friday | December 25, 2020 | $1.00
dailyrepublic.com | Well said. Well read.
Veterans, volunteers hit road with holiday meals Todd R. Hansen thansen@dailyrepublic.net
VACAVILLE — Lynn Jewell and squadrons of volunteers have been feeding free Christmas meals to veterans and others in need for more than 25 years at the Vacaville Veterans Memorial Building. The group also has delivered meals each year, but due to the Covid-19 pandemic, all the meals this Christmas Eve – close to 900 – were delivered around the county.
Every meal included ham, turkey, mashed potatoes and gravy, yams, rolls and a piece of pie. “And some, until I run out, get See’s Candies,” said Keetra Upton, who has been helping with the annual holiday meals for 12, maybe 13 years. “I’ve lost count.” Upton, who is involved in the Dixon and Fairfield veterans housing programs and the annual North Bay Stand Down, was in charge Thursday of organizing the delivery schedule.
Close to 50 volunteers – some working the assembly line putting the meals together in their takeout containers, and others lined up at the door to take the boxes to their destinations – were hard at work. Some were wearing masks, some shields, some both. Several had Santa hats on, sweatshirts and aprons with holiday themes, and a number proudly wore caps distinguishing them as See Meals, Page A11
Robinson Kuntz/Daily Republic
Volunteer Amanda Fuller arranges toys to donate to those in need at the Vacaville Veterans Memorial Building, Thursday.
Help for the needy
Robinson Kuntz/Daily Republic
Robinson Kuntz/Daily Republic
Raymond Courtemanche is running seven half-marathons, in seven Solano County cities, in seven days, starting on Christmas Day.
7 runs, 7 days, 2 good causes Courtemanche to bring awareness to human trafficking, homelessness Amy Maginnis-Honey
amaginnis@dailyrepublic.net
FAIR F IELD — Raymond Courtemanche jokes he may wrap up his seven half-marathons, over seven days in seven cities, on crutches. But he will finish Thursday. Courtemanche was inspired by the story of “The Iron Cowboy,” who did 50 Ironman races, in 50 consecutive days, through all 50 states. He said set physical goals for himself when he turned 50. While his health should benefit from the 7-7-7 plan, Courtemanche said he also hopes to raise money for the Matt Garcia Foundation and bring awareness to homeless youth in the area and how they often fall prey to
human trafficking. Courtemanche spent some of his teen years living on the streets of Fairfield. “I’m familiar with the dynamics of getting through a day (on the streets),” he said. “Men came into my life and gave me guidance and direction,” he said. “A person has the ability to form a different path in life.” Courtemanche will take those first steps on Christmas Day in Rio Vista after dealing with some injuries as well as an unsuccessful campaign for a seat on the Fairfield City Council. He has prepared himself mentally and physically for the runs. He’s run some See Runs, Page A10
A man sleeps on the sidewalk on West Texas Street while holding an umbrella, Nov. 17.
Fairfield works to
Focus homeless services to individual needs Todd R. Hansen thansen@dailyrepublic.net
FAIRFIELD — A report that will more specifically define the makeup of the city’s homeless population is expected to be completed by the end of the year. Dawn La Bar, the Homeless Services manager for Fairfield, said the study will allow the city to be more specific in the kinds of ser-
vices it chooses to offer. “I can assume all day long, but I would prefer to have that analysis,” La Bar said. “It will tell us where we need to focus or resources.” She said despite what she believes has been a good effort by the city through its Homeless Intervention Team and its Homeless Engagement and Response Team, the results have not been ideal. The city spent $2.2 million in
2019 on those homeless responses, a big part of which went to staff costs. “But it was not going to services, (to) shelter beds, and we were not creating any affordable housing,” La Bar said. “We have had some great successes, but mostly it has just been a bandage approach,” she said. La Bar said the goal of the city’s See Focus, Page A10
Church homeless program a message to community Todd R. Hansen
thansen@dailyrepublic.net
Robinson Kuntz/Daily Republic file
Kim James helps prepare a meal for residents at BayNorth Church of Christ in Fairfield, Dec. 18.
coming this weekend
FAIRFIELD — Supervisor Skip Thomson dedicated much of the past two years to a project to house 10 homeless Vacaville residents in Tuff Shed barns. Two sites were considered – the public outcry grew louder – and the Tiny Shelters project never became a reality. Now those five sheds have found a home at the
BayNorth Church of Christ in Fairfield. The Tiny Shelters are part of an expanding homeless program at the church, one that has served more than 70,000 meals: about 4,900 as part of a CARES Act-funded shelter and food program through the city, and more than 65,000 meals through a food service contract with Shelters Inc. as part of Project Roomkey. See Church, Page A10
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