Calaveras Community Foundation delivers for Sierra HOPE’S housing, food programs

A $6,000 grant from the Calaveras Community Foundation (CCF) will ensure stable continuation of Sierra HOPE’S important Food Pantry program.

The Sierra HOPE Community Food Pantry project is intended to continue the pantry services without interruption despite the rise in cost of food. Many visitors to the pantry must choose every month whether to buy medications, pay the electric bill, or buy enough food to feed their families and themselves every day.

With Sierra HOPE’S ongoing Heroes Fighting Hunger program, this additional $6,000 CCF grant will allow Sierra HOPE to provide uninterrupted expanded services to the 25plus families that require assistance each week, along with the growing number of seniors and disabled guests.

When possible, volunteers make deliveries for those who are homebound.

“It is a combination of generous community funders like the Calaveras Community Foundation and our committed private donors who participate in our Heroes Fighting Hunger program that allow us to do more and meet a growing need,” Jerry Cadotte, Sierra HOPE executive director, said. “With inflation and gas prices at their highest in years, this grant will play a crucial role in our ability to provide uninterrupted services to whomever may need it.”

Last year, Sierra HOPE received a $10,000 grant from the CCF to replace worn and outdated appliances at their transitional housing program, HOPE House. Supply chain issues had delayed completion of this project, but it is now in the final phase.

Thanks to the generous grant from CCF, HOPE House was able to install a new commercial refrigerator, a separate freezer, a heavy-duty washer and dryer, and replace an outdated range top. All that remains is for a contractor to install a new range hood with proper venting and electrical connections.

Navigating life’s daily needs at HOPE House include food storage in a shared environment and laundry.

“Hope House is shared by up to four families and a resident caretaker, so large capacity appliances that can stand up to heavy use will better accommodate the individual needs of residents,” Cadotte said. “I’m not sure our residents will like doing laundry more than before, but we couldn’t be more thrilled with this support which will translate directly into improved well-being of our HOPE House residents and wider community members.”

Sierra HOPE, originally founded in 1989 as the Sierra AIDS Council, now provides a wide range of services to the residents of Calaveras, Tuolumne and Amador counties.

Headquartered in Angels Camp, Sierra HOPE’S mission is to promote individual dignity and support the health and well-being for at-risk members of our community through compassionate services and resources.

The organization operates several programs to help area residents meet basic needs for food and housing, including a weekly food pantry, transitional housing for families with children, permanent supportive housing for people with disabilities, and assistance with rents and deposits to help people move from housing insecurity to permanent housing.

Sierra HOPE’S HIV/AIDS program helps people who are living with HIV access appropriate care and services to manage this chronic disease and prevent new infections. These services are now available in six rural central Sierra counties: Amador, Calaveras, Tuolumne, Alpine, Mono and Inyo counties.

To learn more about Sierra Hope or inquire about services, go to www. sierrahope.org or call (209) 736-6792.

The Calaveras Community Foundation is a nonprofit corporation that is dedicated to improving Calaveras communities by providing grants to partner organizations, assisting donors and providing leadership in addressing charitable causes.

More information about the Foundation is available at www.calaverascommunityfoundation.org or by calling (209) 736-1945.