“SENIOR HOOKERS” DONATE KNIT CAPS

The “Senior Hookers”, a knit and crochet group from Mount Vernon Manors apartments, is a group of talented older adults who have been knitting and crocheting “Caps for Kids” all summer long with the goal of donating those caps to needy Skagit County children.

The members of the “Senior Hookers” are Laura Cabrera, Yrene Corona, Flo D’Amelio, Minta Holland, Judy Lemon, Coleen Renfro, Anna Rogers, Darnica Shanna, Gregory Strafford, Maria Vasquez, Eva Villalobos and Deborah Moskowitz, Resident Services Coordinator.

The group recently donated their collection of 122 caps to Skagit County Community Action Agency for distribution to the community. For more information contact Susan Rowe at susanr@skagitcap.org or 360-416-7585.

Skagit Literacy

Assembled in the Skagit County Commissioner's Hearing Room, over fifty community leaders and learners struggled to hold back tears as one of Skagit Literacy's GED students, Porfiria Mendiola, read her moving story. She began by describing how a stressful childhood left little time or energy for school. Although she faced difficult domestic and relational situations, her story closed with a beautiful account of a transformed family and a renewed freedom to pursue education. After a few other emotional readings and comments by students, teachers and even State Senator Kevin Ranker, the Skagit County Commissioners proclaimed October 19th - 24th as Adult Literacy Week. The special recognition of this week has been a statewide effort for the past 5 years.

As part of the Adult Literacy Week event, Skagit Literacy and Skagit Valley College published a booklet containing 106 essays written by students enrolled in English language classes at the college and through Skagit Literacy. Those essays were judged and three winners received $100 awards and read their essays to the gathered assembly in the County Commissioner’s Hearing Room.

The students whose essays were awarded this years prizes are Porfiria Mendiola, Dolores Garcia and Benita Jaramillo, pictured above receiving their award certificates from State Senator Kevin Ranker and Skagit County Commissioners Ken Dahltstedt, Ron Wesen and Sharon Dillon.

After the students read their essays, a warm celebration full of engaging conversation and creative hors d'ourves followed with Senator Ranker presenting the students certificates, shaking hands and chatting between camera flashes.

The State Board for Community and Technical Colleges states that with "more than 1 million adults in Washington State lack[ing] the basic education skills they need to succeed in an increasingly complicated world" the need for adult literacy is quite evident. For the last ten years Skagit Literacy, a part of Skagit County Community Action Agency, has been working towards this goal of increased literacy with diverse programs ranging from GED (general education diploma) to classes for English language learners. If you feel passionate about this effort and would be interested in volunteering or supporting Skagit Literacy, contact Rachel Mehl, the Volunteer Literacy Program Coordinator at (360) 416-7585 or rachelm@skagitcap.org. She offers a volunteer information session on the 3rd Wednesday of the month at 6pm.

For more information on adult literacy visit the State Board for Community and Technical Colleges website.

Featured Volunteers: Jack Woods and Gary Gouin

Drivers of Mobile Food Express pull double duty. They deliver food to the homebound and brighten the lives of lonely people when they go calling.

The challenge is finding enough volunteers. “We’ve got half as many drivers as we need,” said Justin Keefe, Community Resource Coordinator for SCCAA.

Jack Woods of Mount Vernon is one of the volunteer drivers of the 14-foot van that visits people who can’t pick food up themselves from one of the 13 food banks that serve the hungry in Skagit County. When Woods retired from his career as an electrician, his wife suggested volunteer work. He’s really enjoying the opportunity.

“I feel really good getting out to the houses of the elderly…I really feel that I’m helping them and it’s nice to visit with lonely people,” Woods said. If the householder can’t come out to the van, Woods takes the food inside to the kitchen.

He and other drivers never go alone. There’s always an assistant riding along. Gary Gouin of Burlington has just joined the team. A retired welder fabricator, he rode with Woods recently as he learned the routine. “I like meeting people and just helping out,” Gouin said.

For some shut-ins, the Mobile Food Express team may be the only people they see in a week. Making the social connection is as important as delivering the food, Keefe said. Team members often find out the client requires additional services, such as access to the Community Voice Mail, energy assistance or food stamps.

Volunteers typically work one half day per week, but are welcome to donate more time. For more information about this volunteer opportunity, visit http://www.1800volunteer.org/1800Vol/OpenIndexAction.do or contact Susan Rowe at 360-416-7585.

New VISTA Staff Person

Charles is starting this week as the Community Resource and Volunteer Center VISTA.

