- Pajaro Valley Shelter

Pajaro Valley Shelter Services
Celebrating thirty years of ending homelessness one family at a time.
SPRING 2014
Breaking the Cycle
Bernette Gardner was used to going to her mother’s when things weren’t
going well in her life. Those “things” were often problems resulting from her
alcoholism or difficulties with her husband. But even though she started a 12step program and has been sober since 2008 she didn’t expect the harsh
compounded challenges of trying to stay sober, being a mother to a young
child and a wife to a husband with his own issues. When her mother passed
away in 2012, there was no more “safety net”. When the relationship with
her husband became abusive and she could no longer cope…there was no
longer a safe place to go. Except the Shelter Services.
Bernette and her eight year old son Yazzie came to the Shelter Services in
June 2013, and she is facing the challenges of making a new life. She says
her biggest challenge has been learning about her own strengths. “The
classes and workshops, especially Cara y Corazon, have been very helpful.
Just holding a regular job has been incredible! I haven’t had a job of any kind
Bernette and Yazzie
since 2008. It feels really good to be earning my own money! My employer
has been great and very supportive. They are also big supporters of the Shelter Services.” Her goals now
are to get her own place to live, her driver’s license and a car! Bernette will make it happen, too!
Doing What Feels Right
A simple sentence that describes Madelyn Winterbourne’s life. Retired registered
nurse, retired family and marriage therapist, she remains very busy volunteering at
the St. Francis soup kitchen (where her split-pea soup is legendary), at the Literacy
Center (where, in less than three years, she has helped a 73 year old woman learn
to read and write English from no understanding up to the 5 th grade level), and at
Caroline’s (a great non-profit that recycles “treasures” of all kinds and donates its
proceeds to programs that help children with disabilities). Madelyn simply does
not know how not to care about people in challenging situations. She was a foster
parent, and she also started the first food pantry at Monterey Peninsula College in
Madelyn Winterbourne
the mid -1990’s for the women’s re-entry program. “I do what I feel is right. An act
of kindness is a benefit to ourselves as much as it is a benefit to others.” Madelyn has been a steady giver to
Pajaro Valley Shelter Services as well, since 2005 when she first learned about the Shelter Programs. She is a
caring person for all sentient beings: not minding when the deer eat her roses, or the mama skunk drops by with
its baby in the middle of the day, and recently adopting three feral kittens giving them a sunny, safe home.
C & N Tractors has been giving back to the Watsonville community oh…forever! “I’ve
been working for the company for nearly 36 years,” said Julie Oliver, a current co-owner.
“I did accounting when Jimmie Cox was owner and I would see all the checks he would
send out to the community every year, especially to help children. He put it into our
heads (and hearts) that this is what you do in your community.” C & N has been a solid
sponsor of the Annual Mother’s Day Run oh…forever! We thank them for their
sustaining support and for their commitment to the betterment of our community.
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Healthy Food Choices Being Taught to Residents
Pajaro Valley Shelter Services has been assisting homeless families for 30
years, providing temporary housing, case management support services
and workshops/training on subjects that help families, the majority of
whom are Latino, deal with the issues and overcome the obstacles that
led them into homelessness. Sometimes those obstacles have included
gross health problems that wiped them out financially or contributed to
loss of income. It is known that Latino families have a higher occurrence
of obesity and diabetes. PVSS staff also recognized that stress, poverty and
lack of knowledge further contribute to obesity and unhealthy food choices.
In 2011, the Shelter Services began a Healthy Living series of workshops for the
homeless families that reside in both its emergency shelter program and transitional
housing program. Participation by residents in these workshops is mandatory.
Pajaro Valley Shelter Services collaborates with the Second Harvest Food Bank, Food & Nutrition Services,
Driscoll’s, Sunridge Farm and Live Earth Farm to provide these workshops. Each five-week series of workshops
comprise interactive information on healthy eating, healthy food preparation, exercise, how and where to
shop affordably, and where our food comes from. Part of the workshop activities include having the children
participate at home in food preparation so that they start the habit of healthy eating at a young age. About
200 people benefit from these workshops every year. This series of workshops has been very successful for
families and PVSS receives a lot of positive feedback from residents about losing weight, feeling better, saving
money, drinking more water and drinking less sugary products, etc. In support of these workshops, the
Shelter Services also provides healthy and nutritious foods to families living in the emergency shelter.
