CSET Newsletter November 2015

COMMUNITY VOICE

VOLUME Volume171

COMMUNITY VOICES

FROM MARY ALICE ESCARSEGA-FECHNER, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

CSET just finished another succesful Make A Difference Day, with numerous projects taking place throughout the county. Make A Difference Day is the most encompassing national day of helping others. This year, thanks to generous contributions, CSET was able to rally nearly 300 community residents to participate in Make A Difference Day projects the week of October 20 through October 31, 2015.

Projects included community center beautification in Allensworth, assisting homebound senior citizens in Visalia, Dinuba and Exeter and school garden beautification in Goshen. The activities were supported by local businesses, partner agencies and other service learning groups.

Make A Difference Day demonstrates the community spirit of CSET, our partners, communities and residents. We are pleased to work alongside such wonderful people who are truly dedicated to improving the lives of those around them.

Inside this issue John Muir Graduates

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Inside This Issue Wells Fargo Donation

There are many other opportunities to get involved with your community. Our Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program is gearing up for another year and is seeking volunteers. Our senior centers are collecting blankets, slippers, socks, gloves and other warm items to be distributed to seniors during the winter months. You can also donate any unopened bath items such as shampoo, toothpaste and soap. For more information, please contact Albert Cendejas at (559) 732-4194.

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Volunteer Opportunity

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Corpsmember of the Year CSET Drought Services Job Fair Wrap New Board Member

It is a privilege to serve our community. We wish you and your family a safe holiday season and a prosperous 2016.

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— Mary Alice Escarsega-Fechner

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ENERGY SUCCESS

The Energy Department recently received thanks from a weatherization customer grateful for the services she received.

Resident Lola S. stated: “I do so appreciate all the work CSET did in my home. My new air conditioner works great along with the insulation, new door and knobs. Christopher Agundez was so great to get all this work started and finished.”

To schedule an appointment to receive Energy Assistance or have your house weatherized, please call the Energy Assistance Hotline at 1-844-224-1316 or visit our website at www.cset.org.

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WELLS FARGO SUPPORTS BRIDGE FUND LOAN PROGRAM In late September, Wells Fargo awarded CSET $25,000 to continue their support of the Bridge Fund Loan Program, which assists low-income individuals who have an emergency financial need or would like to start a small business. Program requirements include an application, income eligibility, budget plan, business summary if starting a business and a financial literacy course for those seeking $800 or more.

Wells Fargo donates $25,000 to CSET.

The Bridge Fund Loan Program was very successful in its first year, lending $10,000. Thank you Wells Fargo for your continued support and enthusiastic partnership. If you have any questions, please contact Albert Cendejas at (559) 741-4628 or via email at albert.cendejas@cset.org

VOLUNTEER RECRUITMENT CSET is seeking volunteers to assist with the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program. VITA provides free tax preparation and electronic filing services to Tulare County households earning less than $54,000 annually.

Every year hard working families in Tulare County leave unclaimed approximately $31 million in Earned Income Tax Credits (EITC), which is one of the nation's largest anti-poverty programs. In tax year 2014, VITA assisted more than 2,000 taxpayers, who received $2.6 million in refunds. The average electronic refund was approximately $1,700, which does not include the fees saved for preparation and overnight refunds.

In 2016, tax preparation services will be provided in Cutler, Porterville, Tulare, Visalia, mobile sites and three sites in Kings County. Volunteers must complete a training course to become Certified Tax Preparers through the IRS. The four week volunteer training begins Saturday, January 9, 2016 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and will be held every Saturday in January at the Visalia CSET office and Porterville Employment Connection. Lunch and refreshments will be provided.

Volunteer Training

For tax year 2015, California Governor Jerry Brown signed the first ever California state Earned Income Tax Credit (CalEITC). Californians with incomes less than $6,580 (no dependents), up to $13,870 (with two or more dependents) may qualify.

To become a volunteer, please go to www.cset.org and complete the application. If you have any questions, please contact Albert Cendejas at (559) 741-4628 or via email at albert.cendejas@cset.org.

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CORPSMEMBER OF THE YEAR: SHAINI PHELPS On October 15, 2015 at the annual Corpsmember Awards Banquet, Shaini Phelps was named Corpsmember of the Year.

