Make It Happen for Yolo County, a nonprofit serving at-risk youth ages 18-24, has received a grant of $2,500 from the Save Mart Companies C.A.R.E.S. Foundation to fully furnish five homes for local transition age youth in need, mostly foster youth, moving out on their own for the first time in 2021.
“When foster youth turn 18, California provides a stipend to them until they turn 21 to help pay rent when they move out on their own. However there is no support, financial or otherwise, that assists them with obtaining household goods or furnishing their homes,” said Jan Judson, board president, Make It Happen for Yolo County. “We are grateful to our community and generous partners like Save Mart for ensuring transition age youth in need have the resources to be successful first-time renters.”
Make It Happen for Yolo County works with county social workers to help clients complete a wish list of desired household items, and directly coordinates with clients to select items at the group’s storage units. Thanks to donated furniture from the community, it costs an average of $500 to fully provide for one home, including furnishings and appliances for a bedroom, bathroom, kitchen and living area, as well as cleaning supplies.
Make It Happen for Yolo County is a volunteer-run nonprofit providing transition age youth (ages 18-24), predominantly foster youth, in Yolo County with the furnishings, household goods and resources needed to move into their first apartments. The group receives furniture donations from the community and purchases new appliances and household items to help youth involved with the Yolo County child welfare, mental health and probation divisions, as well as the UC Davis Guardian Scholars program for students who have experienced foster care. Since its founding in 2014, Make It Happen for Yolo County has helped more than 100 Yolo County transition age youth. To make a financial or furniture donation, visit MIHYolo.org.
Save Mart Companies C.A.R.E.S. Foundation supports community, arts, recreation, education and sports. The foundation was created by Save Mart Supermarkets and operates with a separate board of directors maintaining a separate focus on supporting the company’s principle of giving back to the communities it serves. For more information: www.savemart.com/save-mart-companies-cares-foundation.