February Meeting in San Diego
Posted 1/21/18
Bring Joy to the Hearts of Families in Need
This is your invitation to join us for a casual San Diego GFC Brunch meeting on the first Saturday of February at the Ronald McDonald House.
Marvin Odonez, the corporate and community Philanthropy Assistant will give us an overview of the house and how it serves families with a sick child in the hospital. We will then take a tour of this wonderful home away from home.
After our tour, we will have a chance to update our girlfriends on the new outreach programs we will be getting involved with in 2018. Our San Diego community faces many challenges and we would like your feedback on what touches your heart.
WHO: Girlfriends Care, Guys Care Too, Teens Care, and Guests
WHAT: Girlfriends Care Casual Brunch Meeting. Dress is Saturday Casual!
WHEN: Saturday, February 3, 2018, 10:00 AM – 12:00 Noon
WHERE: Ronald McDonald House, 2929 Children’s Way, San Diego
WHY: Learn how Ronald McDonald House keeps families close to their hospitalized children
HOW: RSVP NOW to RSVPSD@girlfriendscare.org AND let us know if you’d like to bring a brunch dish to share. Be sure to bring a friend or two!
WANT TO HELP? The following items are needed to
(all ages and sizes – NEW ONLY PLEASE)
Socks
Underwear
Shorts
Flip flops
T-shirts
Bring a gift card:
Amazon
Target
Walmart
Posted: January 21, 2018
North County Opportunities
HERE ARE SOME CURRENT OUTREACH PROJECTS IN NORTH COUNTY THAT MAY HAVE YOUR NAME ON THEM! Contact Info@girlfriends.org for more information or to sign up!
New or Upcoming Opportunities
- Help us “Collect a Grand of Food” to Feed the Children! – That’s 1,000 items of nutrition for Got Your Back San Diego to help in the local fight against childhood hunger! GYBSD helps children who are technically homeless through a weekend nutritional program that provides food in backpacks through the local schools! Email Passion2Serve@girlfriendscare.org for a list of drop off locations.
- Boys and Girls Club of Vista – The following opportunities could use some girlfriends love!
- January 25th – Youth of the Year Awards
- Help set up meal and serve- 4:00-7:00
- Photographer – 6:00-9:00
- February 5th – 10th Possible help needed during the day to prepare for Feb 10th event. Schedule flexible.
- February 10th (Saturday) – Texas Hold ‘Em Fundraiser
- Event Set Up 1:00pm – 4:00pm
- Bartenders (beer & wine only)- Bartenders need abc certification. 4:00pm – 10:00pm
- Food Service 4:00pm – 8:00pm
- Registration & Rebuys 4:00pm – 8:00pm
- Floater and Tear Down 8:00pm – 11:30pm
- January 25th – Youth of the Year Awards
- Dinners at Bread of Life – Help feed the homeless and poor by purchasing, preparing, and/or serving food on the 1st Saturday evening of each winter month December through March at Bread of Life. Contact Maureen at Passion2Serve@girlfriendscare.org.
Ongoing Opportunities
- Prayer Pillowcases – Girlfriends are needed to help cut, iron and sew our Prayer Pillowcases in preparation for the distribution of more than 700 pillowcases each year to comfort the homeless and those living in transitional housing in both North County and San Diego. Girlfriends are also needed to lead groups of kids decorating and praying for the receiver. Contact Linda Crawford at pillowcases@girlfriendscare.org for more information and/or to make a project donation.
- GFC Gift Bags for women in need– Supplies are needed to fill GFC Gift Bags. A beautiful gift bag brings a smile to those with very little. Girlfriends Care decorates and puts together gifts bags for women and girls in need, We need new journals, beauty items, jewelry and other “girly” items to fill the bags. Contact Diana Hanes at Diana@girlfriendscare.org if you would like to donate or bring them to a monthly meeting.
- Boys & Girls Club of Vista – For more information on the below opportunities, please contact Theresa at: theresa@girlfriendscare.org or Ellen at ellen@bgcvista.com.
- Love working with kids! Join Weekday afternoons from 3:00-5:00pm: Afterschool Activities with the Kids (requires background check); assistance needed in tutoring, coaching, reading, art, athletics, math, science, computer, music, and on the playground.
- Love kids, but not hands on? Volunteers needed Weekday mornings, afternoons and occasional weekend dates for help with Administration and Special Events.
