The Collaborative Bulletin is created by Jasmine P. Corena & Likhi Rivas

Message from the CEO

November 2023 brought families together to celebrate Dia de Los Muertos, remember our past family history, to being Thankful for our families during Thanksgiving. December 2023 is the month we celebrate the joy of giving and sharing the spirit of helping others in need. The agency has been blessed by the support we have been receiving to support our Christmas Toy Drive. We have 158 families signed up, which represents 496 children waiting to receive toys from Santa Claus. Yet Christmas should be honored every day of the year with so many families seeking assistance from housing, food, clothing, and employment. What is so challenging is that many of our families are working to support the household. They just cannot keep up with the cost of living expenses. Here is a story I want to share with the reader of the WMCC Newsletter.

ATTENTION TO ALL PARENTS WHO NEED TO TELL THE TRUTH ABOUT SANTA 🎅

Son: "Dad, I think I'm old enough now. Is there a Santa Claus?"

Dad: "OK, I agree that you are old enough. But before I tell you, I have a question for you. You see, the “truth” is a dangerous gift. Once you know something, you can't unknow it. Once you know the truth about Santa Claus, you will never again understand and relate to him as you do now.

So, my question is: Are you sure you want to know?"

Brief pause...

Son: "Yes, I want to know."

Dad: "OK, I'll tell you: Yes, there is a Santa Claus."

Son: "Really?"

Dad: Yes, really, but he's not an old man with a beard in a red suit. That's just what we tell kids. You see, kids are too young to understand the true nature of Santa Claus, so we explain it to them in a way that they can understand.

The truth about Santa Claus is that he's not a person at all; he's an idea.

Think of all those presents Santa gave you over the years.

I actually bought those myself. I watched you open them. And did it bother me that you didn't thank me? Of course not! In fact, it gave me great pleasure.

You see, Santa Claus is THE IDEA OF GIVING FOR THE SAKE OF GIVING, without thought of thanks or acknowledgment.

When I saw that woman collapse on the subway last week and called for help, I knew that she'd never know that it was me who summoned the ambulance.

I was being Santa Claus when I did that."

Son: "Oh."

Dad: "So now that you know, you're part of it. You have to be Santa Claus too now. That means you can never tell a young kid the secret, and you have to help us select Santa presents for them, and most important, you have to look for opportunities to help people. Got it?"

"Help each other this Christmas🎄🎅 and...be kind ❤💕"

-Unknown

I wish all our readers of the WMCC Newsletter Merry Christmas and Happy New: Always remember you are Santa Claus every day.  

Perfecto Muñoz

Chief Executive Officer

November Monthly Recap

2023 Día de los Muertos

We had the privilege of hosting a luncheon for the community to commemorate el Día de los Muertos. During this event, attendees were invited to bring photographs of family and friends who have departed, which were placed at the altar. The occasion served as a celebration of life. With music and food made by the one and only Monica, it was bound to be a good time.

WMCC Canned Food Drive

We express our sincere gratitude to all participants in our annual food drive, in collaboration with Valley First Credit Union. Through your support, we successfully distributed food bags to 100 families, allowing them to partake in Thanksgiving feasts. We have a great appreciation for the dedicated volunteers who assisted in the distribution of the food bags and turkey vouchers. Your contributions have made a meaningful impact on the well-being of our community, and we deeply appreciate your commitment to this cause.

Thanksgiving Senior Luncheon

The Thanksgiving Senior Luncheon was an amazing experience where we were able to express gratitude and celebrate the spirit of togetherness. This special event was for seniors and community members, providing a warm and inviting atmosphere filled with delicious traditional Thanksgiving food.

Crafting through the Holidays

During the month of November, the West Modesto Community Collaborative partnered with El Concilio to hold an event where health resources would be available to the public while providing a holiday activity. We hosted our event: “Crafting through the Holidays” where we were able to serve about 78 individuals. The event consisted of four crafting stations where adults and children were able to create Christmas tree ornaments, bookmarks, and bracelets. The stations were surrounded by resources tables that provided more information on health resources and provided free services. We were glad that the community was able to come out and learn more about the resources in their community. 

