THE LOOP
Hello, November!As the leaves begin to change colors, the brisk air and shorter days remind us that the holidays are upon us, and that a new year awaits for us around the corner. November is also the time of year when we think about all the things in our lives that we are thankful for. This is not always an easy task. The past few years have been challenging in more ways than we can count. The COVID-19 pandemic brought with it times of great uncertainty, tremendous loss, and a heaviness that lingers still. Add to that the daily international and local headlines that highlight so much negativity and it is no wonder that we may find it hard to remain hopeful and grateful. Despite all of that, we are reminded that as long as we are gifted with the opportunity to wake up to another day, we are also gifted with the opportunity to share experiences and connect with others.
In 2015, November was declared National Gratitude Month, encouraging people to take a step back and show gratitude to one another. Gratitude allows us to see how even the most ordinary things can bring us great joy and in the spirit of the Thanksgiving season, we want to reflect on the gratitude we can express towards those involved in our lives. Practicing gratitude gives us a deeper connection to ourselves as well as the world around us. During this month, we reflect on all of the wonderful services we have been able to provide to uplift and empower all of those whom we come into contact with.
On Nov. 11, we also celebrate Veterans Day, a day where we as a nation come together to remember and honor the service and sacrifices of all our Veterans, both past and present. This day honors all of those who bravely put their lives on the line in service to our country and allows us to reflect on the many freedoms that we have in our country because of their dedication. To all of our Veterans, thank you! We celebrate you and we thank you for your bravery!
Mary Ann Knoy, Vice President WestCareCalifornia
Program Spotlight: Renaissance at Parc Grove
ByBeverlyNovella, ProgramDirector,SanJoaquinValleyVeterans
consists of 40 one and two-bedroom energy-efficient apartments designed to provide safety and comfort have given so much. In order to qualify, all Veterans must be referred directly by San Joaquin Valley eitherexperiencinghomelessnessorhomelessnesswithadisability.Ifinterestedintheprogram,pleasecontactourteam bycalling(559)255-8838.
Kudos to Savannah Corbin
“Savannah has collaboratively worked with Fresno Housing Authorities and our Veteran residents at Renaissance at Parc Grove since November 2021 and provides excellentcasemanagementservices.ShegoesoverandabovetoensureourVeteran
residents have effective life skill workshops to assist with daily living, and fun activities such as Bingothatkeepseveryoneengaged.Savannahalsonetworkswithcommunitypartnerstoobtainfood donations for our residents. Food and clothing donations allow the residents to budget their money towardotheressentialnecessitiessuchasrentandtoiletries.”
OurteamatRenaissanceatParcGroveiscurrentlyseekingdonationsof:
Neworlightlywornmen’sandwomen’s clothing
Brandnewhygieneproducts
Anything for children (Clothes, toys, hygiene,bedding,diapers,etc.)
Brandnewcleaningsupplies
Toarrangeadonationdrop-offorpick-up,pleasecontactSavannahCorbinat(559)388-1937.
A Success Story
"Devon D. has led an eclectic and exciting life. He enlisted in the United States Air Force in July of 1985 and was a Vehicle Body Mechanic, earning his Air Force Training Ribbon. Devon served his tour and left with an honorable discharge. He then began working in the mechanicandHVACfieldwhilegoingtoschool at Fresno City Community College, earning an associate degree in Liberal Arts. However, he fell on hard times along with his partner, Pamela and their wonderful cat, Bitty, resulting in homelessness. SJVV’s amazing outreach staff navigated Devon and his family, resulting in residence for them at Renaissance at Parc Grove Commons in September of 2019. He was laterapprovedforTheVeteranRapidRetraining Assistance Program (VRRAP) and is now attending school at UEI College for HVAC certification and will be graduating in 2023. Devon is now 80% service-connected with the Veteran Affairs (VA) and has a goal of owning a housewithhisfamily.”
10 21: Belmont Health and Wellness Goes Pink for Breast Cancer Awareness!
Last month, our staff at the Belmont Health &Wellness Center in Fresno wore pink in support of Breast Cancer Awareness Month! Thank you to everyone who took part for showingtheirsupportofraisingawarenessabouttheimpactofbreastcancer.
10.21: Rainbow of Light Shares Hope at McKinney Plaza
In October, the team at our McKinneyPlaza Recovery Residence in Fresno received a special visit by Ray and Robert from Rainbow of Light, a 501(c)3 non-profit organization in the Central Valley that provides hope to the LGBTQIA+ community as well as children in foster care, individuals experiencing homelessness, and others in needwithinourcommunity.Duringtheirvisit,theybroughtaboxofhygieneandlaundry soap for the men in the program. Thank you for your generous support of not just those thatweserve,butourcommunityasawhole!
For more information on their mission, please follow Rainbow of Light on Facebook at @rainbowoflightfresnoorvisit www.rainbow-of-light.com
10 21: The 5th Annual Stanislaus County Veterans Stand Down
Our San Joaquin Valley Veterans (SJVV) Stockton team recently participated in the 5th Annual Stanislaus County Veterans Stand Down on Oct. 21. The event offered variousfreeservicestostrugglingVeteransincludinglinkagestocommunityservicesas wellashousing.ThankyoutoourSJVVStocktonteamfortheircontinueddedicationto supportingourlocalheroes!
10.26: Bonds are Strengthened at the First Annual STOP EDL Retreat
The First Annual STOP Employment Development Liaison (EDL) Retreat was held on Wednesday, Oct. 26, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the conference room of STOP –Area 3’s office in Fresno. For the first time ever, all six STOP EDL’s were in attendance, representing all 58 counties in the state of California. WestCare represented 37 counties in Areas 1 and 3 between our offices in Chico, North Highlands, Stockton, Fresno,andBakersfield.
