Tag Archives: Neighbors helping neighbors

Come Together

By Richard Johnson

Even a decade ago our neighborhood was quite different.  Our community was a neighborhood in transition. We had a long history of being neglected by city hall, were ground zero for drug dealers, prostitutes, crime and violence.  Safety concerns forced many residents to seek refuge in their homes.  This caused isolation and led to a fragmented community. A wave of newcomers seeking affordable rents relocated to the Western Addition and compounded the negative effects of previous gentrification.  Rent prices spiked forcing more neighbors out.  Fear and discontent bubbled up and grew.

In a move to build community, Hayes Valley Neighborhood Association (HVNA), under the leadership of Patricia Walkup, assumed the first role of community builder in Hayes Valley in the early nineties.  Patricia’s success in outreaching to key community stakeholders convinced many to join HVNA as partners to advocate for a safe community.  A simple vision based on safety laid the early groundwork for the resiliency of present day Hayes Valley.  Along the way we came to realize addiction, redevelopment, broken homes, few supportive services, low or no education and the need to earn a living are the prime causes that drive the cycle of crime and violence.  To reverse this cycle, HVNA partnered with Safety Network to co-found Hayes Valley Community Partners (HVCP) in 2002.  HVCP initial goal was to reach out to key community stakeholders and convince them to become founding partners in a collaboration whose number one priority was to reverse and break the cycle of crime and violence rampant throughout the Western Addition.  We choose the simple mission to foster a safe and caring community as our founding principal.  The belief in a just and equitable society, where everyone is given the opportunity to access ample resources to achieve their greatest potential, motivates us to advocate for the betterment of all segments of our community.  Since our inception we have added new partners, expanded our area of advocacy to include Lower Haight/Hayes Valley/Western Addition and changed our name, in 2007, to Community Partners United (CPU).

CPU hosts community gatherings, throughout the year, to bolster our neighborhood connections.  Since our first season, we still rely on food, entertainment and conversation to bring community together.  Positive interaction among diverse communities helps to breakdown barriers, reduce turf wars, create new friendships and to bridge the intergenerational gap between youth and seniors.  Each year, for the last nine years, we end each year with our “Fostering a Safe and Caring Holiday Season”, which now goes from Halloween to late December.  We gather to celebrate community while supporting one another and help to reduce the stress and strain associated with the holidays.

In keeping with our tradition of community building, I extend an invitation to all to attend and participate in our 10th Annual Fostering a Safe and Caring Holiday Season 2011.  What could be more important during these uncertain times than to come together and support each other?

You and your family are cordially invited to attend the following events;

Thanksgiving Dinner: Saturday, November 19th

Giving Voice to the Season “Music in Patricia’s Green and Community Mixer”: Friday, December 2nd 

Hayes Valley Merchants Block Party: Friday, December 2nd

Wreath and Card Making Event: Saturday, December 10th

Food Give Away to over 250 families: December 15th and 16th  

Community Luncheon: Saturday, December 17th

Community Partners United provides free food, fun, entertainment and venue.  All you have to do is show up and have a great time.  Please refer to the back page of the Voice to see the calendar for times and location of all scheduled functions.  I look forward to seeing you at one of the upcoming community events!

Follow Those Greens!

By Booka Alon and Project Open Hand

Our number one question at the farm is, “where does your food go?” We are proud to share this story by Project Open Hand, that gives a little insight about the distribution of what we are growing at Hayes Valley Farm.

Project Open Hand is a local non-profit organization providing nutritional support to people living with HIV, serious illness and the elderly. Our goal at POH is to feed the body, mind and soul, through healthy meals, groceries and nutritional information, all delivered with love by our dedicated staff and volunteers. Project Open Hand is a huge fan of the Hayes Valley Farm. We are not only inspired by the urban organic and sustainable permaculture but incredibly grateful for the 25-pound donation of delicious produce that is collected from the farm each week to help support our Breast Cancer program. We strive to provide every client with the most nutritious & quality products, for which Hayes Valley Farm is among the most excellent of sources!

