Yolo County Children’s Alliance serves needy West Sac families
More than 700 Families served at 16th annual Community Giveaway Day
Over 700 families were served during the Yolo County Children’s Alliance Community Giveaway Day, held Saturday from 8:00 a.m. to noon at Sutter Health Park.
Families received community resources, Thanksgiving Meal Kits, blankets and coats for children, diapers and baby supplies, and the opportunity for all ages 5 plus to receive the COVID-19 vaccination and booster shots. Additionally, 250 families received $100 gift cards for a local grocery store.
“Ahead of the approaching holidays and new year, so many of the families and individuals we serve are facing financial struggles and uncertainty as to what this new year will bring,” stated Executive Director of the Yolo County Children’s Alliance Jeneba Lahai. “When thinking about how many of us are able to celebrate with friends and family and give thanks for the bounty in our lives, we have to remember those who are forced to choose between new coats for their children or a holiday meal for the family.”
The families served by YCCA are a part of Yolo County’s disadvantaged communities and were hit especially hard by the ongoing pandemic. While the effects of the pandemic linger for everyone, many still face very real challenges and have not been able to return to life as usual. Families and children in our most vulnerable communities face food insecurity, financial hardship, and the inability to get back opportunities that were available before the pandemic. YCCA supports these deserving communities throughout the year, but especially during the winter months, the agency collaborates with its dedicated partners to bring a little extra support to those who need it most.
“Throughout the year, we work to gather community support for the agency’s programs, emergency supply pantries, and services. With that support comes resources for the thousands of people YCCA helps each year,” said YCCA Board Chair Francisco Castillo. “During the holiday season, there is no greater priority than engaging our partners and community leaders to empower and support these families.”
The work done by YCCA helps to make a very tangible impact in the lives of those we serve. It is our great privilege to give back to the communities we care about so deeply. Whether it is providing a jacket to help make recess a little more comfortable, helping new parents overwhelmed by a mountain of new responsibilities, or helping to set the Thanksgiving table, even the smallest of gestures can make a difference in the lives of our neighbors.
For the 2021 Community Giveaway Day, the Children’s Alliance was able to engage more partners than ever before, who were able to make an incredible difference for families in West Sacramento. Those partners include Yolo County, the City of West Sacramento and their Police Department, Washington Unified School District,
the Yolo Food Bank, First 5 Yolo, Union Pacific, Western Dental, Pacific Gas & Electric, Yolo Federal Credit Union, Travis Credit Union, Kaiser Permanente, Sutter Health, Waste Management, Project Linus, Broderick Love, the West Sacramento Rotary, St. Vincent De Paul, Mercy Coalition, District 1 County Supervisor Oscar Villegas, District 3 County Supervisor Gary Sandy, Chris Ledesma, and Maria Simas, and the West Sacramento City Council.
With the holidays just beginning, YCCA is looking forward to enthusiastic support from the community for our annual Holiday Toy Distribution event on Dec. 18, 2021, where West Sacramento families can receive non-perishable food, household items, winter supplies, and toys for children.
For more information, families can contact our Family Resource Center at 916-572-0560. To join the community in supporting this event, partners can email katie.durham@yolocounty.org.