Ms. Phelps has been a Crew Leader in the Department of Recycling for two years. She is an outstanding Corpsmember who represents the values and traditions of the Sequoia Community Corps (SCC).

She has represented the Corps in Sacramento, during certification review, and at local Corps events.

Ms. Phelps has excellent attendance and work ethic and also trains fellow Corpsmembers. She embodies the Code of Conduct, takes advantage of all learning opportunities, and has been a positive influence in the Sequoia Community Corps.

Shaini Phelps

Ms. Phelps’ name has been submitted for the National Corpsmember of the Year which will be awarded in February 2016 by the Corps Network.

Other nominees included: Carolina Trujillo from Weatherization; Michael Sayler from Urban Forestry; Yurico Espindola from Household Tanks; and, Bouapha Louangprasert from YouthBuild.

CSET DROUGHT SERVICES CSET is actively providing relief services during the current drought. There are several programs and services available to local residents. Customers can take advantage of a wide variety of resources at the Drought Resource Center. Located on site are free public showers, sinks and portable toilets. CSET also operates an office, which provides information and referral services to local residents. Through the Drought Resource Center, residents affected by the drought can utilize the bottled water pick up, household tank installation and bottled water delivery programs. Residents can also obtain services from other programs such as energy assistance, weatherization and CSET housing programs.

The Household Tank program provides tanks and pumps to qualified homes.

Residents whose wells have gone dry are eligible to receive a 2,500 to 3,000 gallon tank and pump installed on their property for household use. Since August 2015, a total of 286 tanks have been installed.

To date, the Drought Resource Center has supplied 1,536 families with bottled water and 9,770 cases of bottled water have been distributed. More than 2,700 individuals visited the Center in its first four weeks of service.

The Drought Resource Center is located at 185 S. Leggett St. in Porterville, CA and is open Monday, Thursday-Saturday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Tuesday and Wednesday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. You can also learn about CSET’s drought services by visiting www.cset.org/droughtresources.

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Visalia CSET

JOB FAIR WRAP The Tulare County Job Fair just completed its 24th year at the Visalia Convention Center. More than 1,000 job seekers attended and had the opportunity to visit the 72 employers and training institutions in attendance.

Twenty-nine Veterans received early entry through Priority of Service and three people reported they were hired on the spot at the Job Fair. The Society of Human Resource Managers (SHRM) also offered mock interviews and résumé review for interested attendees.

Thank you to all of the vendors who participated and the Job Fair Planning Committee that helped bring the Job Fair together.

Thank you to the following businesses for your sponsorship: Adventist Health, California Highway Patrol, Financial Credit Network, KTIP Radio, MWI, Tulare Chamber of Commerce, VF Outdoor and Visalia Chamber of Commerce.

312 NW 3rd Ave. Visalia, CA 93291 Tel. 559.732.4194 Porterville Employment Connection

1063 W. Henderson Porterville, CA 93257 Tel. 559.788.1400 Tulare Family Resource Center

304 E. Tulare Ave. Tulare, CA 93274 Tel. 559.684.1987 Visalia Employment Connection

4025 W. Noble Ave. # B Visalia, CA 93277-1631 Tel. 559.713.5000 Earlimart CSET

114 N. Front St. Earlimart, CA 93219 Tel. 661.849.2960

BOARD MEMBER SPOTLIGHT Sharon Herbert relocated to Pixley after working at the University of California, Riverside for 30 years. She currently runs the business office for her family business, KMS Mechanics, Inc.

Orosi CSET

12691 Ave. 408 Orosi, CA 93615 Tel. 559.528.6108 CSET Senior Services

Ms. Herbert is very active in the community. In addition to the CSET Board of Directors, she is on the Pixley Union School District Board of Trustees, the Pixley Foundation Board of Directors and other community organizations. She will represent the private sector on the Board.

1.800.321.2462 Cutler-Orosi, Earlimart, Exeter, Goshen, Lindsay, Porterville, & Woodlake

“I have great respect for the mission and accomplishments of the CSET organization.

Sharon Herbert CSET has been and continues to be a strong and ongoing presence in Pixley.”

Community Voice is published quarterly by Community Services Employment Training.

Unless otherwise noted, articles are written by CSET staff.

To subscribe or unsubscribe, send an email to jeff.forbes@cset.org.

November 2015

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