Project Open Hand started receiving produce from the farm in April, 2011, and it has quickly become a weekly favorite among our clients. When the delivery from Hayes Valley Farm is received, opening each produce box feels like uncovering hidden treasure! The produce is an array of varying delights: arugula flowers, different squashes, campari tomatoes, russian kale – you name it. No matter how varied the harvest may be, every single item is guaranteed to be delicious. Our staff and volunteers bag a medley of the fruit and vegetables in individual portions where it is then offered in our Grocery Center. The Grocery Center is a program developed for our clients to select from a menu of choices from each food group consisting of produce, proteins, dairy, grains, legumes and beverages. The selected items in a grocery bag at POH total 1/3 of one’s nutritional requirements for the week. Good nutrition can help an individual stay stronger and lead a healthier life and farm-fresh produce, free of chemicals and grown with love, is excellent nourishment.

Extra Help this Holiday Season

HOLIDAY RESOURCES 2011

CITY TEAM MINISTRIES

164 – 6th St/Mission St
S F, CA 94103
(415) 861-8688 Main Mon-Fri, 8:30-5
(415) 861-8687 Fax
Mon-Fri, 8:30-5
Walk in
-Thanksgiving meal to anyone in need on Thanksgiving Day. Registration begins at 1pm and dinner starts at 2 to 5pm. Also offers Christmas meals on Christmas Day. Registration begins at 11am, and meals are served from 12-3pm.
Mon-Fri, 8:30-5 (Office); Tues-Fri, 6:00pm, Sat, 5:30pm (Dinner);
Sat, 12pm-3pm (Clinic)
MUNI – 14 Mission, 27 Bryant, Market St lines. BART – Powell St Station.

FILL UP AMERICA

1080 Folsom St/7th st
One Taste Urban Retreat Center
S F, CA 94103
(510) 689-6384 Main

http://www.fillupamerica.org

Service hours:Mon-Fri, 8:30-10
Intake procedure:Toy – apply by phone. Holiday meals – walk in
-Thanksgiving and Christmas meals to anyone in need on Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day from 12p-3p.
Gifts/Toys,
MUNI – 12 Folsom, 14 Mission, 30 Stockton, 45 Union Stockton, 75 Van Ness

FREE THE NEED

21st or 25th St./ Treat Ave
Jose Coronado Playground
S F, CA 94110
(415) 587-6685 Main Hours vary

http://www.freetheneed.org

Fri, 11-1:30
Walk in on distribution days
Additional language Spanish
-Thanksgiving food basket to anyone in need on November 18th, 2011 from 12 noon-1.
No intake application is necessary.
Baskets are distributed on a first come, first served basis until all baskets are gone.
Baskets are distributed at:25th St. and Treat Ave.
Call for date and time for Christmas Baskets.
Fri, 11-1:30
MUNI: 12 Folsom, 27 Bryant, 48 Quintara,
67 Bernal Heights; BART: 24th St Station

GLIDE MEMORIAL UNITED METHODIST CHURCH GLIDE FOUNDATION

330 Ellis St/Taylor st
S F, CA 94102
(415) 674-6000 Main Mon-Fri, 9-5
(415) 674-6032 Rent Assistance Intake Mon-Fri, 10-5
(415) 674-6033 Shelter Reservation Daily, 7am-11am
(415) 885-8512 Fax

http://www.glide.org

Mon-Fri, 9-5
Walk in
-Thanksgiving and Christmas meals
Thanksgiving is served on 11/24/2011, 7am – 8:30am Breakfast,
9am – 2pm Dinner. Christmas meals are served on 12/25/2011, 7am – 8:30am Breakfast, 9am – 2pm Dinner, and Prime Rib Luncheon on 12/24/2011 from 11-2pm
Offers- a Christmas Grocery Bag Giveaway on 12/16/2011 from 7:30am-12:30pm. There will be a line.
Each bag contains fresh poultry, potatoes, bread, pasta, pasta sauce, rice, beans, and vegetables. There is no sign up, but quality is limited. This is a first come first served.

Toys are distributed to any child in need (age 12 and under) the week before the holiday in a first come first-served basis. All children are welcome, but parents must accompany children in order to receive a toy.
Toy distribution on December 20th, 2011, from 9-11am.