WMCC Program Spotlight:

The People's Plan

El Plan del Pueblo

The People's Plan for Economic Inclusion of Stanislaus County, also known as "El Plan del Pueblo," is a community-driven initiative coordinated by the West Modesto Community Collaborative aimed at addressing economic and social challenges in the region by building community capacity to implement changes in priority areas to develop a more equitable region. The purpose of the Plan (El Plan) is to facilitate a participatory action research initiative to build the civic engagement capacity of historically marginalized residents to effect policy changes in the priority areas (housing, transportation, healthcare, employment, and environmental resilience) that the Collaborative has identified through extensive prior engagement to assess community needs. 

The People’s Plan seeks to uplift the voices of residents in local planning and policymaking processes from the region’s historically disadvantaged communities. Specifically, low-income, low-wealth, mixed legal status, immigrant, mixed language, housing insecure, and people of color households and residents are the participants this initiative seeks to most closely engage. While all Stanislaus County residents can potentially participate in one of the Plan’s activities, zip codes and unincorporated areas home to the aforementioned communities are the Plan’s main focus at this time. 

The People’s Plan is currently engaging residents through a series of focus groups and survey sessions throughout Stanislaus County. Currently, a few have been completed in the Modesto area but focus groups and sessions are scheduled for other cities and communities in the region. Upon completion of these sessions, the feedback gathered through these engagements will be reviewed to create tools like a policy document and a people’s dictionary to help the region’s historically disadvantaged communities advocate for effective policy changes toward a more equitable region. 

*If you or your organization is interested in getting involved contact:

Abimael Chavez-Hernandez 

Email: achavezh@westmodestocollaborative.com

Community Spotlight:

Giving Machines

Looking for a way to give back this holiday season?

Introducing LightTheWorld Giving Machines!!

The LightTheWorld Giving Machines are different from typical vending machines. Instead of buying a candy bar, you can purchase essential items such as clothing, medicine, food, even livestock, and more for local and global charities.

This giving machine in our area is one of only 61 giving machines worldwide.

If you find yourself near Sacramento between now and December 10th or Modesto from December 12th to January 2nd, stop by and check it out.

In Modesto, gifts can be given to the American Red Cross, Boys and Girls Club of Stanislaus County, Food Initiative of Greater Stanislaus, and West Modesto Community Collaborative.

Hope to see you there!

Employee Spotlight: 

Liliana Felix

Liliana Felix has dedicated three years to West Modesto Community Collaborative, beginning as a project coordinator for the CWOP Project during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic. Currently serving as the Director of the Navigation Program, also known as the ARPA Project, established in collaboration with the County of Stanislaus Community Services Agency. This joint effort focuses on delivering essential American Rescue Plan Act Navigation Services to aid individuals or households significantly affected by the pandemic or difficulty, particularly among low-income groups experiencing substantial hardships.

Her responsibilities encompass providing comprehensive support, addressing essential needs like food and housing, and offering specialized aid such as job training, behavioral health support, and customized employment programs. While primarily concentrated in specific zip codes 95351, 95354, and 95358 these services remain accessible beyond these areas.

At WMCC, despite primarily being assigned to a particular role, Liliana passionately loves to support various programs. Particularly, she finds joy in engaging with young participants in the Lightning Bug Program, witnessing their growth and learning. Equally fulfilling in helping with the Senior Luncheon, enjoying the chance to hear their stories and gain wisdom from their experiences. Sharing a meal together adds to the enjoyment of these activities, contributing to an incredibly fun environment.

Recognizing the vital role of ongoing listening, engagement, and improving the welfare of families and individuals, Liliana is grateful for the chance to support this outstanding organization. Viewing her role as more than just a job, she sees it as a meaningful journey centered on forging connections, tackling inequalities, and fostering significant change. Her vision aligns perfectly with WMCC's mission to strengthen the community through connectivity, education, and empowerment. Liliana is devoted to driving forward this honorable cause and looks forward to helping more families and individuals.

Upcoming Events

Community News

Have something to share? For inquiries please email our Communications Director: Jasmine P. Corena

jcorena@westmodestocollaborative.com

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