Each area shared their community resources utilized as well as how we conduct businessperourcontract.Wehadafullagendafromwhatwedoinourspecificregions to reaching out to employers, addressing the barriers that we face, and how we work withthosebarriers.Wewereabletolearnsomuchfromeachotherandwillmeetvirtual quarterly, then in-person yearly, taking turns at each area site. We all agreed that collaboration between programs is essential in serving our previously incarcerated population.WelookforwardtotheSecondAnnualEDLRetreatnextyear!
10.21: Recovery Blossoms at MLK Residential
The women of MLK Residential recently planted flowers in the women and children's unit courtyard with the help of our dedicated staff. For many of the ladies, this was their first time planting flowers, but they founditpeaceful.Theywillcontinuetolearnhowtotakecareoftheirnew garden. Thank you to everyone involved for your help in beautifying our facility!
10.31: The California Team Organizes Some Halloween Fun!
This past Halloween, our family of programs up and down California hosted a variety of fun activities for the men, women, and children that theyserveaswellastheirfellowstaffandourcommunity!
Our MLK Residential treatment facility in Fresno held a longtime WestCare tradition, a door decorating contest for those that they serve! Additionally, staff on behalf of Admissions, Adult Outpatient, Celebrating Families!, and the Day Reporting Center at our Belmont Health andWellness facility in Fresno held a door decorating contest of theirownwithgiftcardsawardedtothetopfourdoorswiththemostvotes amongsttheteam!
It of course wouldn’t be Halloween without some sweet treats! So, our MLK Residential staff once again opened their doors and welcomed our little ones to stop by to trick or treat! Meanwhile, our team with the Celebrating Families! program participated in this year’s Halloween Safe Night Out, a free community event that was hosted by the Fresno Economic Opportunities Commission. Their staff chose the theme of SpongeBob SquarePants with costumes and a trunk to match! They distributed candy for the Trunk or Treat portion of the event and hosted two kid-friendly games at their information table. To make the night even sweeter,theirteamwonsecondplaceforthetrunkdecoratingcontest!
Toallthatparticipatedorhelpedorganizetheseactivitiestoprovidesome Halloweenfunwithinourprogramsandbeyond–thankyou!
InNovember,weproudlypresentedour 11thAnnualFresnoAIDSWalk atWoodward Park in support of The Living Room and their continued services for those infected, affected, or at risk of HIV/AIDS. After being presented virtually the past two years, we were happy to be back to an in-person format with our friends, family, and community partners. While this annual event is a fundraiser, it is also a tremendous event for awareness of the virus, remembrance for those that we’ve lost to it, and support for thosewholivewithit.Thisyear'seventwasonlymadepossiblebythecompassionand hard work of so many individuals! We would like to thank everyone that participated in, sponsored, donated volunteered, planned, performed, ran a vendor booth, or helped in anywaytosupportoureventandourcause!Throughyourgenerosity,enthusiasmand heart,youhavehelpedmakethisyearonetorememberforyearstocome!Thankyou!
This month, our San Joaquin Valley Veterans team in Fresno took part in an annual tradition, the Star Spangled Ball! This marked the 10th year of this wonderful event which serves as the annual fundraiser for Central Valley Veterans! In addition to dressing to the nines in support of an amazing Veterans service organization, we were also proud to be on-hand as our dear friend and long-time member of our WestCare family,JourneyVeteranAdvocate, PatriciaDunne,washonoredforherservicetolocal Veterans before her retirement in mid-December. On October 7, she celebrated her 12th year of employed service with our organization. As she prepares for this next exciting chapter, we thank her for her dedication to those who have served and wish hernothingbuthappinessinherretirement!
Kudos to Eric Montez, Operations Coordinator, MLK Residential! “I want to give kudos to Eric Montez as he is always helping out the team by following up with staff to ensure that they have keys to the units and items for our new intakes. His hard work and dedication is an example to everyone on our team! You’re amazing!” - Jenny Magdaleno, Program Director,MLKResidential
Kudos to Vincent Gutierrez, Counselor Tech, MLK Residential! “Since Vincent Gutierrez started work at MLK Residential, he continues to come to work with a positive attitude and ready to conquer the day. He is approachable to theclientsandhasdemonstratedthatheiscompassionate with everyone in the facility. I want to commend him for being calm when dealing with clients’ situations and behavioral issues.”JennyMagdaleno,ProgramDirector,MLKResidential
Earlier this month, our SJVV Stockton team participated in the 16th Annual Village Barbershop’sVeteransDay observanceattheLincolnCenterinStockton.Thisyear’s event was special in that it also honored first responders. Thank you, SJVV Stockton, foryourcontinuedsupportofbothourVeteransandourlocalheroes!
Kudos to Yesenia Bautista, Program Coordinator, Celebrating Families! “I want to give Yesenia Bautista kudos. Yesenia has been part of WestCare less than six months and as the Program Coordinator for our new program, Celebrating Families!,shewastaskedtoemploy20part-timeemployees,in which we thought was going to be close to impossible. However, she has proven that no task is too much. She has been able to hire all of these staff and ensure that their training is consistent. Great job, Yesenia!” - Jenny Gonzalez, Deputy Administrator,WestCareCalifornia,Inc.
August2022EOTM: Community-Based AugustineAlonzo Receptionist, MLK Residential
