January Recap

Happy New Year!

2026 is off to an amazing start thanks to you. I’m so thankful for your encouragement, support, and generosity. As a 100% volunteer organization, every dollar donated goes directly to meet an urgent, essential need for residents in the city of SLO.

In January:

• 17 referring agents reached out to us on behalf of their clients.

• 44 households donated so we met every need.

• $6,482.37 was given to help SLO residents in need.

• As always, 100% of your donations helped someone in crisis in the city of SLO.

I would love to see you at our February potluck. Thank you for all you do to make this work possible.

A huge thank you to Naomi Blakely and Heather Minnoch for hosting wonderful events in January! 

If you’re interested in hosting a private event or one of our monthly potlucks, please reach out.

RSVP and join us for our February potluck. We’d love to see you there!

Thank you to Lisa Lindsay and the entire team at Pizza Republic for a wonderful fundraiser! 

We all enjoyed the delicious food and a great evening together. Thank you to Cheryl Quilici for organizing this event!

Save the date! Womenade SLO will be hosting fundraising potlucks on the second Tuesday of each month. RSVP each month at womenadeslo.org or at the link in our bio on Facebook or Instagram. 

Your donations lift burdens for referring agents as well as their clients.Here are a few of the kind words we’ve received recently…

NEEDS MET IN January 2026 

School trip fees so that a high school student can attend a class trip. Her mom did not get enough hours at her job to cover the payment. Referral from Nancy Martinez, The Link Center for Family Strengthening ($200). 

Chromebook and case, gas, and groceries for a pregnant teen. She is 18 years old and has been kicked out of her home. She’s trying to finish school and find a part time job but she is experiencing homelessness. Referral from Grace Miller, SLO Public Health Department ($600.49).

A pair of glasses to keep at home and a pair to keep at school for a child. Her mom has 5 children and when one of her children broke her glasses she tried to get replacements through insurance but it was too soon. Referral from Deanna Martinez with CAPSLO ($100).

Heating diagnostic and repair for elderly woman who lives alone in a mobile home. It was 40 degrees inside her house but her only source of income is Social Security so she could not afford the repair. Referral from Rita Holland, County of San Luis Obispo Behavioral Health ($600). 

Hotel stay for a woman getting cancer treatment for leukemia. Her husband was able to go down and stay with her while she was getting treatment and making difficult decisions. Referral from Ashley Hahn Hearst Cancer Resource Center ($600).

Storage payment so that a woman can access important medical records and belongings that were her late husband’s. Referral from Richard Scott III, CAPSLO ($350).   

Partial rent for a client who had experienced homelessness. She found housing but a series of unfortunate events put her at risk of losing both her car and her rental. This payment allowed her to bridge the gap and keep her housing. Referral from Joan Lynch, Housing Reporter, The San Luis Obispo Tribune ($600).  

Handheld shower head, shower chair, and mat for an IV cancer patient who has only been able to do a sponge bath in the sink because she is unsteady to shower alone. Her fixed income does not allow her to purchase these items. Referral from Ashley Hahn, Hearst Cancer Resource Center ($122.60).

Partial rent for single mother of two who had her work hours severely reduced. She is actively seeking a second job to allow her to continue to meet her rent. Referral from Kristen Nusbaum, San Luis Obispo High School ($550). 

Partial rent for a gentleman who has been sleeping on people’s couches or on the streets. He needs to have surgery, and was able to find a room to rent so he can have a safe and stable place to recover. Referral from Carmen Gaitan, Access Central Coast ($600).

Water bill payment to prevent loss of service for a student mom who has had income changes and is struggling to pay for basic needs. Referral from Courtney Moore, Cal Poly Students with Dependents Program ($259.27)

Utility payment to prevent shut off for a single father and his child. Since losing his job, he is struggling to pay rent and his PG&E bill. Referral from Ashley Tokes, CAPSLO Housing Stabilization ($337.50).

City bus passes for a single mom who is struggling financially and needing assistance getting her 2 children to school. Referral from Esther Pascual De Jesus, CAPSLO ($50). 

Clothing for an unhoused cancer patient. He is staying outside at Prado waiting for a recuperative care bed since he recently had surgery. Referral from Ashley Hahn, Hearst Cancer Resource Center ($250).

Phone bill and car insurance payment for a client whose car broke down and replacing it has caused her to fall behind on some of her bills.  Referral from Adrian Candido, County Social Services ($253.22).   

Rent assistance for a working mom whose income does not cover the family’s basic needs since the father left home and is not providing support. Referral from Karla Najera, LINK ($500).  

Water bill payment to prevent immediate shut off for a single mother with a 5-year-old child with special needs. Referral from Mary Rohus, United Way-Americorps ($509.29).

Storage buyout for a woman who lives in her vehicle. She fell behind in payments but the storage company offered us a buyout price for the client to come collect all of her belongings. Referral from Ilene Brill, CAPSLO ($300).

Thank you to our amazing January donors (and the last few days of December):

Roz Phillips, Linda and Roger Bishop in memory of Sally Equinoa, Linda and Roger Bishop in memory of Marcie Lindvall, George Strong, Frank and Sandy Richardson in memory of Marcie Lindvall, Patti Westgate, Sylvia Drucker, Judy Obermeier, Madelyn Millholland, Carl Nelson and Denise Larsen, Karen Reinecke, Sandra Banducci, Linda and Tom Murray, Anonymous, Lee and Victoria Wilkerson, Linda Battles, Naomi Blakley, Frank and Sandy Richardson, Wendy Daly(2), Julie Jones, Mimi Naish, Linda and Peter Jankay in memory of Marcie Lindvall, Linda and Peter Jankay in memory of Sally Equinoa, Elaine Gardiner, Kimberly Barrett, Leslie Kneafsey, Marcie Hawthorne, Cheryl Quilici, Nurse Mo,  Soroptimist International of San Luis Obispo, Pizza Republic, Marylou Gooden, Sharynn Chirpich, Nancy Hurd, Mark Minnoch - KeyPair Consulting Inc., Winona Smyth, Sally Hopkins, Sally Rogow, Kathy Greer, Roz Phillips, Women's Network of San Luis Obispo County, Sue Williams, Heather Minnoch, Jennifer Wright, Jill Renfro, Wendy Shaw Dahl, Lauren and David Bowin, Patrice Auyong, Donna Robbins, and Linda and Daniel Speirs.

January Volunteers:

Cheryl Quilici, Gwyneth Stewart, Marylou Gooden, Julie Jones, Naomi Blakely, Kaycee Cox, Sandy Richardson, Kathryn Dickinson, Priscilla Pesqueira, Calista Stewart, Heather Minnoch, and Erin Shurson.

You are amazing! Thank you for consistently showing up for those in need in our city!

Sincerely,

Elaine Stewart

Executive Director

Womenade SLO

elaine@womenadeslo.org