”
Give a man a fish before you teach him how to fish or he may
starve before he learns.
”
–Duane Alan Hahn
” Give a man a fish before you teach him how to fish or he may starve before he learns.” –Duane Alan Hahn
While the new Famous Dave’s Barbeque Restaurant was being built at Gilroy Crossing Shopping Center, they called around looking for help with storing some ribs in preparation for a couple of preliminary events being held in Gilroy. One of the organizations they contacted happened to be St. Joseph’s Family Center.
The owner of our local Famous Dave’s wrote this letter to SJFC’s new Food Distribution Coordinator Vicky Martin:
“Famous Vicky, Thanks for the kind words and compliments on Famous Dave’s food and Famous Tracy. You were the only one that offered to help us with refrigeration for our ribs out of the over 20 restaurants, halls, and associations I called. Thank you for trying; you were my first friend in Gilroy. I appreciate the offer to partner up in the future … Famous Jeff. P.S. Out of over 300 diners Saturday night, yours was the only e-mail I received to say thank you.”
It is partnering like this with local individuals, businesses, and organizations that makes it possible to continue the charitable work of SJFC. This past year, by contributing to SJFC, you helped serve 65,596 individuals through the food pantry/meal assistance programs of SJFC.
By contributing to SJFC, our community served 14,069 hot meals to homeless individuals and low income families. With your generous support, SJFC served 2,358 hot meals to seniors/older adults living at Wheeler Manor.
Through your generosity, you helped 183 families avoid homelessness by providing rental assistance to acquire permanent housing or to avoid eviction.
“Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach him how to fish and you feed him for a lifetime.” –Lao Tzu
Through your generosity this past year, you also supported the Employment Services Program and its coordinator, Jeff Fishback. This program provides intensive case management to unemployed and underemployed low-income individuals, in order to enhance their demand and value to the workforce, bolstered by additional support services that are intended to help them secure and retain permanent, full-time employment that pays family-sustaining wages.
Fifty-six new clients have been enrolled in the program. Of the 56 new enrollees, 29 have new permanent jobs. Eighteen were placed in training, workshops, and classes. Examples of these include resume writing and interview technique workshops, hospitality and retail industry training, computer and ESL classes, vocational training, and Regional Occupational Program (ROP) classes at Gavilan College.
In addition, 85 other individuals have been helped through services such as resume faxing and emailing, online job search access, transportation assistance (bus tokens, gas cards), and job leads and referrals. SJFC’s Employment Services Job Board lists current employment opportunities in the greater Gilroy area.
Director David Cox has been chosen to participate in the prestigious inaugural Hewlett-Packard/Community Foundation Silicon Valley Non-profit Leadership Initiative. The initiative is designed to enhance the personal and professional development of the diverse leadership in Santa Clara County. Various programs and funding will be made available to Cox and SJFC’s Board for developing organizational goals through the end of July.
It takes the participation of the community at large to keep a non-profit organization like SJFC going, and their upcoming St. Patrick’s fundraiser will be a great example of the Gilroy community coming together to support the work of SJFC, now in its 43rd year.
Currently, SJFC is seeking sponsors, prizes to auction, and donations throughout the community as they prepare for this gala event. Please mark your calendars for the St. Patrick’s Day Dinner on March 18. For more information, contact David Cox at (408)-842-6662.
