I want to share a story with you, a story about a client who I will call George. George is a 70-year-old veteran who I met in a grocery store’s parking lot. George worked as a painting contractor until he and his wife’s health started deteriorating and he had to stop working. After his wife’s passing, George decided to rent a small house where he lived for a year but had to move out as the house was being put up for sale. George isn’t ready to shelter with us and instead, he is living in a car with his cat named Phantom. With limited housing options, George has expressed that is very challenging for him to find housing that will allow him to keep Phantom. He has no desire to leave behind his pet friend as Phantom is his companion and faithful friend. George has been connected to services such as Veterans of America and now receives veteran benefits and retirement. In the meantime, he is engaging with Hospitality House’s services and hopefully we’ll find a home for both him and his cat in the near future. If anyone listening right now might have an interest in helping individuals like George by renting a room, studio, apartment or house, I invite you to call me today. To learn more about our housing program, please call me, Elida, directly for more information at 530-615-6454.
As a reminder, through Dec. 15, all monetary donations made to Hospitality House is being matched by individuals, dollar for dollar, up to $30,000. This means a $10 donation will automatically become $20, which, as an example, can provide 40 people with personal protective equipment (PPE) to stay safe and healthy. Learn more about this opportunity at hhshelter.org.
The 15th annual Night of Giving is around the corner so save the date for Saturday, Dec. 19! Night of Giving returns this year as a virtual evening of musical entertainment and merriment to raise awareness and support for our homeless community. Tune in from home on Saturday, December 19, 2020 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at hhshelter.org, Facebook or Public Access Television: Comcast Channel 11 or Suddenlink Channel 16. Thank you Yuba.net and Ace Hardware, the helpful place, for sponsoring this year’s event. We appreciate you! For event details and how to watch, please see our website at hhshelter.org.
Normally at this time we thank all the cook groups who came and cooked over the last week, but to keep our shelter safe, our cook groups are supporting our meals by donating financial support and food, and Chef Chris is safely cooking all meals instead. We’d like to thank Dignity Health – Sierra Memorial Nevada Hospital, Nevada City United Methodist Church, IFM Impastas, St. Patrick’s Rookies, Kitchen-Kutups, The Home Team, and Repeat Offenders for all their help. To everyone who donated our most needed items last week, thank you as well!
Now down to the nitty gritty needs of the shelter for this week…
• PPE masks and gloves (please keep donating these)
• *New pillows
• Blankets, twin size
• Bottled water
• Ibuprofen
• Hand sanitizer
• Nail care
• Alka seltzer
• Towels
• Toilet paper
• Personal Wipes
• Poligrip and Polident
• Razors
• Triple antibiotic ointment
• Travel bags
• Hand and foot warmers
• Cough drops
• Foot care products for athlete’s foot
• Brushes and combs
• Men and Women sweatpants, sizes M, L, XL and 2XL
Please drop off urgent items or mail them to Utah’s Place, located in Brunswick Basin, past the DMV, at 1262 Sutton Way in Grass Valley. For a tax receipt, please ring the doorbell and wait for someone to come outside to assist you. We greatly appreciate the community’s help at such times of uncertainty. In the words of Utah Phillips, “If we all stick together, we’ll get what we need.” Thank you!