Talking about nutrition and giving a demonstration of easy and healthy food preparation.
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Funding News
Now you can donate online at www.pvshelter.org!
We Did It Thanks to YOU!
It is with enormous gratitude to our wonderful donors that Pajaro Valley Shelter Services was
one of the 8 charities out of 82 to raise the maximum match of $15,000 through this year’s
Birdies for Charity program, PLUS an additional $1,000 for bringing in the most donations in
November! THANK YOU TO THOSE OF YOU WHO PARTICIPATED THIS YEAR!!
COME AND PARTNER WITH US AND FEEL GOOD! Here are some ways:
Steady Givers Club: Make a donation on a regular schedule e.g. once a month, four times a year. We’ll help
make it easy for you!!
Circles of Giving: A commitment of three years of significant financial support to build sustainability
Mother’s Day Run: Sponsor the Run and / or run/walk in the Run, our major fundraising event of the year
Board of Directors: Three year terms to oversee the present and future of the Shelter Services
Committee work: Various committees to enrich and help the Shelter Service grow and serve better
In-Kind donations: Clients regularly need items of clothing, furniture, household items, diapers
Volunteering: Office work, help with tutoring, help at events, pre-event planning
Financial donations: The Shelter Services counts on its community to keep its doors open
Recommend someone you know to take a tour – spread the word!
Indicate how you would like to participate and we will contact you with more information.
Join the Steady Givers Club
Join the Circles of Giving
Sponsor the Mother’s Day Run
Run or walk in the Mother’s Day Run
Volunteer
Office work
Make in-kind donations
Serve
Events
Clothing
Tutoring
Furniture
On the Board of Directors
Other
Food
On a committee
I want a 45 minute tour
Name:
Address:
City:
State/ZIP
Phone:
Email:
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First Annual Bruce Woolpert Scholarship Awarded
Pajaro Valley Shelter Services, in recognition of former CEO of Graniterock, Bruce
Woolpert, and his long time commitment to education and community services,
is awarding a $500.00 personal advancement scholarship each year. To qualify for
the scholarship, each candidate must meet certain criteria:
- Be a current or former client of Pajaro Valley
Shelter Services programs.
- Currently on an educational path toward personal advancement,
- Has or is “giving back” to the community through volunteerism or other
activities.
The first scholarship award winner is Jamie Serrano, a 22 year old who is
pursuing a nursing degree. Jamie lives with her mother and two sisters. She
spends her non-school time helping to homeschool her youngest sister and
working at odd jobs to help support the family. Congratulations Jamie!
30th Mother’s Day Run for Shelter!
Sunday, May 11th - Ramsay Park
The BEST 10K, 5K 1K in Watsonville!

This is the whimsical artwork for this year’s posters and
t-shirts (AND SOCKS)! Runner registration forms can be
found at active.com (30th Mother’s Day Run), on our website
at www.pvshelter.org, and available at our office. Sponsor
forms available on our website and at our office. Help us
meet our $70,000 goal! (Over 10% of our operating budget)
Life-long Watsonville resident, Priscilla Martinez is a 28 year old established
artist. Drawing since she was a child, she was especially inspired by her 5th
grade teacher Mrs. DaRosa and her grandmother Marie Lane to pursue her
creative abilities. While at Watsonville High School she painted the “Willie the
Wildcat” mural, then went on to paint fifteen private murals in people’s homes,
mostly children’s rooms. Now she is also creating portraits. Recently she
designed the Strawberry Festival logo and now the 30th Annual Mother’s Day
Run artwork. She aspires to earn her living doing her artwork. Thank you
Priscilla!!
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Learn more about being a PVSS board member at www.pvshelter.org/people
Serving on the Board of Directors May Be
Just Your Cup of Tea!
Serving as a Board Member for Pajaro Valley Shelter Services brings many
valuable experiences to an individual: working with a group of deeply caring
people dedicated to doing good works and changing lives in our
community, building relationships with other professionals from many fields, seeing the rewards of your
efforts in the many successful families that leave the Shelter programs. Individuals
with all types of professional and life skills are encouraged to apply! The
Shelter Services has immediate needs for individuals with construction,
faith-based, and financial investment expertise. Please contact Kimberly
Ferm at 831-728-5649.