Charles has an extensive background in digital media, website design, photography, and graphic design. Charles has been volunteering with SCCAA for a while. He will be helping our agency create better resources for referring clients to services and volunteer opportunities inside and outside of our agency. Welcome aboard Charles!!

A brief overview of SCCAA

Skagit County Community Action Agency (SCCAA) is part of a nationwide network of Community Action partnerships that was established under the Economic Opportunity Act of 1964 to fight poverty at the local level. SCCAA was established locally in 1979, growing as community needs and resources were identified. SCCAA operates under an engaged and influential 18-member Board of Directors, equally comprised of representatives from the private, public, and client sectors.

Mission
Our mission is to foster and advocate for self-sufficiency among low-income people in Skagit County.

Vision
Our vision for Skagit County is a respectful community where everyone has the opportunity and support to be safe, healthy, and successful.

Programs
In 2008, SCCAA’s services touched over 30,000 individuals from nearly 13,000 families, ranging in age from prenatal to seniors. Our broad range of services are constantly adjusting to best meet local needs. We currently offer programming in the following areas:

Food and Hunger:
Basic Food Outreach, Region 3 lead contractor since 2005
Management of Skagit County’s only collaborative Food Distribution Center
Mobile Food Express deliveries to counties homebound
Other local food bank support

Housing and Homelessness:
Family Development Center (AKA Emergency Family Shelter)
Transitional Housing Program
Channel Cove Affordable Housing
Community Land Trust
Hotel/Motel voucher program
Homeless Childcare

Health Access:
Women, Infants and Children Nutritional Program (WIC)
Maternity Support Services
Mobile Dental Unit
Long Term Care Ombudsman Program
Mental Health Ombudsman Program

Literacy:
Workfirst Employment Training
Basic Skills Training
English as a Second Language
Family Literacy
GED preparation
Financial Literacy
Workplace Literacy
Washington Reading Corps.

Crisis Intervention:
Critical Needs (gas, clothing, food etc. vouchers)
Veterans Assistance (Critical Needs vouchers given to Veterans)
Home Heating Assistance Programs
Volunteer Lawyer Program
Volunteer Chore (home repairs for seniors and disabled)
Community Voice Mail

Volunteerism:
Volunteer Center
Americorps VISTA

Community Relations:
Spanish TV programming
Latino/Latina Advisory Committee

Third Annual Dine Out and Rethink the Holiday

During this economic storm of uncertainty, more and more Skagit County residents are, for the first time in their lives, finding themselves in need of a “hand up.” Working together, we can stabilize families, reduce hunger and homelessness, create lives of hope, and strengthen the bonds of community.

The need is staggering. Last year we served over 33,000 people in this community, an astounding 20% increase from the year before. Sadly, homelessness and hunger are also alarmingly commonplace in Skagit County:

· This year’s homeless count found that Skagit County again has the HIGHEST homeless population per capita in the State of Washington.

· One-fourth of our low-income citizens’ report going hungry from lack of food, and 20% of Skagit County households, made up of our friends and neighbors, rely on area food banks to feed their families.

But there’s a solution. This holiday season, we at Skagit County Community Action want to make it easy for you to partner with us as we assist parents and children who need food and a warm place to live – all year round. Please consider these three easy ways you can partner with us this holiday season:

“Rethink the Holidays” by sending in your gift that will help feed and care for our homeless and hungry friends and neighbors in Skagit county.

“Dine Out for the Homeless and Hungry” is an easy way to alleviate local hunger and homelessness, simply by going out to eat on December 8, 2009 at your favorite participating restaurant listed on the enclosed flyer. That’s all! These restaurants in turn donate a portion of their proceeds to us.

If eating out is not an option, we invite you to “dine in” instead – and consider using the money saved by eating at home to make a generous gift.

Either way you choose to donate, your gift will go towards alleviating homelessness and hunger in our community. We want to thank you in advance for your gift this holiday season. Together we can weather this storm, and make a lasting difference.