- Homeless Street Teens and Foster Youth Aging out of the system – Donate non-perishable snacks or socks to be handed out to the homeless teens through YMCA Youth & Family Services. Bring to the next Girlfriends Care meeting or drop off at any of our drop off locations or contact MaryAnn at mgraham@ymca.org.
- Milestone House, Support At-Risk Teen Foster Girls! Milestone House is in need of volunteers who are willing to share their teaching talents in areas needed – such as music, art or cooking. Contact Beverly Boone at Beverly@milestonehouse.org.
- Help Women and Children Rebuilding Their Lives After Domestic Violence or Sexual Assault – The moms and children living in transitional housing at the Women’s Resource Center always need basic household supplies and grocery store gift cards. Drop your donation during regular business hours at their office at 1963 Apple Street, Oceanside 92054 – or bring to a GFC meeting.
- Brother Benno’s– Volunteers are always needed at both the main center and the Thrift Shop. Contact Denise Seymour at denise@artistofyourmind.com. The Thrift shop is in needed of clothing donations. Drop off at the Thrift Shop or contact parsons7016@sbcglobal.net.
- Bread of Life– Serving the homeless in North County. Volunteers are needed for various projects. To find out more go to website bolrescue.org or contact bolrescue@gmail.com. Donations of food and paper products are in need!
- Fill A Belly welcomes families, small groups and individuals to bring, serve and enjoy dinner with guests on Tuesday evenings at Holiday Park in Carlsbad.
- KidzCare– Hands-on kid sized outreach projects for kids age K-8th grade are great teaching tools! Contact Sharon at KidzCare@girlfriendscare.org for more information or to sign up.
- Teens Care for ages 13-19 is designed to provide meaningful volunteer opportunities for youth. Projects can count towards community service hours required by local schools. For more info or to get on the mailing list, contact Ellen at TeensCare@girlfriendscare.org.
- Have a few minutes to pick up and deliver items directly to those we help? Please notify Girlfriends Care at info@girlfriendscare.org that you would like to help when an opportunity comes up!
- Have a talent to share? Contact Carol@girlfriendscare.org to add your name to our list of those willing to teach, sing, play an instrument or share your skill at an upcoming event, senior home, or other organization we serve. (Please indicate name, email address, talent and best times available.)
- “GFC Breakfast Club”: Help feed the poor and homeless at Brother Benno’s on the 3rd Saturday of each month (except December). Arrive at 9:30 AM and finish by Noon! The food, which is supplied and prepared by Brother Benno’s, is served from a cafeteria-type line. If you want to serve, or just to put your name on the Serving Roster to be notified for future months, please let us know at Info@girlfriends.org Ages 17 thru 107 are welcome!
- Amazon-SMILE is a simple and automatic way for you to support Girlfriends Care every time you shop, at no cost to you. When you shop, AmazonSmile donates 0.5% of the price of your eligible purchases to Girlfriends Care. Simply choose AmazonSmile and Girlfriends Care, then place your order as usual. Share this with your friends, relatives, college students ordering their books, etc., so we can “Compound the Caring” for all those we serve! AmazonSmile: You shop. Amazon gives. Another Win-Win-Win!
February Meeting in North County
Updated: January 26, 2018
Come See What We Are All About!
Please join your Girlfriends to kickoff 2018 and to help homeless teens!
Enjoy a free brunch meeting, catch up with your girlfriends and learn more about how we plan to give back to our communities in 2018. There may be new project that touches YOUR heart!
We will hear how YMCA OZ/TAY helps teens in crisis – then we will put together mini laundry kits for them to take back to the drop-in shelter. (The homeless teens often have no way to wash the clothes they have,)
RSVP to RSVPNC@girlfriendscare.org and let us know you’ll come and if you’d like to bring a brunch item to share! This is also a great meeting to bring a friend and introduce them to GFC and what we do!
WHO: Girlfriends Care, Guys Care, Teens Care, and Guests
WHAT: Girlfriends Care Casual Brunch Meeting. Dress is Saturday Casual!
WHEN: 10:00 AM – 12:00 Noon, Saturday, February 10, 2017.
We’ll have you out in time for your weekend errands and your sweetheart celebrations!
WHERE: Get Smart WorkSpaces, 2888 Loker Ave East, Ste 111, Carlsbad, 92010.
WHY: Learn more about OZ/TAY as well as Girlfriends Care’s vision for 2018 and our smorgasbord of volunteer outreach projects from which to choose as you enjoy the company of Girlfriends!
WANT TO HELP? The teens and foster kids aging out of the system are always in need of nonperishable snacks. Bring them to our February meeting. Not in your budget…No problem. Join us for fun and friendship anyway!
