Volunteer News | June 30, 2022 |
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Volunteers Embrace Summer Learning |
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Dear CRC Volunteer,
“Any fool can know. The point is to understand.” –Albert Einstein
Over 50 CRC volunteers came out to our first ever Homelessness workshop on June 2. There, Integrative Services Director Miranda Chavez spoke on the many causes of homelessness, the myths surrounding it, and the practical things that CRC, the community, and we all can do in response.
We can often oversimplify problems and look for easy solutions. Social media likes to keep things short and to the point, but it can miss the nuances and the complexity of the issues we face. We can fear things we don’t understand, and we can easily fall into the habit of sticking with what we know, and avoiding what, and who we do not.
I am privileged to work for this organization, alongside staff and volunteers who seek to understand issues at their root causes. And who lean in, and not away from the hard things.
Learning has been a goal I set for our volunteer program this past January, and to date we have provided training on Trauma-Informed Practices, Food Pantry Best Practices, and this latest training on Homelessness. Read on to see even more ways that CRC is providing opportunities to learn this summer and beyond!
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Gratefully,
Sara Rosenbaum,
CRC Volunteer Manager
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Holiday Baskets
Holiday Baskets is celebrating its 40th year of serving our neighbors in need and big changes are coming that we are excited to announce! While certain things will look different, we hope that this re-imagined Holiday Baskets program will do an even better job of providing dignity of choice to our participants.
This year we plan to serve over 800 individuals, including unsheltered clients experiencing homelessness in Encinitas and 230 seniors.
HOUSEHOLDS WILL …
- Engage in a “dignity of choice” shopping experience on December 10th, to choose new essential and most-needed items at Target in Encinitas
- Receive a voucher to select gently-used items at CRC’s Resale stores
- Receive a new blanket and fresh produce
SENIORS WILL …
- Receive holiday gift bags delivered to them
UNSHELTERED CLIENTS WILL …
- Receive backpacks filled with basic living essentials and food items
Volunteer needs will be more limited than in years past, but we will still need help. We will not know the spots available until late August. At that time, we will start reaching out to past groups and partners to fill openings. Any remaining needs will be communicated by early November. Thank you for your patience!
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Resale Stores Draw Student Volunteers and Shoppers |
Our resale stores have amazing student volunteers in addition to our adult volunteers, year-round.
The stores can provide school-mandated volunteer hours, retail store experience that looks good on college and work applications, and is lots of fun! The stores also give a discount on shopping to all regular CRC volunteers, a great perk.
Shopping at CRC resale stores keeps items out of the landfill, provides one-of-a-kind wardrobe pieces, and supports our programs to end hunger, homelessness and domestic violence in our community.
A huge thank you to the students who volunteer for and shop at our resale stores. You make a difference!
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Students Wyatt Beal (recent CCA grad) and Sean Fallmer (Grauer) |
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College students Jada Williams and Isabella Pascua |
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The North San Diego County NAACP hosted a fair on June 18th in honor of the country's 157th Juneteenth Celebration. The annual celebratory event brings together a collaboration of professionals, community members, and organizations to empower a better community. CRC was there to provide resources and to join in the festivities. Thank you to volunteers Amie DeFrain and Gary Hanna for joining staff to represent us at our booth! |
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Community Resource Center partners with local colleges to provide internship opportunities in our Integrative Services, Counseling, and Domestic Violence programs. In 2021, we added a Data Specialist Intern as well. Interns support the work that we do here while also gaining valuable experience in the field. We recently welcomed summer interns Sanjana Sambhwani (Data Specialist Intern, left) and Christina Harper (DV Intern, right) to our team. Welcome! |
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Why are you excited to work with CRC? CRC is a platform to give back to my community in a way that also instructs me how to better work with data. I'm so grateful for this exposure to a potential career. I've been met with the warmest of welcomes at CRC as well!
What is one fun fact about you? I've been a Bollywood fusion dancer since I was three years old!
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Why are you excited to work with CRC? I am excited to intern at CRC because I am looking forward to learning more about working with the domestic violence population.
What is one fun fact about you? I know sign language!
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Congratulations John Ranieri!
John Ranieri is part of our Truck Driver Assistant Volunteer Team, supporting our Fresh Rescue Pick Up from local grocery stores. Our drivers have picked up over 208,000 pounds of donated food in 2022 to date for our Food Pantry. Volunteers ride along with the drivers and help with the heavy lifting and provide company. John was nominated by CRC staff person Omar Baltazar who writes, "I wanted to recognize John Ranieri for his continued support on the truck. John has demonstrated hard work and communication, always emailing us a set schedule, and strong commitment to CRC. He's always a joy to have on the truck."
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40-Hour Domestic Violent Advocate Training: Learn from experts presenting on the dynamics, danger and effects of intimate partner violence in our society and how to support and empower survivors in their healing. This valuable training takes place on 5 consecutive Fridays in September and October. For more information and to sign up, visit the Registration site here.
The CRC Food Pantry Needs Personal Care Items! For a list of those items and how to donate, visit our website.
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If you have a good story of volunteering, please share with me at srosenbaum@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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