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January 2015 Winter Nights Shelter: Good News in Bad Times
Serving Alamo and Diablo
By Jody Morgan
Winter Nights Shelter, in its 11th year of providing temporary shelter for homeless families with dependent children, is a project of the Social Justice Alliance of the Interfaith Council of Contra Costa County. Winter Nights accommodates up to nine families (about 30 individuals) in rotating sites throughout Central Contra Costa County from October to May. Over 50 faith communities share in welcoming shelter guests with nightly dinner, daily breakfast and food to pack bag lunches for midday meals. Seventeen churches and synagogues each take two-week turns housing clients with 18 co-hosts providing food and additional congregations supplying funds and donations. Saint Vincent de Paul in Pittsburg offers a daytime Oasis for adults searching for work.
A recent hike found Garrett Mason and his family exploring the Walnut Creek Open Space. The Open Space is easily accessible from our area. Find maps and information at www. walnut-creek.org/citygov/depts/ps/openspace/default.asp. Photo by Garrett Mason.
Alamo Danville Artists’ Society By Jody Morgan
Setting up tents at Lafayette United Methodist Church, one of 17 shelter sites. Photo courtesy of Winter Nights.
Initially concerned citizens trying to establish emergency shelter for homeless Contra Costa families received nothing but bad news. In many California counties, National Guard Armories provide space. After being quoted a price for use of the Concord Armory, the group was denied access to the facility because Concord Council Members noted there were already two county homeless shelters in their city. Orinda’s new library made the vacant old library available, but negotiations with a willing City Council failed when a few vocal residents railed against the proposal because they misunderstood the population being served. Rather than intact families who only wanted a chance to rebuild their lives, they envisioned hard-core drug addicts and perverts flowing into Orinda. Bad news turned to valuable publicity when local and national press reported the struggle. Morrison Foerster, one of the nation’s leaders in pro bono law, assigned two attorneys to advise the group on developing an appropriate structure.
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Founded in 1977 by Beth Batchelor and Ida Farese, the Alamo Danville Artists’ Society (ADAS) welcomes as members not only professional and amateur artists, but also anyone who appreciates art and wants to foster art education. In addition to providing opportunities for artists to hone their skills and exhibit and sell their work, the non-profit organization supports art instruction in local schools. Art for the Schools, an ADAS grant program for the San Ramon Adas Founder Beth Batchelor with Seyon Wind, Valley Unified School District Iron Horse Middle School Art teacher, at the (SRVUSD), has to date presented ADAS December grants award and art swap over $145,000 to elementary and party. Photo courtesy of ADAS. middle school art teachers for special classroom projects. The Blackhawk Gallery, open daily, gives community members an opportunity to experience how much ADAS has to offer year round. Located at 3416 Blackhawk Plaza Circle, the co-operative operated by members of ADAS features work by over 40 artists in each of the consecutive 10-week exhibits. The range of work displayed for sale by member and guest artists from the San Francisco Bay Area includes painting, drawing, sculpture, photography, ceramics, Volume XV - Number 1 fiber art, jewelry, and note cards. A 3000F Danville Blvd. #117, jury process as well as willingness to Alamo, CA 94507 Telephone (925) 405-NEWS, 405-6397 staff the all-volunteer gallery qualiFax (925) 406-0547 fies artists to participate. The Blackhawk Gallery gives back Alisa Corstorphine ~ Publisher Editor@yourmonthlypaper.com to the community in many ways. Sharon Burke ~ Writer “The Gallery is a break-even proposi- The opinions expressed herein belong to the writers, and do tion,” explains Tom Lemmer, ADAS not necessarily reflect that of Alamo Today. Alamo Today
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