THE COMMUNITY VOICE
A Quarterly Newsletter by Community Services Employment Training
Dear CSET Community,
As winter approaches, I want to take a moment to express my heartfelt gratitude to our community for your unwavering support and dedication. This season of re ection reminds us of the remarkable progress we’ve made together and the many accomplishments that highlight the strength and compassion of our community. In October, we came together for Make a Di erence Day, continuing over 20 years of CSET’s commitment to serving and supporting local projects and campaigns. In November, we proudly hosted our 9th Annual Regional Education Youth Summit, empowering local youth with insights and opportunities in the dynamic STEAM elds.
Adding to these achievements, the Visalia Navigation Center opened its doors to welcome its rst guests! This milestone marks a signi cant step forward in providing critical resources and support to those in need. Lastly, we launched our Giving Tuesday campaign and will keep it open until the end of the year to giving you the chance to donate.
Thank you to everyone who made these moments possible—together, we’re making a lasting di erence!
Sincerely,
Mary Alice Escarsega-Fechner, CSET Executive Director
VOLUNTEER INCOME TAX ASSISTANCE (VITA) VOLUNTEERS NEEDED
This tax season, we are looking for passionate volunteers to join our Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program in Tulare County. As a volunteer, you'll help ensure a smooth tax ling process for our diverse community, including working families, seniors, single parents, people with disabilities, and people with limited English pro ciency. No previous experience is required, and training will begin in January 2025 both in-person and online. Visit www.cset.org/vita-volunteer-application for more information!
Volunteer Opportunities Available
- Greeters: Welcome lers and provide general information about services.
- Intake Specialists: Organize drop-o packets and gather all required documents from lers to start the tax preparation process.
- Interpreters: Bilingual volunteers are needed to support residents with limited English pro ciency during the tax ling process.
- Tax Preparers: Dedicated volunteers are needed to provide free assistance in ling state and federal income taxes for Tulare County residents.
- Site Coordinators: Lead the VITA tax preparation operations at one of the following sites; Visalia, Porterville, Tulare, Dinuba, Hanford, Cutler-Orosi, or Earlimart.
We’re thrilled to share that our 9th Annual Regional Education Youth Summit was a tremendous success, with approximately 140 attendees, including over 95 youth participants! This event wouldn’t have been possible without the incredible support of our sponsors and guest speakers. A heartfelt thank you to the Bank of the Sierra, Belay Foundation, and Land O’ Lakes for their generous contributions to the event and youth scholarships. Their support helped make this event a reality, empowering local youth with insights into exciting opportunities in the STEAM elds.
A special thank you to our inspiring guest speakers—Anthony Benitez, On Man Lau, Brenda Diaz, Paul Belt, and Lee Herrick—who shared their journeys and wisdom. Your stories motivated students to dream big and explore new paths for their futures.
Thanks to everyone’s support, we made a lasting impact, and sparked curiosity in young minds.
MAKE A DIFFERENCE DAY
Our Make a Di erence Day was a huge success, and it couldn’t have been possible without the dedication and generosity of our community! On October 26th, volunteers gathered across Tulare County to support local projects and campaigns, marking over 20 years of CSET’s commitment to this impactful day of service.
Here’s what we accomplished together:
- At Cutler-Orosi and Porterville Senior Centers volunteers engaged in gardening and creative art projects using recycled materials. They also hosted a lively ice cream social for our seniors, brightening their day and enhancing the community spaces they love.
- On Tulare’s Downtown Santa Fe Trail teams worked together to remove gra ti and litter, helping to keep our city spaces clean and welcoming.
- Through our Donation Campaign we collected essentials for unhoused youth, including backpacks, blankets, socks, and hygiene products—meeting vital needs and providing comfort to those facing di cult times.
- #LEAD students also participated by writing heartfelt letters of encouragement to guests at the Visalia Navigation Center, spreading kindness and support to individuals in need.
We want to extend a heartfelt thank you to Visalia Grocery Outlet, Porterville Town & Country Market, and our Board Members for generously providing supplies for our Make a Di erence Day projects. We also want to thank everyone who volunteered their time, donated items, and helped with planning. Your contributions made a real di erence and reminded us of the power of community!