The Home Trust of Skagit Community Land Trust 1st Annual Meeting

The Home Trust of Skagit’s first annual meeting held at Maple Hall in LaConner on March 9th was a great kickoff for the community land trust organization’s initial membership, and to welcome the 2009 Board!
The elected Board of Trustees for HTS is: Maile Keli’ipio Acoba, John Cheney, Lynn Christofersen, Jim Duffield, Margaret Fleek, David Hall, Gabriel Olmsted, Linda Sanford, Carol Taylor, Lauren Tracy, Wayne Wegner, and Catherine Wyman.
SCCAA Executive Director Bill Henkel led the meeting with a history of CLT development in Skagit County. Bill introduced LaConner Mayor Ramon Hayes for a welcome to LaConner, followed by Lisa Byers, OPAL CLT Executive Director, who delivered an in-depth history of the community land trust movement.
The success of the evening is credited to the many HTS board members who participated in the event preparation and many SCCAA volunteers and individual donors who gave their support. An appreciative thank you goes out to all participants, including members of the Skagit Symphony: Sigrid Schumacher, Marjorie McNoe, and Beta Sato, Don Smith of Small Planet Foods for graphic design, LaConner Seafood and Prime Rib House, Calico Cupboard, Nell Thorn, TJ Kerstin’s, Skagit Valley Co-op, Harry and David, Mount Vernon Grocery Outlet, Tulip Valley Vineyard & Orchard, Burlington FedEx Kinko’s and Starbucks Coffee.

Thank you to each of you supporting the Home Trust of Skagit and affordable home ownership! For more information, contact Kari Russom, HTS, at (360) 416-7585.

Financial Literacy

The Financial Literacy program is an AmeriCorps*VISTA project designed to help low-income families set and reach their financial goals. Through a combination of financial training, consumer awareness and individual financial counseling, participants are introduced to basic banking concepts, credit repair and long-term achievement of goals such as purchasing a home, opening a business or financing an education.

Skagit County Community Action Agency, in cooperation with BECU, is pleased to offer two great free financial workshops in December.


Dec 1st Credit Reports/Score Workshop – “You Have a Right to Know”. Free. Westview Elementary in Burlington, WA 6-8pm

Dec 8th Banks & Credit Unions – “Questions About Savings and Checking”. Free. Westview Elementary in Burlington, WA 6-8pm

English and Spanish. Open to the public.

For more information and to register: (360) 416-7585 ext 266 or email Fred

Workplace Literacy

This innovative fee-for-service program was created to meet the diverse needs of Skagit County companies and their employees. To this end, Workplace Literacy partners directly with local businesses, providing classes customized for the company and also for the students. The program offers classes in Spanish as a Second Language, English as a Second Language, or a combination English/Spanish class wherein students learn from both their instructor and from one another. The goals of this program include increased worker satisfaction and retention, increased productivity, and improving participating businesses' ability to adapt to change. Past local partners include: Skagit Gardens Wholesale of Mount Vernon, Tomco Marine Group of La Conner, SeaBear Smokehouse of Anacortes, Janicki Industries of Sedro-Woolley, and Washington Alder of Mount Vernon.

Success Story

Betzy came to Skagit Valley from Texas with her boyfriend and three year old daughter as an undocumented immigrant from Mexico. She was persuaded to reside in the United States with promises from her partner that she would become a citizen.
Betzy was referred by the WIC program at the Department of Health in August, 2004 to Community Action for placement in our Transitional Housing Program. She moved into an apartment with her partner and child, yet was still living with the secret of domestic violence, and was unsure how to escape. After a year and a half of living in a violent situation, Betzy left her partner. Mary, a certified family development specialist at SCCAA, helped her find an apartment. During this time, Betzy discovered she was pregnant, and chose to leave the Community Action program in order to work on her relationship with her partner.
In early 2008, Betzy called Mary from Texas. She had left Skagit County to care for her ill grandmother and mother in Texas, requesting permission from her partner to do so. He allowed her to go, but first coerced her into writing a letter signifying her abandonment of her children. While in Texas, he took all of their money and the children and moved, leaving her stranded. With Mary’s encouragement and assistance in identifying resources in Texas, Betzy was able to return to Skagit County.
Back in Skagit County, Betzy entered the domestic violence shelter. She worked closely with Mary, who not only helped her with housing issues and locating her partner and children, but referred her to additional programs through SCCAA, including the Volunteer Lawyer Program. They were able to help Betzy receive custody of her children. Betzy worked with the staff of the domestic violence shelter and received her US citizenship. She established work credentials and obtained employment cleaning offices, and found permanent housing.
SCCAA invested approximately $12,748 in rental subsidies and case management, $846 for homeless childcare, and $7,260 in pro-bono legal assistance. The personal investment of a caring Family Development Specialist, coupled with finances and pro-bono legal services moved Betzy on the path to self-sufficiency. The total investment over 4 years was $20,846 or $5,211 annually.

RETURN ON INVESTMENT
Betzy’s annual salary: $17,280
which pays 15% federal tax rate.
(Return to the community: $2,592 annually)
Spendable income of $2,400 pays 8.8% sales tax
(Return to the community: $211 annually)
Value of services no longer in use: $5,211 annually
Total annual return to community: $8,014
Total Annual ROI: 1.5 to 1