Canned meals/non-perishable meals ideas:
Chef-Boy-R-Dee
Soup
Cup-O-Noodles
Tuna
Chili
Baked Beans
Snacks ideas:
Granola bars
Fruit snacks
Bottled water
Volunteers are needed to help oversee the sale of over 500 pieces of home furniture/accessories in Escondido. Part of the proceeds will be donated to our partner JIT to help transition-age foster youth achieve self-sufficiency.
WHERE: 220 N. Quince Street, Escondido
WHEN: Friday, January 26th 12-4pm Auction preview, 4-6 pm Auction
Saturday, January 27th 9am – 5 pm Open Sale
Sunday, January 28th 9am – 1 pm Final Sale if any items remain
There are 2 ways you can help:
- Come help volunteer – RSVP to KathyG@girlfriendscare.org by January 15th and let her know what day and time frame you would like to help.
- Spread the Word – Tell your friends about this special auction/sale and help increase sales.
From the JIT website:
Over 500 items of household furniture and accessories donated by the Scripps family will be sold at an estate sale to benefit foster youth and homeless families. The sale will take place at a 10,000 square foot warehouse at 220 N. Quince Street, Escondido, starting with a preview from 12-4 pm on Friday January 26th, followed by an auction 4-6 pm, and then an open sale on Saturday from 9am to 5 pm. If there are any remaining items, the sale will continue on Sunday, January 27 th from 9 am – 1 pm. The public is invited to purchase quality furnishings at a great price and help meet one of San Diego’s most pressing needs.
Click here to view the News 8 report on this donation.
Posted 12/20/2017
Help us “Collect a Grand of Food” to Feed the Children!
That’s 1,000 items of nutrition for Got Your Back San Diego to help in the local fight against childhood hunger! Can we do it?
You might organize a family project, or include your school, church, neighbors or work group in this project to feed the children!
GYBSD helps children who are technically homeless through a weekend nutritional program that provides food in backpacks through the local schools!
THEY NEED DONATIONS OF FOOD! THEIR GREATEST NEED IS FOR PROTEIN ITEMS! Soup with meat. Chili with meat. Ravioli with meat. Canned chicken, beef, or tuna. Light weight packaging or pouches appreciated when available; please no glass containers.
Chunky soups
Canned pasta/protein meals
Canned meats (tuna, chicken, spam)
Canned beans (pinto, black, refried)
Dry or canned evaporated milk
Protein bars
Peanut Butter/Jelly in plastic container
Dried fruits and individually wrapped cracker snacks
Individual servings of cereal and oatmeal
Click here for a flyer to use for your own drive.
DELIVER TO ANY DROP SITE DURING THE MONTH OF JANUARY! Tax deductible receipt available upon request. To find a drop-off location nearest you or to be a drop-off location, please contact us at info@girlfriendscare.org.
Posted: December 20, 2017
North County Opportunities
HERE ARE SOME CURRENT OUTREACH PROJECTS IN NORTH COUNTY THAT MAY HAVE YOUR NAME ON THEM! Contact Info@girlfriends.org for more information or to sign up!
New or Upcoming Opportunities
- Help us “Collect a Grand of Food” to Feed the Children! – That’s 1,000 items of nutrition for Got Your Back San Diego to help in the local fight against childhood hunger! GYBSD helps children who are technically homeless through a weekend nutritional program that provides food in backpacks through the local schools! Email Passion2Serve@girlfriendscare.org for a list of drop off locations.
- Dinners at Bread of Life – Help feed the homeless and poor by purchasing, preparing, and/or serving food on the 1st Saturday evening of each winter month December through March at Bread of Life. Contact Maureen at Passion2Serve@girlfriendscare.org.
Ongoing Opportunities
- Prayer Pillowcases – Girlfriends are needed to help cut, iron and sew our Prayer Pillowcases in preparation for the distribution of more than 700 pillowcases each year to comfort the homeless and those living in transitional housing in both North County and San Diego. Girlfriends are also needed to lead groups of kids decorating and praying for the receiver. Contact Linda Crawford at pillowcases@girlfriendscare.org for more information and/or to make a project donation.
- GFC Gift Bags for women in need– Supplies are needed to fill GFC Gift Bags. A beautiful gift bag brings a smile to those with very little. Girlfriends Care decorates and puts together gifts bags for women and girls in need, We need new journals, beauty items, jewelry and other “girly” items to fill the bags. Contact Diana Hanes at Diana@girlfriendscare.org if you would like to donate or bring them to a monthly meeting.
