all over the globe who share the same types of victories and obstacles. With people who just "get me," at least on a professional level. Humans need community to be at our best.
As this past month has had an advocacy focus on domestic violence, I thought I would flip the script to show the many ways that our volunteers model healthy relationships. We have many co-workers, family members, friends and group members who volunteer together for our team. And incredibly, strangers have become friends over time as they serve the most vulnerable in our community side by side.
Read below to see how CRC volunteers have worked together to change the world just a little bit at a time.
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Gratefully,
Sara Rosenbaum, CVA
CRC Volunteer Manager
Pictured with two of my co-workers who make life more fun!
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The CRC Volunteer Program values leadership development and opportunities for as many people as we can provide. Carlsbad High School recently sent two students with coaches to the Carlsbad Resale Store. We just began a new partnership with Beacons North County, which provides job training for adults with disabilities. Pictured top: Our Youth Advisory Board gets opportunities to learn more about CRC and to take on visible roles in marketing, fundraising and advocacy efforts. Pictured bottom left: Audrey and her coach regularly volunteer in our Food Pantry. Pictured bottom right: Brianna and her coach volunteer once a week at the Resale Store, sorting and tagging clothing items. | |
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CRC has many spouses, siblings, and parents with kids on our volunteer team! We partner with several organizations that provide service opportunities to parents and their teens. NCL Surf Cities and NCL Del Sol provide support to our events such as our 45th "Sapphire Celebration" held on October 5th and the Surf Cities chapter takes on a big role with our Holiday Baskets program. We partner with multiple TVIA chapters, including TVIA SD5, who faithfully serve at events, Holiday Baskets, and our Postal Food Drive event. They have also now volunteered two years in a row to deep clean our Food Pantry (parents not shown!).
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Clockwise from top left: 1. The Food Pantry Thursday Volunteers wear purple to show their advocacy for Domestic Violence victims. 2. Staff and Volunteers work together for a common goal. 3. New friends help set up for our Sapphire Celebration Event. 4. Our incredible Registration team, who volunteer regularly for events together! | |
Domestic Violence And What You Can Do | |
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Educate Yourself and Your Community:
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Learn more about domestic violence, including the types of abuse, warning signs and how to create protective environments at home, work, and in the community.
- Share what you learn with your social circles to foster awareness and empathy. The more we know, the better equipped we are to support those in need.
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Invite CRC’s educators to present workshops on healthy relationships. Read more about our educational programs and resources in this North County Informador article featuring an interview with CRC’s Domestic Violence Prevention Education and Prevention Manager, Luis Canseco.
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Support Survivors:
- As we unite to raise awareness, it’s important to remember that healing from domestic violence is often a long and challenging journey.
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One of the most powerful things you can offer a domestic violence survivor is support. Here are some ways to support a survivor:
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Create a safe space for them to share their experiences without fear of judgment or blame.
- Let them express their feelings while validating their emotions.
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Many victims feel isolated and unheard; your willingness to listen can make a significant difference in their healing journey.
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Help them create a safety plan. (Source: National Domestic Violence Hotline)
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Congratulations to CRC's Volunteer of the Year, Lee Auerbach!
Lee was nominated by multiple staff and his nomination was confirmed by our executive team.
He has been volunteering with CRC for two years and in that time has proved to be an incredible advocate for our work in the community. He has a heart for the underserved and jumped in immediately as a Food Pantry Volunteer and Ambassador for us. He knows our clients by name and is an enthusiastic part of the team on Mondays.
In particular, he was nominated for his leadership role in our Food Pantry Deep Clean opportunities. He makes them fun and connects the work with our mission in a compelling way. For the full nomination, click below!
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CRC's Holiday Baskets Program is coming up on Saturday, December 7th! Volunteer spots are now open to all current volunteers. Most shifts begin at 5 am. Interested? Email our Holiday Baskets Scheduling Captain for more information. | |
Truck Driver Support Needed | |
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CRC is looking for volunteers to ride along with our Truck Driver on Wednesdays, and as subs for when our regular volunteer team members are unable to do a shift. This is an early morning shift that requires some heavy lifting. Our drivers pick up food donations from local grocery stores which stocks our Food Pantry. Be a part of this incredible team! We can accommodate one-time volunteers as well as long-term volunteers for this. To learn more, contact the CRC Volunteer Manager.
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Carlsbad and San Marcos Store Support
Join Our Resale Store Team! Volunteers at the store sort, tag, and organize donations, greet customers, and keep the store clean. This is a great way to support our mission! Love social media? Our store volunteers also take photos and create content for our marketing team (if that's your thing!). Email us if you are interested in being a part of this fun volunteer opportunity!
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Did you make it this far in the newsletter? If so, let me know and you will be entered to win a Starbucks gift card, perfect for pumpkin spice lattes or treat of your choice! | |
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Are you a group of 5-15 looking for a way to partner in CRC's mission? There are currently Food Pantry and Resale Store group opportunities available on some late afternoons and weekends. This may include deep cleaning, sorting, or stocking items. A clean Food Pantry provides a more dignified shopping experience for our clients. And a clean store makes happy customers! To learn more, contact the CRC Volunteer Manager.
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Learn More from the CRC Newsletter! | |
This 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!
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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.
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Community Resource Center
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