5Cities Homeless Coalition staff and volunteers are busy planning the eighth annual Empty Bowls Community Luncheon to benefit families who are homeless or facing homelessness in southern San Luis Obispo County.

The 2019 event is scheduled Wednesday, September 18, and will be held once again at St. Patrick’s Parish Hall in Arroyo Grande.

For $25, attendees enjoy a simple meal of soup and bread donated by the region’s best chefs and served in handmade bowls. Lunch is served anytime between 11 am and 1:30 pm.

Last year’s event nearly sold out, raising more than $44,000 for 5Cities Homeless Coalition programs and services. More than 120 gallons of soup from a score of local restaurants were consumed, and only a handful of bowls were left of the 800-plus that were handmade and donated by local artists, community members and students.

Volunteers are needed now to work on the logistics of the event. Businesses and others who are interested in helping promote the 2018 community luncheon can become sponsors for as little as $100.

To volunteer or sponsor the event, contact Charlotte Alexander at 805-574-1638. Tickets are available here.

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Cal Poly student Maya Higa hoped to raise $1,000 when she took to Twitch.TV recently to talk about her time working at the 5Cities Homeless Coalition Warming Center and to celebrate her 21st birthday.

Three hours later, she had reached $20,000 and climbing in donations, ending up with $32,000 to fund programs and services for individuals and families in southern SLO County who are homeless or facing homelessness.

Some 685 individual gifts from her more than 7,000 viewers that evening poured into 5CHC coffers in just over five hours, ranging in size from $1 to $1,500. Coalition Executive Director Janna Nichols says the money will go to the organization’s immediate needs fund and to support the Warming Center that it operates in the winter months.

Higa is a junior at Cal Poly majoring in agricultural communication. Her channel on Twitch.TV, which she started three months ago, usually focuses on her interests in conservation education and falconry.

5Cities Homeless Coalition kicked off National Volunteer Week with a thank-you luncheon on April 6 recognizing some 300 volunteers who work throughout the year supporting their homeless neighbors and the work of the Coalition.

National Volunteer Week, celebrated April 7-13 this year, is an opportunity to recognize the impact of volunteer service and the power of volunteers to tackle society’s greatest challenges – such as homelessness – and to build stronger communities.

Over the last year, more than 300 5CHC volunteers served more than 3,500 hours participating in various activities and events, including special programs like the South County Warming Center, fundraising events like Empty Bowls, Giving Tuesday, and the Hope for the Homeless Golf Tournament, and general volunteering. They helped launder linens, cook and serve meals, canvass, make snack bags, do clerical or administrative work, and a host of other activities. They came from all walks of life including teenagers, students, professionals and retired community members.

Eleven individuals were singled out for special recognition on April 6. Eight who logged more than 100 volunteer hours for the Coalition received certificates from Supervisors Lynn Compton and Adam Hill representing the County of San Luis Obispo: Warming Center volunteers Mike Byrd, Pat Ford, Irene Krause, Jeff Metcalfe, Sandy Neece, and Paul Schneider, and office volunteers Mandi Flitsch and Jerri Young.

5CHC honored Property Manager Linda Foy for serving 5CHC clients and the community through her work with Casa Arroyo for MGF Enterprises, and Yvonne Williams and Donna Rubin received recognition as Trilogy Service Club volunteers who have devoted countless hours to raising funds for the Coalition.

The luncheon, prepared and served by members of the Kiwanis Club of Greater Pismo Beach, was sponsored by the San Luis Obispo County Board of Supervisors, Pismo Beach Golf Course, and Arroyo Grande Community Hospital.

5Cities Homeless Coalition has received two grants from The Community Foundation San Luis Obispo County (CFSLOCO) for the 2019 program year.  Through the Opportunity to Thrive Initiative at $10,000, and Klaproad Basic Needs Initiative for $25,000, funds will be used toward assistance for immediate needs leading to self-sufficiency, stability in the home, and economic improvement.The intent of these grants is to provide support to individuals and families in transition and striving to achieve self-sufficiency and stability. Grant funds are used to overcome one-time barriers and address gaps in assistance programs.

The Foundation has provided almost $35 million in grants and scholarships since 1998 and its charitable assets under management have grown to nearly $60 million, and provide support to all aspects of our community in perpetuity. For further information or to donate to any fund, please call 805-543-2323.

Thank you to The Community Foundation San Luis Obispo County for your support and generous donation!

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