We’re 46% of the way to our $5,000 Giving Tuesday goal, thanks to your incredible support! Your generosity has already made a di erence, but we’re not there yet. Let’s keep the momentum going! Every contribution brings us closer to reaching our goal and creating meaningful change in our community. Together, we can make it happen!
Our campaign runs through the end of 2024, giving you the chance to contribute to a cause that changes lives. Donate today and help us reach our goal, bringing hope and opportunity to those who need it most: www.cset.org/givingtuesday.
GET INVOLVED AND GIVE BACK THIS HOLIDAY SEASON
We're immensely grateful to Anthem for their generous support of our Backpacks of Hope Donation Campaign for the Youth Action Board (YAB)! Thanks to their donation of 150 backpacks, hand sanitizers, and toothbrush sets, Anthem is helping us provide unhoused youth with essential supplies for a healthy start. Your partnership is making a meaningful impact on the lives of our community’s young people.
Big thanks to Patterson Logistics in Dinuba for their generous donation to the Visalia Navigation Center! Over 300 toothbrushes, toothpaste tubes, dental oss, and bottles of mouthwash were donated to help our residents take care of their dental hygiene. Your support makes a lasting impact in our community—thank you for helping our guests smile a little brighter!
Shoutout to Mark Gilbert from New Leash On Life in Eugene, Oregon! Recently, he visited the Visalia Navigation Center with a generous supply of dog essentials—premium food, beds, blankets, toys, balls, leashes, and collars.
Mark regularly rescues dogs on 'death row' from Valley shelters, transporting them to places with less pet overpopulation, like Northern California, Oregon, Washington, and Canada. His ongoing donations mean so much to us and our furry friends.
Before receiving services at CSET, Rose Rivas felt lost. After her home burned down, she and her mother were homeless for nearly a year, staying with friends and family. Once she found a place in Visalia, Rose sought help at CSET, where her case manager connected her with essential resources.
Encouraged by her uncle, Rose initially sought CSET’s support to earn her GED through the John Muir Charter School. She soon discovered she could also become a Sequoia Community Corpsmember, allowing her to work while studying. Driven to create stability for herself and her ill mother, Rose joined the Sequoia Community Corps in the weatherization department and later became a recycling specialist, leading workshops and outreach. Her involvement in the House of In uence Leadership Council allowed her to present to partners and funders at the state capital, an experience that signi cantly boosted her con dence.
Through CSET, Rose developed vital communication and organizational skills, overcoming her introversion and social anxiety. Today, she and her mother live in their own apartment, a testament to her growth and independence.
One of Rose’s most memorable moments at CSET was participating in drought relief e orts, where she distributed water in Springville, deepening her connection to her team and the community. She encourages current participants to "just do it—join. There’s so much opportunity waiting for you. Stay focused on your goals."
Visalia CSET 312 NW 3rd Ave. Visalia, CA 93291 Tel. 559.732.4194
Visalia Employment Connection 4025 W. Noble Ave. # B Visalia, CA 93277-1631 Tel. 559.713.5000
Tulare Family Resource Center & Employment Connection A liate 155 N K. St. Tulare, CA 93274 Tel. 559.684.1987
Porterville Employment Connection 1063 W. Henderson Ave. Porterville, CA 93257 Tel. 559.788.1400
Earlimart CSET 176 N. Front St. Earlimart, CA 93219 Tel. 661.849.2960
Orosi CSET 12737 Ave. 417 Orosi, CA 93647 Tel. 559.216.0438
Pixley CSET 927 Center St. Pixley, CA 93256 Tel. 559.575.0098
Porterville CSET 108 E. Morton Ave. Porterville, CA 93257 Tel. 559.216.0525
CSET Senior Services
1.800.321.2462
Cutler-Orosi, Earlimart, Exeter, Farmersville, Goshen, Lindsay, Porterville, & Woodlake
Visalia Navigation Center (VNC) 3525 N. Court St. Visalia, CA 93291
CSET combats poverty by providing indiviudals, families, and communities with the resources, skills, and opportunties to thrive.
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Discover more information about CSET’s programs and services at: www.cset.org