I’m Danna and I’m the Medical Case Manager for Hospitality House. I connect our guests with medical services as well as handle their medical insurance needs. I also helps guests who own animals connect with our Pet Program, which provides full care for animals.

This month I had the pleasure of helping a couple who, for various reasons, were down on their luck. We will call the couple, Dan and Julie. Dan and Julie were first connected with Hospitality House through their admittance to Sierra Nevada Memorial Hospital. Dan struggles with substance abuse and had been admitted to the hospital in order to receive assistance through the detox process. They were both in pretty bad shape when I picked them up at the hospital and all their belongings were previous soaked from being outside. Once I picked them up, I assisted them in getting their prescriptions and transported them to one of our local motels where they would stay for the next several days. During this time, I offered case management services and was able to get them prepped and ready to utilize Hospitality House through the Outreach Dorm. Julie accepted help from Behavioral Health and is motivated to get herself back into a position where they can both reach permanent housing with continuing wraparound services that we as an agency do our best to provide. We still have a long way to go with Dan and Julie, but we appreciate the community’s help as they work toward their goals to reach housing.

For anyone listening who would like to help us create greater impact, now through Dec. 15, two local donors are matching all donations to Hospitality House dollar for dollar. This means a $5 donation automatically becomes $10, which in turn can provide 10 meals. 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. Thank you to Better Together Nevada County and KVMR 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 Wolf Creek Co-Housing, Telestream, Saint Pat’s Sidekicks, TCC Blessed Sisters, Jazzercise, The Home Team and Crossroads Church 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)
• Hand sanitizer
• Towels
• *New pillows
• Blankets, twin size
• Poligrip and Polident
• Triple antibiotic ointment
• Ibuprofen
• Bottled water
• Nailcare
• Razors
• Backpacks
• Hand and foot warmers
• Earmuffs, scarves, gloves and beanies
• Women’s hair ties, comes and brushes

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!

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