Anyone with a special need (frail elderly, people with disabilities) will be assisted at the head of the line. Toy distribution – All children (age birth-12) welcomed, child must be accompanied by a parent
Services:Christmas Baskets, Christmas MealsSite hours:Monday-Friday, 9-5; Mon-Thurs, 10-5 (HIV testing)
MUNI – Market St lines, 27 Bryant. BART – Powell St Station

HOMELESS PRENATAL PROGRAM

2500 – 18th St/Potrero Ave
S F, CA 94110
(415) 546-6756 Main
(415) 546-6778 Fax

http://www.homelessprenatal.org

Hours:New Client Intake: Mon, Tues, Wed, Thurs, 9-5
Intake procedure:Apply by phone for an intake assessment
Additional language Spanish
Thanksgiving baskets to their clients, and also takes new clients during the holidays so they can get enrolled. Also offers an early Christmas dinner. Call for location and time. Gifts will be given out at the dinner.
Eligibility:Family has child(ren) age 17 or under and a social security card
Services:Christmas Meals for Families, Thanksgiving Baskets for Families
Mon-Fri, 9-5; (Closed 1st Fri of each month);
New Client Intake: Mon, Wed, Thurs, 9-11; Mon, Tues, Wed, 1-3
MUNI – 8 San Bruno, 33 Stanyan. BART – 16th St Mission Station

LARKIN STREET YOUTH SERVICES

Programs and services specifically for the holiday season
701 Sutter St /Larkin st
SF, CA 94109
(415) 673-0911 Main Mon-Fri, 9-5
(800) 447-8223 TTY Lark Inn-Emergency Shelter for Overage Youth
(800) 669-6196 Information and Referral 24 hours daily
(415) 749-3838 Fax

http://www.larkinstreetyouth.org

Mon-Fri, 9-4
Additional language :Spanish
Walk in
Provides a holiday lunch for homeless and runaway street youth (ages 12-24) at
1142 Sutter St (cross st Larkin St), 12 noon-3 on Thanksgiving Day.
Gives out clothing, Muni tokens, Laundry money and to-go lunches.
Mon-Fri, 9-5
MUNI – 2 Clement, 3 Jackson, 19 Polk, 47 Van Ness, 49 Van Ness/Mission

MISSIONARIES OF CHARITY QUEEN OF PEACE SHELTER

55 Sadowa St/San Jose Ave
S F, CA 94112
(415) 586-3449
Mon-Fri, 8-12 and 3-6
Walk in
-Meal to anyone who comes on Thanksgiving Day from 2:30-4:30 at 3215 Cesar chavez St
MUNI – 15 Third, 24 Divisadero, 54 Felton, M Oceanview

POTRERO HILL NEIGHBORHOOD HOUSE

953 De Haro St/Southern Height Ave
S F, CA 94107
(415) 826-8080 Main
(415) 826-5252 Fax
Mon-Fri, 9-5
Walk in
-Christmas meal for anyone who comes on 12/21/2011 from 11-1. Also gives out toys Families with child(ren) age 13 or younger. Toys will be distributed on 12/22/2011 from 10-12. The child must also show up with a parent to receive toys.
Eligibility:None for meals; Toys – Low income family with child(ren) (age 13 or under)
Meals, Holiday Gifts/Toys for Low Income and Families
Monday-Friday, 9-5 (Office); Monday- Friday, 8:30pm-10pm (Programs)
MUNI – 19 Polk

SAN FRANCISCO RESCUE MISSION

230 Jones St
S F, CA 94102
(415) 292-1770 Main Mon-Fri, 10-5
(415) 292-1771 Fax

http://www.sf911.com

Mon-Fri, 10-5 (Office); Mon-Fri, 10-12pm (Brunch); 4-5pm (Dinner)
Intake procedure:Thanksgiving and Christmas meals – walk in;
Toys – apply by phone 415-738-2536
Additional languages:Chinese (Cantonese, Mandarin); Spanish
Thanksgiving and Christmas meals to anyone on Nov/12 and Dec/10 from 9-2 and also on Thanksgiving and Christmas Day from 9-2. Offers Christmas toys to children age 17 or under.
Mon-Fri, 10-5 (Office); Mon-Fri, 1-4 (Pantry); Mon-Fri, 10-12pm (Brunch); 4-5pm (Dinner)
MUNI – 27 Bryant, 31 Balboa

