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After they pay rent and PG&E, there is not money left for diapers, toilet paper, laundry detergent and school supplies. Sunday Friends provides them the opportunity to earn what they need so they can care for their children and stay in housing.
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It feels good to earn. They want their children to see them earning, not receiving handouts. Charity is humiliating and it’s not what they want for their children’s futures.
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They are disturbed when they see a neighbor cheating the system to survive. Sunday Friends allows parents to show their children an honest way.
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They feel safe at Sunday Friends. They feel respected. That makes it possible for them to learn, to give their best and to set good examples for their children.
For the second year in a row, we have seen an INCREASE in family attendance
following the December holidays. New families join us each program and continuing families have made Sunday Friends a priority. In January, we averaged 155 children and 77 parents per program. Families participate for a full six to seven hours each program.
In the new year, we are focused on collecting BASIC NECESSITIES
in greater quantities than ever before. We must be able to compensate our families’ hard work with the products they most need: diapers, toiletries, school supplies and household cleaning products.
I hope you will be interested in creating a Basic Necessities Drive in your
workplace, church, synagogue, neighborhood or other gathering place.
The children of Sunday Friends can help.
They have created adorable Basic Necessities collection boxes and
handmade “prizes”. Ask me about those as well as our customizable flyers and
party ideas. You can have fun while you help some precious families help themselves.
And, we may be able to arrange for a volunteer-led pickup/delivery service, if you need it.
And, while we are helping families weather the economic storm, we continue to strengthen our educational offerings.
Thanks to amazing community collaborators, we have recently provided classes in: Financial Responsibility (taught by Fernando Chavez, son of Cesar Chavez, and his associates), Helping Your Children Succeed in School, Affordable Health Care Resources in our Community, Healthy Relationships vs. Domestic Violence and Worker’s Rights. In addition, we have three highly qualified, much loved, English-as-a-Second-Language teachers who volunteer their time every program.
If you have a teaching resource to offer us on the topics of parenting, money management, legal issues, health or nutrition, please let us know.
2008 was a year filled with growth,
enhanced forms of education and new ways for our families to give back to the community. None of it would have been possible without you.
I am deeply grateful to all the individuals and
groups who donated basic necessities, collected holiday gifts and contributed the ever-essential funding during 2008. I also can’t say enough about the awesome volunteers and community groups who enriched every one of our programs.
Although we have had to watch every penny and extend our fundraising arm further into the community, I am happy to report that we ended 2008 with balanced books and no debt.
Predictions are, however, that 2009 will be especially tough for nonprofits.
Nevertheless, we’re determined to be there for our families. Since they are increasing their own efforts, we all must increase ours.
I hope you will help. We are counting on your generosity now more than ever.
You can make an
online donation
today through this website. Google Checkout will allow 100% of your donation to reach Sunday Friends.
And please know how much our families appreciate your support and change their lives for the better because of it.
One Mom wrote: “The program has allowed people to open up their hearts more with the knowledge that to give is not an obligation but a generous gesture.”
Another wrote: “I hope the same way that you are helping us, one day we will help you as well.”
I thank you, too.
With love,
P.S. Please
contact me
to explore setting up a Basic Necessities Drive or hosting a party to benefit Sunday Friends.
