Valentine’s Concert and Chocolate Buffet

Join us for a Valentine concert on Sunday, Feb. 12th to benefit homeless services efforts in the South County. Coordinated by volunteers from Nipomo Community Presbyterian Church and the 5Cities Homeless Coalition, the event will feature crooner Rick Jarrett with The QuieT Knights, as well as a delectable chocolate buffet and silent auction.

Tickets for the event are $25 in advance and $30 at the door, with all proceeds benefiting the Five Cities Homeless Coalition.

Valentine Concert Fundraiser with Rick Jarrett

Recording artist Rick Jarrett, known widely in the Los Angeles area for his crooner’s voice and versatile style will perform a blend of standards, ballads and show tunes (and a little bit of country) with the local trio, The QuieT Knights. In addition to the concert, the event will feature a delectable chocolate buffet in the spirit of Valentine’s Day, and a silent auction to benefit the Coalition.

The event begins at 7:00 p.m. on Sunday, February 12th at the Nipomo Community Presbyterian Church at 1235 N Thompson Rd just off of Hwy 101 near the Los Berros/Thompson Road exit.

Tickets may be purchased in advance online using the secure PayPal form on this page, or you can call Liz Howland at: 805-710-4330. Tickets will also be available at the door the evening of the concert. All proceeds from this event, including the silent auction, will be used to help the Coalition in its work.

The 5Cities Homeless Coalition, in collaboration with strong community partners, is working to build a Community Services Center in south San Luis Obispo County that will offer a full range of resources to empower low income and homeless families, children and individuals to build self-esteem through acquiring the education, job training, food and medical services they need to become self-sufficient and productive community members.

Purchase Advance Tickets Online

Use the form below to submit an order safely and securely via PayPal. All major credit cards are accepted.

Valentine's Concert Ticket Advance Purchase

Purchase tickets now and receive $5 off the door price.
  • Price: $25.00 Quantity:

Area Coalition Forms to Help Homeless

By April Charlton/Senior Staff/Times Press Recorder

a division of Lee Central Coast Newspapers

When 36-year-old William Diaz was homeless, he didn’t ponder his future. Instead, his days were consumed with finding a place to sleep, warmth and his next meal. “The whole time I kept thinking that I didn’t have a chance,” said Diaz, who now lives in an apartment in San Luis Obispo. “I wasn’t thinking about a future.”

At the same time, Diaz, who grew up in Nipomo (see related story) was struggling with homelessness in the South County, a group of individuals was creating the 5 Cities Homeless Coalition to help people like him.

“We knew there was a need for services for the homeless in the Five Cities area,” said Patricia Diefenderfer, president of the newly formed coalition that consists of different agencies and community organizations. [Read more...]

Homeless No More

Homeless no more: Long road leads man to assistance, home

By April Charlton/Senior Staff Writer/Times Press Recorder

a division of Lee Central Coast Newspapers

Will DiazDuring one Nipomo native’s struggle with homelessness, he did everything he could to sleep standing up.

“I felt a lot of shame,” William Diaz said about the period of his life when the now 36-year-old often slept in a stand of trees behind the Nipomo Men’s Club in Olde Towne. “I wouldn’t want to sleep on the ground when I was homeless,” he explained, “because if I woke up on the ground, then I was officially homeless. I didn’t want to be that. At least if I was standing up, I was doing something … had somewhere to go.” [Read more...]

More Than 30 Percent of Homeless in SLO County Are Children

Study reveals more than 30 percent of homeless in county are children

By Times Press Recorder Staff

a division of Lee Central Coast Newspapers

A single count of homeless persons in San Luis Obispo County has revealed that on any given day, there are more than 3,800 people without a place to call home.

Even more alarming is that of the 3,829 homeless people recently surveyed during an enumeration count of the county’s homeless population, 35.8 percent of those without a permanent place to live are children. Five percent are senior citizens. The findings of the single-day count and 2009 enumeration study also show that the homeless are a diverse group who live in every area of the county. [Read more...]