ST. ANTHONY DINING ROOM

45 Jones St/Golden Gate Ave
SF, CA 94102
(415) 241-2600 Main

http://www.stanthonysf.org

Hours:General Program: Mon-Fri, 9a-5p
Walk in
-Thanksgiving and Christmas Day from 10:15am to 1:35pm for seniors 60 and older, people with disabilities, and families with children.
All other guests are served starting at 11:30 am.
Mon-Fri, 8:30a-5p

TENDERLOIN TASTY

1187 Franklin St/Geary Blvd;enter from Starr King Way
SF, CA 94109
(415) 584-3252 Main
Walk in
Thanksgiving and Christmas meals for anyone on
Thanksgiving and Christmas Day from 1pm-4pm at
FIRST UNITARIAN CHURCH at 1187 Franklin St

RAPHAEL HOUSE

Provides emergency shelter and case management for families, single parents with children and pregnant women in last month of pregnancy
1065 Sutter St
SF, CA 94109
(415) 474-4621 Main
(415) 474-7020 Fax

http://www.raphaelhouse.org

Fees:Program fees paid on a monthly basis which is 30% of monthly income, 50% after expenses into savings. No one denied service due to inability to pay
Service hours:Mon-Fri, 8-6
Intake procedure:Apply by phone for an appointment with a Case Manager
Additional language :Spanish
Payment source:Cash
-Offers a number of services and resources to our families, one of which is shelter. Parents are responsible for completing action plans that are jointly developed in weekly case management meetings which focus on both short-term and long-term family goals.
-Provides Work Force Development Workshops, ESL tutoring, parenting classes, financial literacy seminars and mental health services to both Residential and Aftercare clients.
-Average length of stay is 6 months, this time limit is on a case-by-case basis.
-We provide services to single parent and two-parent families with children. Pregnant women are eligible in their last month of pregnancy.
-Our goal is to break the cycle of homelessness and provide families with skills and resources that they can apply to achieve independence.
-This is not an emergency shelter or safe house.
Wait for application:No waiting list maintained, must apply phone daily for availability of services
No wait if space is available. Apply by phone daily for availability
Eligibility:Single parent (man or woman with children), two-parent family with children, or pregnant woman in last month of pregnancy
Services:Clothing, , Homeless Shelter for Families with Children, Toy/Game
Mon-Sun, 8-6
MUNI – 2 Clement, 3 Jackson, 19 Polk, 47 Van Ness, 49 Van Ness/Mission

Community Thanksgiving Dinner

8th Annual Giving Voice to the Season

Thanksgiving Dinner

Saturday November 19, 2011

Noon until 3:00pm

John Muir Elementary Auditorium

380 Webster St @ Oak

Please join us for a celebration of community with

Food & Entertainment and a 30 Turkey raffle!

Fostering a Safe and Caring Community

Holiday Season 2011

Additional Information contact:

Marco at email: mdiaz@ymcasf.org or Phone: 749-2715

Sponsored by Western Addition Beacon Center, Community Partners United, Mo Magic and Supervisor Ross Mirkarimi



CommunityGrows November workday

 

CommunityGrows is an environmental education non-profit serving high-needs youth, especially those living in public housing in San Francisco. Through CommunityGrows, youth acquire the necessary skills to live a healthy life through garden education, nutritious cooking and eating, and green jobs training. We are based in the Western Addition and partner with two elementary schools and numerous youth-serving organizations to meet our mission.

CommunityGrows is a Project of the TIDES Center
Checks can be made out to TIDES/CommunityGrows
and mailed to Office Mailing Address below.

Contact Us:

Nora Brereton, Programs Manager
nora@communitygrows.org (415) 424-5770

Barbara Wenger, Executive Director
info@communitygrows.org (415) 431-8112

CommunityGrows Office Mailing Address:
c/o B. Wenger
300 Page St.
San Francisco, CA 94102

Garden Office:
John Muir Elementary School, Rm 6
380 Webster St.
San Francisco, California 94117

Visit the Koshland Park Community Learning Garden:
(in the lower eastern part of Koshland Park)
Corner of Page and Buchanan, San Francisco, CA 94102
map to the garden
www.communitygrows.org

October 27th General Meeting

Come join the Hayes Valley Neighborhood Association for our general meeting. This Thursday at the Korean American Center at 745 Buchanan Street between Grove and Hayes.

