The Quarterly

Valley of the Moon Childrens Center November 2017

Valley of the Moon Childrens Center

112 Childrens Circle

Santa Rosa, CA 95409

Phone: 707-565-8641
E-mail: aspezzano@schsd.org
 Valley of the Moon Childrens Center
Valley of the Moon Childrens Center is a safe haven
for children to feel cared for, nurtured, respected and
loved, so they can begin their healing journey and
transition into stable, loving homes.

VMCC Art Gallery

Featuring drawings and paintings by our very own youth artists.

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 #SonomaStrong
Its been seven weeks since the devastating fires first broke out in
our community, yet the impacts continue.

Valley of the Moons foster youth and staff were evacuated to the
safety of our main office building in Southwest Santa Rosa in the
early morning hours of Monday, October 9th. We want to give a
huge thank you to all of our staff, as well as first responders, that
allowed Valley of the Moon Childrens Center to evacuate without
issue.

We discovered that we are able to set up a fully functional shelter

using conference rooms and gumption within a few hours time!
Over the course of the week, we were able to place most youth in
homes as foster families opened their doors even wider to
accommodate our displaced youth.

By the second week, we moved from conference rooms to a house

to continue to provide emergency shelter to the foster youth
community.

There was a moment when we thought the Childrens Center would

be lost, but it was saved along with the rest of the buildings on our
campus. We are very happy to be back after a stressful few weeks
of uncertainty.

Artwork by Valley of the Moons own Although we resumed normal operations a couple of weeks ago,
Bonnie Parrish. much of the broader campus remains closed as cleaning crews
make their way through buildings removing ash, debris and fire
retardant.

We cannot thank you all enough for your continued support.

Despite the chaos, countless community members came forward to
contribute their time, donations, and fervent support.

We believe it is important for our community and loved ones to

come together, now more than ever. We will be hosting a series of
trainings over the next six months related to how to deal with the
affects of Trauma that all volunteers are invited to. We hope the
skills gained from those trainings will help all of us continue to be
Sonoma Strong. 3
 Whats New at VMCC?
In July of 2017, Valley of the Moon began
a valuable partnership with the Sierra
Garden Club. With the support of the
Sierra Clubs 30+ volunteers, the Garden
Club and Cooking Club programs were
launched. These classes provide the
youth at Valley of the Moon with a unique
mentoring experience each week that are
both fun and educational.
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The 3/4 acre garden is located on the
grounds of the former Sierra Youth
Center of Sonoma County situated on
the back side of the Los Guilicos
campus near the base of Hood
Mountain.
The garden area was revitalized in
early 2013 and is home to fruit trees
and berry bushes, vegetables, herbs
and flowers. Two greenhouses are
employed to raise plant starters and
there is a thriving bee hive as well.
A Farmers Market is held on Saturday
mornings from April to November. All
proceeds are used to support the
garden and youth programs.
Volunteers tend to the garden daily all
year round to ensure it continues to
thrive. Produce from the garden is
used for the Cooking Club, where
volunteers teach youth how to cook,
bake, and create nutritional meals
from scratch.
Were thrilled that we are able to
provide this opportunity for the youth
in our care.
 Sierra Garden Club

The Sierra Garden Club provides

weekly activities where foster youth
experience every step involved in the
care and upkeep of a top quality
garden. Throughout the seasons,
youth will engage in planting,
watering, harvesting, pruning, and
everything in between.

The glory of gardening: hands in the

dirt, head in the sun, heart with
nature. To nurture a garden is to feed
not just the body, but the soul.
-Alfred Austin
The history of the Sierra Garden on
display at the Rotary Dinner
Each week, the Sierra Cooking Club
invites Valley of the Moon youth into
the kitchen to stretch their culinary
muscles. With occasional help from
guest chefs, a new delicious
experience awaits the kids each
week.

A good cook is like a sorceress who

dispenses happiness.

Sierra Gardens Rotary Dinner -Elsa Schiaparelli

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Donation Corner
With both the holiday and rainy seasons upon us, our needs at Valley of the Moon continue to
evolve in order to provide the highest level of care and comfort to our foster youth. We accept
donations Monday-Friday from 8am-5pm. Thank you for your support!

