March Recap

🌱❤️ Hope continued to grow this March.

Thank you for continuing to show up for our neighbors in need. Your generosity made March another meaningful month for Womenade SLO, and we’re so grateful to be part of this community with you. As a 100% volunteer-run organization, every dollar donated goes directly to meet urgent, essential needs for residents in the city of San Luis Obispo.

In March so far:

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

• 33 households donated so we met every need.

• $4,092.94 was given to help SLO residents in need.

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

As we wrap up our first 12 months at Womenade SLO, we’re feeling incredibly grateful. Together, we were able to give $56,835.45 directly to neighbors in our community facing urgent needs because of you.

We are 100% volunteer run, which means every dollar you’ve donated has gone straight to helping someone in San Luis Obispo. Behind the scenes, we’ve kept things running with minimal expenses like insurance, website hosting, domains, and email.

For those who have asked how to support the “nuts and bolts” of Womenade, we’re introducing Admin April, a low key opportunity to help cover these operating costs (no salaries, just essentials). If you’d like to contribute, you can do so here. No pressure at all. Your support in any form means everything to us.

We’re committed to transparency and are always happy to share more details about our expenses if you’re curious.

Thank you for being part of this community. Truly. 

Click to learn about Admin April!

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

We're always looking for hosts! Introducing our group to your friends helps gets the word out about the work we do. If you’re interested in hosting a private event or one of our monthly potlucks, please email us HERE and we'll put you on the schedule.

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.

NEEDS MET SO FAR IN March 2026

Utility bill for a young cancer patient. The patient's parent is helping, but unable to work the same number of hours due to supporting the patient's care needs. Referral from Linda Braddy-Argano, UCLA Oncology ($317.41).

Utility bill for a client recovering from a heart attack. She has other health issues and has lost her income as a result. Referral from Ian Kizanis, People's Self-Help Housing ($297.70).

Car repairs for a family with young children. She could not work until her car was repaired. Referral from Chris Rhodes, Grace Central Coast ($650).

Partial rent for a client who has been unable to work due to illness. She is planning to return to part-time work in a few weeks. Referral from Richard Hendrickson, St. Vincent de Paul at Old Mission SLO ($600).

Bus pass for a mom who is new to the area and was unable to secure a pass through Prado. Her child was able to get a pass through SLCUSD student funding. This pass allows her to get groceries and other necessities. Referral from Mary McCallister, CAPSLO-FCSS ($41).

Car payment for a cancer patient. They are on a limited income undergoing cancer treatment with large out-of-pocket expenses. Referral from Linda Braddy-Argano, UCLA Oncology ($357.59).

Utility bill for a single mom with a two-year-old son with special needs. She has fallen into financial hardship after a loss of income and was facing a shut-off of her utilities. Referral from Ian Kizanis, People's Self-Help Housing ($278.30).

Bedside commode and liners, shower chair, and bath mat for a 96-year-old woman who lives alone. This will help reduce fall risks and allow her to use the restroom safely in the middle of the night and shower without fear of falling. Referral from Dr. Steve Sainsbury, Central Coast Medical Housecalls ($231.35).

Walker and shower chair for a stage IV brain cancer patient to mitigate fall risks. Referral from Ashley Hahn, Hearst Cancer Resource Center ($119.59).

Partial rent for a student who is housing and food insecure due to a large gap in his financial aid package. This support provided interim relief until more supports are in place ($600).

Apartment deposit for a single mother and her children. Once the deposit is paid, she will be able to pay her rent going forward. Referral: Carmen Gaitan, Access Central Coast ($600).

Thank you to this month's donors and volunteers!

Donors:

Linda and Tom Murray, Anonymous, Anonymous, Shelly Stevenson, Teresa Blackwood, Naomi Blakely, Frank and Sandy Richardson, Jayne Devencenci, Wendy Daly (2), Stacy Pascolla, Judy Riener, Carol Astaire, Gennis Emerson, Marian Williams, Julie Jones, Dana Starkovich, Nancy Hurd, Karen Blum, Sharynn Chirpich, Jane Larkin, Lisa Wearda, Kimberly Barrett, Lauren Bowin, Marcie Hawthorne, Cheryl Quilici, Marylou Gooden, Elaine Gardiner, Cecilia Groman, Sally Hopkins, Aline Cullen, Susan Updegrove, Kathy Greer, and Roz Phillips.

Volunteers:

Jane Larkin, Calista Stewart, Sandy Richardson, Kathryn Dickinson, Priscilla Pesqueira, and Jenni Lanier.

Your generosity continues to grow something really meaningful in our community. Thank you for being part of this work. 🌱❤️

Sincerely,

Elaine Stewart

Executive Director

Womenade SLO

elaine@womenadeslo.org