7:00 PM – 8:30 PM
MEETING TOPICS:
• HOLIDAY FOSTERING SEASON
• HISTORIC PRESERVATION IN HAYES VALLEY
• SAFETY COMMITTEE COMMUNITY UPDATE

Come find out about some great volunteer opportunities for the Holiday Season.

What We Take For Granted

If you are reading this, you have a computer or web enabled device, access to the Internet, and the skills to know how to use them. Have you ever thought about what your life would be like without any of these skills and resources?

The people that Community Technology Network (CTN) serves know first hand how difficult life is without the skills and resources of our wired society.

CTN trains hundreds of volunteers to go out into our communities to provide hands-on computer and Internet instruction for our under-educated and ever growing low-income and marginalized Bay Area neighbors. Our volunteers engage learners in a small class setting that allows for one-on-one individualized assistance – the kind of attention that adult learners benefit the most from. Our volunteer’s change lives!

Each CTN volunteer has an assortment of amazing stories about a learner who now has computer skills, online access and the confidence to find online health resources, state or federal assistance, long lost family members, and can benefit from the amazing online resources we use every day.

Arielle is one of our volunteers that works at the Tenderloin Tech Lab, in the heart of the notorious Tenderloin district of San Francisco, here is one of her stories.

“During my Introduction to Facebook class, I worked with a middle-aged man through the entire process. I guided him through each profile page and brainstormed about what might be appropriate to include or exclude. I also helped him set-up the privacy settings that he felt most comfortable with. He had recently quit smoking and was inspired to share his success with the hope that it would encourage others to quit.

He was so appreciative of my advice – he said that no one had ever explained it to him in a way that made sense.

It was a moving experience to know that I could help someone reconnect with friends and family, locate professional groups and local resources – and all he really needed was some direction and basic computing skills to help him achieve his goals. I found that working with CTN learners has helped me gain profound insight into the obstacles people face in our modern world – obstacles that we take for granted.”
Don’t take your skills and resources for granted by making a gift to CTN. Your gift helps us recruit, train and support volunteers like Arielle. Your gift to CTN makes a real difference in the lives of so many. Click here  to join us in our efforts.

Kami Griiffiths
Community Technology Network
Executive Director

SF Green Film Festival Fundraiser

October 27 // 7pm – 10pm
// Buck Tavern, 1655 Market Street //

SFGFF brings you our first round of trivia, music and munchies. We’ll take you on a hilarious journey of all things green (and maybe even some not-so-green).

Start the Halloween madness at 7pm on Thursday, October 27 at the Buck Tavern. Bring your friends, your thinking caps and a little cash and enjoy a night of drinks, food and some good green competition. We’ll have great prizes such as tickets to the festival opening night party on March 1, tickets to films at the festival, and cool festival merch, plus a few spooky prizes too.

Come dressed as your favorite green character (come on, everyone in this town loves a costume) and you’ll be eligible for special tickets to the festival.

TOP PRIZE
Tickets to 2012 Opening Night!

TICKETS:

$40 for a team of four people, or $10 for an individual ticket.

http://sfgreenfilmfestpopsthequestion.eventbrite.com/

This is a group event and we encourage you to bring 3 friends so you have a full team! Book your team table early – space is limited!

This event is a fundraiser for the San Francisco Green Film Festival. Ticket sales and bar proceeds go towards supporting our mission to present forward-thinking programs of films and discussions that inspire environmental action and advocacy. Your support helps SFGFF reach its fundraising goal to bring back top-notch films and events in 2012!

Two community events on Oct. 29

Fall Festival for the children of our community in the Hayes Valley Park complex on Saturday October 29th between the hours of 12-3 PM.

There will be arcade style games, music, face painting, and hot dogs, popcorn, cotton candy etc. as well as candy bags for the children.

College and Career Fair 2011 taking place on Saturday, October 29th, 2011 11am-2pm at West Bay Conference Center at 1290 Fillmore Street in SF. This is a free event! A number of colleges will be onsite to answer your questions. PACT will be there to provide you information on the admissions process and how to get money for college. You don’t want to miss this personal opportunity to get all your questions answered.

Please see the attached flyer and bring your youth and families. It’s never too early or too late to talk about college and career options!

RSVP today at 415-437-1700 or by email at: sftruancy@yahoo.com.