Save Mart Doubles Donation to Make It Happen for Yolo County

Posted on by kthebaud

Make It Happen for Yolo County has received a grant of $5,000 from the Save Mart Companies C.A.R.E.S. Foundation to fully furnish homes for local transition age youth in need, mostly foster youth, moving out on their own for the first time in 2022. The gift is double the amount the nonprofit received last year.

“We are honored that Save Mart sees such value in Yolo County’s transition age youth that they chose to double their donation to us this year,” said Jan Judson, board president, Make It Happen for Yolo County. “Save Mart has become a steadfast partner in our work to ensure local transition age youth have what they need to create their homes and be successful first-time renters.”

Make It Happen for Yolo County works with clients to complete a wish list of desired household items and then select items at the group’s storage units. Thanks to donated furniture from the community, it costs an average of $650 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 served 160 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.

Women’s Empowerment Receives $25K from Save Mart

Posted on by kthebaud

Women’s Empowerment recently received a $25,000 grant from Save Mart Companies C.A.R.E.S. Foundation to support the nonprofit’s programs that educate and empower women experiencing homelessness with the skills and confidence necessary to secure a job, create a healthy lifestyle, and regain a home for themselves and their children. The foundation has supported Women’s Empowerment since 2010.

“Steadfast funding is the only way we are able to continue empowering women to rise from homelessness so they can support themselves and their children, especially during a pandemic and housing crisis,” said Lisa Culp, executive director, Women’s Empowerment. “The Save Mart Companies C.A.R.E.S. Foundation is one of our most loyal funders, and we are grateful that each year they recognize the important work we do and deem it worthy of funding.”

The grant from The Save Mart Companies C.A.R.E.S. Foundation will support Women’s Empowerment’s work to help women experiencing homelessness find and maintain housing and jobs, including providing them with job-readiness classes, one-on-one support with a staff social worker and employment specialist, support groups, legal services, financial literacy, childcare and child developmental assessments, health services and referrals to providers, transportation assistance, paid job training and more.

“When women have control over their income and livelihood, the effect on their families and communities is truly transformational,” said Nicole Pesco, board member, The Save Mart Companies C.A.R.E.S. Foundation. “The Save Mart Companies C.A.R.E.S Foundation is proud to help provide women with meaningful participation at all levels of economic decision making and a quality standard of living for themselves and their families.”

Celebrating its 20th anniversary this year, Women’s Empowerment provides a nine-week employment-readiness and empowerment program, paid job training, childcare and support services so all women and their children can break the cycle of homelessness. Women’s Empowerment offers the most comprehensive job-readiness program in the Sacramento area designed specifically for women experiencing homelessness, and their children. Eighty-two percent of the graduates secure a job or enroll in school. Despite the housing crisis, 75 percent regain a safe home for themselves and their children. The award-winning organization has graduated 1,734 women and their 3,859 children. Women’s Empowerment is funded through private donations from the community and grants. To make a donation, visit Womens-Empowerment.org.

The 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: TheSaveMartCompanies.com/Cares.