SCHOOL SUPPLIES ESSENTIALS & TOYS

Backpacks Suitcases
Gel Pens Baby Toys & Rattles
Highlighters Burp Clothes
Colored Pencils Teethers
Tape Playing Cards
Index Cards Kites, Frisbees, Sports-balls
Spiral Notebooks (college rule/3 sub-
ject) GIFT CARDS
Two-Pocket Folders Target
Scissors Walmart
Calculators Local Eateries
Art Kits Visa, MasterCard, AmEx
Art Supplies iTunes

CLOTHES PASSES & TICKETS

Hooded Pull Over & Zip Up Sweatshirts Movie Tickets
http://www.sregmovies.com/gift
Beanie Caps
Rebouderz
Cool T-Shirts https://www.rebounderz.com/location/rohnert-
Jackets park/
Epicenter
Pajamas http://visitepicenter.com/
Shoes/Slippers Pump It Up
https://www.pumpitupparty.com/santa-rosa-ca/

PERSONAL PRODUCTS Childrens Museum

http://www.cmosc.org/hours-and-admission-fees/
Hair Clips, Hair Ties, Alligator Clips
Mrs. Grossmans Sticker Factory
Electric Razors http://mrsgrossmans.com/pages/tour-the-factory

Curling/Straightening Irons Pacific Coast Air Museum

http://pacificcoastairmuseum.org/museum/index.
asp#admission

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 VOICES
The past two months have brought instability to many Napa and Santa Rosa residents,
including some of our most vulnerable populations: foster and homeless youth.
Because of the North Bay fires, our communities have suffered the loss or temporary
closure of foster family homes, transitional housing units, businesses where young
people were employed, and other essential and basic resources.

Thanks to the outpouring of support from individuals and community organizations,

VOICES staff have helped over 350 transition-age youth stabilize and begin replacing
what has been lost. And now, more than ever, our youth need a safe and
welcoming place during the holidays. Last year, over 300 VOICES' youth came
together to celebrate with home cooked feasts in Napa and Santa Rosa.
This year, VOICES hopes to provide a safe haven for even more youth.

For $25 you can sponsor a youth meal during this seasons celebrations!

If you are interested in helping with a holiday dinner, please consider donating
cooked food, pies and/or other seasonal foods. Additionally, tupperware is always
needed so that food can be sent home with the youth to enjoy.

For more information on how you can help, please contact VOICES centers:

VOICES Sonoma, please contact Amber Nakash at,

(707) 579-4327 or ambern@voicesyouthcenter.org

VOICES Napa, please contact Angel Mackelvie, at

(707) 251-9432 or angel@voicesyouthcenter.org

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From the Kitchen

Kathleens Meatless Chili Recipe

Kathleen has been cooking at Valley of the Moon for 36

years! Her meals have fed thousands of foster youth over
that time and were please to pass on her delicious recipe
for you all to enjoy.

1.Saut 4. Add in:

3 stalks of celery
1 diced onion
1 cup of diced carrots
6 cloves of chopped garlic
3/4 cup of diced chili
peppers
2 fresh jalapeos
2. Add a pinch of salt
3. Add 3 Tbsp Masa Harina
Cumin to taste
Paprika to taste
1-2 butternut squash
1 can garbanzo beans
2 cups diced bell peppers
1 can diced tomatoes
5. Bring to a boil, then
simmer until the flavors
meld
~ENJOY~

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AmeriCorps: Introductions
Dear Volunteers,
Im very excited to be given the opportunity to work with
all of you. Its only been three months since I took over
as the AmeriCorps VIP Fellow at VMCC, but Ive definitely
been welcomed and immersed in the thriving community
here.

As part of AmeriCorps Volunteer Infrastructure Project

(VIP), my role is to help build up internal systems for the
volunteer program so that you have the tools and
supports to best serve the youth living here.

I arrived at an interesting time, immediately being thrown

into the States worst disaster in years. Not surprisingly,
the disaster made settling into a new life a bit more
difficult. However, this community showed me it was
stronger and more inspirational than I ever could have
imagined.

Thank you all so much for your contributions that make

Valley of the Moon the incredible home it is.

Sincerely,

Anthony Spezzano

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Thank You For Your Support!

By Bonnie Parrish

Contact Us
Briana Downey, Program Planning & Evaluation Analyst
Phone: 707-565-4348
Email: bdowney@schsd.org

Kathy Young, Volunteer Coordinator

Phone: 707-892-1583
Email: kyoung@schsd.org

Anthony Spezzano, AmeriCorps VIP Fellow

Phone: 707-565-8641
Email: aspezzano@schsd.org