I’m Elida, the ARGP Shelter Case Manager at Hospitality House. ARGP stands for Adult Re-Entry Grant Program, which means that I help people with minor criminal offenses who are also struggling with homelessness. My main priority is to help homeless individuals transition back into housing, and I’m always looking for creative and permanent housing solutions.
Today I’d like to share a story with you about a woman who I’ll refer to as Jenny. In high school, Jenny was a hard worker and a good student but began struggling with depression and anxiety. She sought medical attention, and her prescriptions got her back on track. However, following graduation, she worked two jobs and high stress led to her developing an eating disorder.
She went back to her doctor for help and unfortunately, became addicted to her new prescriptions. When her doctor discontinued her prescriptions, she began self-medicating with methamphetamine and other pills she could get her hands on.
This behavior led to a life of homelessness on the streets. To survive and aid her addiction, Jenny broke into homes to steal and was ultimately charged with burglary and placed behind bars.
While in jail, Jenny’s mental health issues were addressed and she did well in rehabilitation programs. For good behavior, she received an early release this year and I was contacted by her probation officer for help with housing solutions.
Jenny temporarily moved in with her mother and is now working with me for ongoing case management and independent housing. While we haven’t found a new home just yet for Jenny, her motivation to succeed and take back control of her life is contagious.
She has come a long way and is successfully managing her mental health in a healthy, effective manner. To help Jenny and others continue receive support, please consider a gift today.
Another way to help out is by participating in our 16th annual Empty Bowl benefit for our shelter.
We have a handful of tickets left, so if you’ve been on the fence about going, now is the time to act. Every ticket includes a beautifully donated artisan bowl that is then filled with a donated meal by each restaurant. Following, on Sept. 24, ticketholders will be admitted into the Empty Bowl Art Extravaganza, which is an exclusive opportunity for ticketholders to come together to shop bowls, participate in an auction and raffle, listen to live music by Mark Vieaux and enjoy a no-host happy hour from 4-6 p.m. at Peace Lutheran Church. Get your tickets here>> https://emptybowl2022.rsvpify.com/
I’d like to thank our artist community for donating hundreds of artisan bowls to make the event possible. I’d also like to thank our eight host restaurants for donating meals to fill every bowl with sustenance. A special shoutout this week to Friar Tuck’s Restaurant & Bar and Three Forks Bakery and Brewing, two of our featured restaurants. A big thank you also to Telestream and SPD Markets for being return sponsors again this year.
And while I’m giving thanks, I’d like to give a shoutout to our two volunteer food shoppers, Hilary Dart and Marna Duncan, for helping us with shopping needs each week. If you have an interest in volunteering, we have several opportunities available in our culinary department, including grocery shopping, cooking, food delivery and dish washing. Call us at (530) 615-0852 or email info@hhshelter.org to learn about our opportunities. A special thanks also to our partners for providing ongoing food and/or financial support: SPD Markets, BriarPatch Food Co-op, Telestream, Interfaith Food Ministry, the Bishop Store (The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Nevada City) and Food Bank of Nevada County. To everyone who donated our most needed items last week, thank you as well! Now down to the nitty gritty needs of the week:
- Depends / adult diapers
- Pillows and pillowcases (pillows must be new/packaged; we are unable to accept used)
- Bottled water
- Towels
NEW DONATION HOURS: To streamline our donation process, donations are no longer being accepted at our shelter (unless it’s food). Please drop off items from our needs list on Tuesday or Thursday, 830am – 5pm at our admin office, located at 488 Crown Point Circle, Suite 100, Grass Valley, Ca 95945 (admin is closed weekends and all major holidays). 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!