New Board Members Bring Great Skills and Compassion
Blanca Johnston, Jen Schiffner and Jane Moresco
Jen Schiffner
A transplant from the east coast, Jen is an Associate Attorney with Lozano Smith. She has also been
involved with the Santa Clara County Bar Association, the Alameda County Bar Association. "Growing
up near New York City, I watched friends and neighbors struggle with balancing the cost of a house, a
family, and paying bills. Now, as an attorney in Santa Cruz County, I am committed to helping those
in my community learn the tools to move forward and win the battle against homelessness. Being a
Board member at PVSS has helped me find this passion and work towards this goal."
Blanca Johnston
Blanca works as a Senior Administrative Assistant at Granite Construction Company, Inc. She has
volunteered with the Second Harvest Food Bank as well as with the Shelter Services’ Mother’s Day
Run over the years. Her passion for the Shelter shows by her ability to engage Granite employees to
keep on giving to the Mother’s Day Run. “I joined the Board because I wanted to help make a
difference in the PVSS clients’ lives and let them know we’re here for them.”
Jane Moresco
Jane is a lifelong resident of Watsonville. She is a Realtor with Realty World Bay Properties and was
involved over the years as a volunteer with Pajaro Family Services and local schools. “Pajaro Valley
Shelter had me at ‘Hello!’... a place that was so appreciative when I called to see if I could bring my
special household items for their use. Then I found out that they don't just give people a place to
stay, but educate and help build their self-esteem through rules, hard work and saving money...it
was then I knew I wanted to serve!”
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VOLUNTEER CORNER: California Giant’s
Marketing Director Cindy Jewel is our
newest volunteer. Our Facebook posts
are by her!! Teresa Ronsse is helping to
track our in-kind donations now!!
Pajaro Valley Shelter Services
115 Brennan Street
Watsonville, CA 95076
(831) 728-5649 www.pvshelter.org
Non-profit Org.
U.S. Postage
PAID
Watsonville, CA
Permit # 5
Return Service Requested
In this issue:
- Woolpert Scholarship Awarded
- Partners in Nutrition Program for Residents
- 30th Mother’s Day Run Coming Up Sunday, May 11th
We’re on the Web!
www.pvshelter.org
and “like” us on Facebook
“No work is insignificant. All labor that uplifts humanity has dignity and importance and should be undertaken with
painstaking excellence.” Martin Luther King Jr.
Our Mission: To assist homeless women, children and families in obtaining stable housing through temporary shelter and services
Our Vision: To aspire to be a model program that helps women, children and families end the causes and cycles of homelessness – one family at a
time. By lifting their dignity, identifying their barriers, and helping to set their goals, homeless families will develop the skills and attitudes necessary
to move on to stable housing and improved personal and economic self-sufficiency.
Spring Wish List:
The Shelter Services needs your help! Our previous wish list was fulfilled, thank you!!


The beds in the Emergency Shelter are shabby! We need 3 new bunk beds (about $1800)
and 22 foam mattresses (about $4500); the vinyl mattresses are over 10 years old and
are worn out!
Our good old truck gets a lot of use, needing constant repairs! A newer pick-up truck
would be very helpful! We use this to pick up food from Second Harvest and to do
property maintenance and inspections.
PVSS is Scheduling Presentations to
Community Groups
15 - 30 minute presentations
are being booked now through Dec. 2014.
Do you have an upcoming staff meeting?
Or do you belong to a community service
group?
PVSS will share its current updates with
your group, as well as 30th anniversary
history and timeline!
To schedule a presentation:
Please call Kimberly Ferm at 831-728-5649
SPA DAY BRINGS PEACE!
Spa Day for the women in the
Emergency Shelter was the Soroptimist
Club’s “Saturday Of Service” (SOS) on
March 1st. Women received breakfast,
hair styling, manicures and nail
painting, facial waxing, make-up, chair
massage, lunch and beautiful gift bags
and lap blankets put together by the Girl Scouts. It was a definitely
women-helping-women kind of day! The Shelter women left feeling
deeply nurtured, a rare experience for them. Thank you Soroptimist
International Club of Watsonville for the rest and rejuvenation!!