- Boys & Girls Club of Vista – For more information on the below opportunities, please contact Theresa at: theresa@girlfriendscare.org or Ellen at ellen@bgcvista.com.
- Love working with kids! Join Weekday afternoons from 3:00-5:00pm: Afterschool Activities with the Kids (requires background check); assistance needed in tutoring, coaching, reading, art, athletics, math, science, computer, music, and on the playground.
- Love kids, but not hands on? Volunteers needed Weekday mornings, afternoons and occasional weekend dates for help with Administration and Special Events.
- Don’t have time to Volunteer but interested in donating needed items?
- Homeless Street Teens and Foster Youth Aging out of the system – Donate non-perishable snacks or socks to be handed out to the homeless teens through YMCA Youth & Family Services. Bring to the next Girlfriends Care meeting or drop off at any of our drop off locations or contact MaryAnn at mgraham@ymca.org.
- Milestone House, Support At-Risk Teen Foster Girls! Milestone House is in need of volunteers who are willing to share their teaching talents in areas needed – such as music, art or cooking. Contact Beverly Boone at Beverly@milestonehouse.org.
- Help Women and Children Rebuilding Their Lives After Domestic Violence or Sexual Assault – The moms and children living in transitional housing at the Women’s Resource Center always need basic household supplies and grocery store gift cards. Drop your donation during regular business hours at their office at 1963 Apple Street, Oceanside 92054 – or bring to a GFC meeting.
- Brother Benno’s– Volunteers are always needed at both the main center and the Thrift Shop. Contact Denise Seymour at denise@artistofyourmind.com. The Thrift shop is in needed of clothing donations. Drop off at the Thrift Shop or contact parsons7016@sbcglobal.net.
- Bread of Life– Serving the homeless in North County. Volunteers are needed for various projects. To find out more go to website bolrescue.org or contact bolrescue@gmail.com. Donations of food and paper products are in need!
- Fill A Belly welcomes families, small groups and individuals to bring, serve and enjoy dinner with guests on Tuesday evenings at Holiday Park in Carlsbad.
- KidzCare– Hands-on kid sized outreach projects for kids age K-8th grade are great teaching tools! Contact Sharon at KidzCare@girlfriendscare.org for more information or to sign up.
- Teens Care for ages 13-19 is designed to provide meaningful volunteer opportunities for youth. Projects can count towards community service hours required by local schools. For more info or to get on the mailing list, contact Ellen at TeensCare@girlfriendscare.org.
- Have a few minutes to pick up and deliver items directly to those we help? Please notify Girlfriends Care at info@girlfriendscare.org that you would like to help when an opportunity comes up!
- Have a talent to share? Contact Carol@girlfriendscare.org to add your name to our list of those willing to teach, sing, play an instrument or share your skill at an upcoming event, senior home, or other organization we serve. (Please indicate name, email address, talent and best times available.)
- “GFC Breakfast Club”: Help feed the poor and homeless at Brother Benno’s on the 3rd Saturday of each month (except December). Arrive at 9:30 AM and finish by Noon! The food, which is supplied and prepared by Brother Benno’s, is served from a cafeteria-type line. If you want to serve, or just to put your name on the Serving Roster to be notified for future months, please let us know at Info@girlfriends.org Ages 17 thru 107 are welcome!
- Amazon-SMILE is a simple and automatic way for you to support Girlfriends Care every time you shop, at no cost to you. When you shop, AmazonSmile donates 0.5% of the price of your eligible purchases to Girlfriends Care. Simply choose AmazonSmile and Girlfriends Care, then place your order as usual. Share this with your friends, relatives, college students ordering their books, etc., so we can “Compound the Caring” for all those we serve! AmazonSmile: You shop. Amazon gives. Another Win-Win-Win!
Help us provide holiday joy and warmth to homeless children!
This is your invitation to join us for a casual San Diego GFC Brunch meeting on the first Saturday of December at Panera in Mira Mesa. We are collecting items for children (ages 5-18) at Monarch School.
Monarch School is a unique public K-12 school in San Diego which is exclusively for students who are homeless, at risk of being homeless, or impacted by homelessness.
WHO: Girlfriends Care, Guys Care Too, Teens Care, and Guests
WHAT: Girlfriends Care Casual Brunch Meeting. Dress is Saturday Casual!
WHEN: Saturday, December 2, 2017, 10:00 – 11:30 AM
WHERE: Panera Mira Mesa, 10751 Westview Parkway, San Diego, CA 92126
WHY: Help keep homeless children warm this winter and provide holiday cheer to them and their families.
