September recap
Updated: Oct 8
🍂 A recap of September...
Fall is here! As we head into a new season, we continue to be so grateful for the many ways our community shows up for neighbors in need. Whether you donate, volunteer, refer someone for assistance, attend a potluck, or tell a friend about Womenade SLO, you are helping make this work possible.
Womenade SLO is a 100% volunteer organization providing one-time gap funding for urgent basic needs for residents of the City of San Luis Obispo. Because we have no paid staff, 100% of donations go directly toward meeting needs in our community.
In September:
• 8 urgent needs were met
• 34 donors helped us meet those needs
• $3,117.26 was given to help SLO residents in need
• As always, 100% of your donations helped someone in crisis in the City of SLO. 💙
It Takes a Community 💙
Womenade SLO doesn't find people in need on our own. Our requests come from trusted referring agents who are already working directly with individuals and families throughout our community.
Since April 2025, professionals from an incredible range of local nonprofits, schools, healthcare organizations, government agencies, churches, housing programs, and community organizations have reached out to us for help. Some of the agencies and programs we've served alongside include:
CAPSLO • CAPSLO Housing Stability • United Church of Christ • People's Self-Help Housing • SLO County Public Health • SLO County Public Health ECM Program • SLO County Mental Health • SLO County Department of Social Services • SLO County Behavioral Health • Pinnacle Treatment Center • Hearst Cancer Resource Center • San Luis Coastal Unified School District and multiple SLCUSD schools • SLO City Church • HASLO • Cal Poly Guardian Scholars Program • Cal Poly Safer Campus Health & Wellbeing • Cal Poly Students with Dependents Program • Restorative Partners • Access Central Coast • Bryan's House • UCLA Health Oncology • Transitions-Mental Health Association • Wisdom Adult Day Partners • The LINK, Center for Family Strengthening • Jewish Family Services • St. Vincent de Paul Outreach of Old Mission Church, SLO • Grace Church Central Coast • Central Coast Medical House Calls • Dignity Health • CommonSpirit Health Transitional Care • San Luis Obispo Tribune • United Way/AmeriCorps • SLO For Home • Tri-Counties Regional Center • SLOCOE Homeless and Foster Youth • CASA
We love seeing so many parts of our community working together to help our SLO neighbors through difficult seasons.
💙 City Grant Dollars at Work
Earlier this year, we were incredibly grateful to receive two grants funded through the City of San Luis Obispo. Those dollars are already hard at work helping our neighbors.
Through the City of SLO Human Services Grant Program, Womenade SLO received $6,000 for homelessness prevention. So far, $2,993.90 has been used to help local residents with housing-related needs, leaving $3,006.10 available to continue this work.
Through the City of SLO DEI High Impact Grant Program, in partnership with the Community Foundation of SLO County, Corazón Latino, and San Luis Coastal Unified School District, Womenade SLO received $10,000 to support families with students in SLCUSD. So far, $5,147.55 has gone directly toward helping these local students and families, with $4,852.45 remaining.
That means $8,141.45 in grant funding has already been put directly to work in our community! We are so thankful to the City of San Luis Obispo and our community partners for trusting Womenade SLO to help get these funds where they are needed.
🥘 Help Us Grow Our Community!
Our monthly potlucks are about more than sharing a meal. They're one of the best ways we have to introduce new people to Womenade SLO and grow the community that makes this work possible.
We need hosts! If you're willing to host one of our monthly potlucks—or even a private gathering with your own friends—we would love to hear from you. Hosting is a simple way to introduce Womenade SLO to people who may not know about the work we're doing.
And when you come to a potluck, please bring a friend or two or MORE! The more people who know about Womenade SLO, the more people we have helping us ensure that when an urgent need comes in, we have the resources to say yes.
This month's potluck will be October 13th from 5:30-7:30pm. Please click HERE to register to attend.
NEEDS MET IN SEPTEMBER 2026
Car loan payment for a man who fell behind while unemployed. He has since obtained a job, and this payment protected his transportation to work so he can maintain his new employment and work toward financial stability. Referral from Amy Nielsen, CAPSLO ($490).
Bicycle and accessories for a student experiencing an unstable home environment, providing reliable transportation to and from school. Referral from San Luis Coastal Unified School District ($600).
Gas card for a single mother and her four children while she actively seeks full-time employment. Referral from Karla Najera, The LINK Family Resource Center ($200).
Partial payment for an electric scooter for an elderly Stage IV cancer patient with severe back pain who does not have a car. He had been saving toward the scooter, which will give him greater mobility around town. Referral from Ashley Hahn, Hearst Cancer Resource Center ($600).
Housing security payment for a woman and her daughter to help secure housing. Referral from Carmen Gaitan, Access Central Coast ($52).
Rent for a man experiencing a temporary financial hardship, helping him maintain stable housing while he works to improve his financial situation. Referral from Adriana Cordova, Restorative Partners ($250).
Partial rent for a single mother and her children following a significant rent increase. This assistance helped keep the family housed while she begins a second job to meet the increased expense. Referral from Ciara Andrews, Esteem Health ($600).
Utility bill for a young cancer patient and his family, who have limited income and frequently travel to Los Angeles for his treatment. Referral from Ashley Hahn, Hearst Cancer Resource Center ($325.26).
Your donations lift burdens for referring agents as well as their clients, thank you!
Thank you to this month's donors and volunteers!
Donors:
Linda and Tom Murray, Rosemary Cleaves, Anonymous, Shelly Stevenson, Lynda Struckmeyer, Naomi Blakely, Carol and Fred Astaire, Linda and Peter Jankay, Jayne Devencenzi, Stacy Pascolla, Wendy Daly (2), Judy Obermeier, Julie Jones, Gennis Emerson, Jan Lethers, June Stanley, Aline Cullen, Carl Nelson, Ashley Hahn, Kathy Long, Sharla Mattevi, Jane Larkin, Kimberly Barrett, Phyllis Martinelli, Elaine Gardiner, Marcie Hawthorne, Frank and Sandy Richardson, Cheryl Quilici, Lesa Jones, Marylou Gooden, Lola Zybura, Sally Hopkins, Marian Williams, Kathy Greer, and Roz Phillips.
Volunteers:
Cheryl and David Quilici, Sandy Richardson, Calista Stewart, Julie Jones, Jenni Lanier, Kathryn Dickinson, and Tim Jones.
Thank you for helping us care for our SLO neighbors. Your generosity, referrals, volunteer time, and continued support make it possible for us to step in when an urgent need arises. 💙
Sincerely,
Elaine Stewart
Executive Director
Womenade SLO
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