HOW: RSVP NOW to RSVPSD@girlfriendscare.org. Be sure to bring a friend or two!
WANT TO HELP?
Bring any of the items listed below:
Warm hooded sweatshirts
New socks and shoes
$25 Target gift cards
Full-size toiletries
Tax-deductible receipts available upon request!
San Diego County Opportunities
HERE ARE SOME CURRENT OUTREACH PROJECTS IN NORTH COUNTY THAT MAY HAVE YOUR NAME ON THEM! Contact Info@girlfriends.org for more information or to sign up!
- Monarch Schools – We are collecting $25 gift card to Target and warm hooded sweatshirts for Monarch School. Monarch Schools provides a safe, caring environment for learning for children facing homelessness in San Diego. If you can bring your donation to the December meeting or contact Kathy at kathy@girlfriendscare.org to schedule a pickup/drop-off.
- Just in Time for Foster Youth – Help transitioning foster youth at Just in Time, who lack family support, turn their empty apartments into safe and comfortable homes with gift cards valued from $5 to $50 to Walmart, Target, or similar. Drop them off at Just in Time with Nathan – 619-677-2119 or contact Kathy at kathy@girlfriendscare.org.
- Ronald McDonald House – We are collecting paints, books, art supplies, puzzles, travel sized board games and card games for children 4-8 years old who are going through treatment at Rady Children’s Hospital as well as their siblings. You can bring these items to any GFC meeting or make a donation for this project through Girlfriends Care, P.O. Box 1820, Carlsbad, CA 92018. Tax deductible receipts upon request!
- San Diego Food Bank – Participate in the Food Bank’s Holiday Food Drive and help feed those who will face food insecurity this holiday season. Donate a $5 Pre-filled Hunger Bag at Vons, donate money or food online, or host a community Food Drive. Follow this link or more details.
- Amazon-SMILE is a simple and automatic way for you to support Girlfriends Care every time you shop, at no cost to you. When you shop, AmazonSmile donates 0.5% of the price of your eligible purchases to Girlfriends Care. Simply choose AmazonSmile and Girlfriends Care, then place your order as usual. Share this with your friends, relatives, college students ordering their books, etc., so we can “Compound the Caring” for all those we serve! AmazonSmile: You shop. Amazon gives. Another Win-Win-Win!
- Buy unique gifts and support Girlfriends Care. viaONEHOPE has partnered with Girlfriends Care to provide special pricing on their wine by the half case or full case just in time for Christmas shopping! They also have many gift box options, including some non-alcoholic options, to make your gift a little extra special. 10% of all purchases from case, half case, and gift boxes $49+ will be donated back to Girlfriends Care. For more details, visit Girlfriends Care’s special ordering page at http://www.morethanabottle.com/girlfriendscare .
Posted 11/11/2017
“GOT SOCKS!”
Help us “sock it to the wet and cold”
with New Socks for the Homeless!
The homeless spend a lot of time on their feet and don’t always have access to washing machines! Wearing dirty and damp socks can lead to athlete’s foot and contribute to other health issues. Clean, fresh socks provide comfort and contribute to good health.
We’re collecting New Socks, all sizes and styles are welcome. White men’s athletic socks are the most needed.
Campaign starts November 1st and ends Monday, November 27th! Do you think we can collect a GRAND of Socks for the Homeless? Let’s keep track of the number of pairs collected and see how much caring we can share with the homeless through our non-profit partners Brother Benno’s, Bread of Life, OZ Teen Street Outreach, Fill-A-Belly, LaPasada, and Interfaith Services.
If you want to “Compound the Caring“, how about sharing this message and start your own sub-campaign? Ask your friends, co-workers, neighbors, school class, church, bunko group, sorority or others to join you in collecting. Feel free to set up a collection box and use this flyer to advertise. Teamwork always increases the output! This is a favorite campaign for KidzCare and Teens Care!
Posted 11/11/2017
The Boys & Girls Club of Vista has a Christmas outreach opportunity for you! We are inviting you to sponsor a deserving family. Eligible low-income families are currently applying for our “Adopt a Family” program. Your sponsorship will provide gifts for family members and the non-perishable makings of a holiday meal. Delivery will be on or before December 14, 2018 unless otherwise arranged with your family. Girlfriends and friends interested in “adopting” a family for the Holiday may request a sponsorship application from Ellen Clark at ellen@bgcvista.com.
