Let’s Help Make the Season Brighter!

Hi Everyone!

Happy Holidays!! We’ve got a LOT going on this month.

Holiday Giving for Families

As with every year, we have chosen a few hard-working families who are struggling to make ends meet. Let’s gather our resources and give them all a very special reason to CELEBRATE the HOLIDAYS in 2021!   

 

This year we have chosen these four LOVELY families!

A large local family of seven, with kids ranging from 5 to 17. Their dad fell off a ladder a few months ago and is still recuperating, while his wife is working tirelessly to make ends meet. They are barely getting by, may need to move, and there is nothing left over for food or gifts for the holidays. This family is wonderful and we would love to help bring some holiday cheer during this stressful and challenging time.

A single dad, a gentle and humble man, who works day and night to pay rent and have enough food to eat for his two children, a young grandchild, and a niece. In addition to working as a handyman and painter, he is now studying for his contactors license to improve his ability to provide for his family. He is always upbeat and smiling, and operates out of a deep love for his family and for always doing what is right. Let’s make him smile even bigger by providing a Christmas dinner and some gifts for his family.

 

We have connected with two moms living in a nearby shelter for abused women. One mom is living there with her 1-year-old baby boy, trying to stay safe and figure out her next steps. Along with everyday life, there are expenses for the baby, including diapers and basic hygiene needs. The other mom has found a safe place to be for awhile. She is staying in the shelter with her 14-year-old daughter, hoping for a fresh start.

Holiday Giving for Kids

Once again, we are partnering with California Homemaker’s Association (CHA) to provide toys for children from homes where families are struggling and food insecure. We will collect donations of toys and funds, match them with the names on the list, and be sure that every child has at least one wrapped gift to open on Christmas morning. This is a wonderful project, and if anyone wants to help out with the shopping, wrapping, or delivery, please let us know!

 

Thank you for being there to support these wonderful people. We are SO grateful you are part of Dream of a Better World and our lives!

Go Dream Team!

With special thanks to Max, Kate, Pat, Tracy, Karen, Nicole & all of the Food and Gift Delivery Elves!

Profits DONATED and MATCHED

Hey Everybody,

 

We have a SPECIAL BOOK CAMPAIGN

for making a difference this HOLIDAY SEASON. 

 

Diane Button’s new book, Dear Death, is getting great reviews and we are SUPER EXCITED to tell you that all of the profits for the rest of the year will be donated and
matched. That means that every book you buy for yourself or others, now until 12/31/21, is a WONDERFUL BEST SELLING gift… and will also help make the world a little bit better for families in need.

 

Thank you for your support over the years!  And, If you are interested in purchasing one or more books for the HOLIDAYS… or, just want more information: 

 

CLICK THIS LINK

(YOU WILL BE REDIRECTED TO THE BOOK WEBSITE)

 

This book purchase is not tax deductible and we won't even know who you are.  So, thank you in advance for your SUPPORT and we promise that 200% of profits from your purchase will go to making the world a little bit better.  Happy Holidays from Dream of a Better World.

 

Got Some Extra Winter Coats?

Hi everyone,

This year we’re happy to be lending a hand to the Ritter Center’s annual winter coat drive, and we would love to have your help! Ritter Center is a special organization that is dedicated to providing inclusive and accessible support to individuals and families who are low-income or homeless. They provide those in need with medical care, food, and other basic needs, as well as other important services such as behavioral health counseling, substance use treatment, and more. They are the type of organization that loves to go above and beyond to help the people that walk through their door, and that’s something we always love to support! If you would like to support them, too, and you’ve got a few spare coats that you and your family don’t use anymore, then call or text me at 615-293-2009 so that I can pick them up before the drive ends on November 10th!

Thank you so much!

Hannah

Thanksgiving Food Needed for Homestyle Dinners

Hi Everyone!

It’s that time of year!! We are so grateful to be experiencing less coronavirus and more freedom here in the Bay Area these days, but there are still many families who are struggling with illness, evictions, homelessness, and struggling to make ends meet. Let’s lighten their burden just a little so, like the rest of us, they can celebrate Thanksgiving with a hearty meal, enjoy their family, and feel the gratitude that accompanies this holiday!

 

This year, we have committed to purchase the main course, and hopefully some side dishes, for 100 family dinners, which will be delivered to families for their Thanksgiving dinner. If you would like to make a donation towards the 100 turkeys and hams, or any other food items we can purchase, please make a donation below.

Holiday boxes from last year…they need food, funds, and volunteers! Please contact CHA at 707-591-9573 if you would like to help!

CLICK HERE  TO

DONATE FOR THANKSGIVING

Every donation makes a difference, no matter how large or small. As usual, we promise 100% of your donation will be used for the needs of others. Thank you for your continued support and for your giant hearts.

 

Wishing you all a peaceful and joyful Thanksgiving!

 

In Gratitude,

 

Carly, Jack, Hannah, Max and Kate

and all of us at Dream of a Better World

SUPPORT for those who SERVE our Community

Hi All,

 

While we are hoping the pandemic is slowing down and all of us are beginning to re-adjust and head back out into the world, there are still many people in our community who are struggling to make ends meet. Some are hungry, without shelter, in need of medical and dental care or in need of legal advice or other services to support them in getting back on their feet.

 

About CHA

CALIFORNIA HOMEMAKERS ASSOCIATION (CHA) is a grassroots organizing drive committed to ending the poverty conditions facing our membership of domestic workers, in-home care workers, low-income elderly, blind and disabled recipients of in-home care and other low-paid service, temporary, or seasonal workers in Sonoma County.

CHA members joined together in 2000 with concerned residents, students, professionals, clergy and local businesses to create a free and voluntary, unincorporated private membership association, best suited to achieve a permanent solution to the problems of poverty experienced by these workers.

To lessen the burden of day-to-day survival that has traditionally kept low-income workers from organizing to change the policies and practices at the root of their poverty, CHA members established a free-of-charge, 11-Point Benefit Program that includes emergency food, clothing, non-emergency dental care, preventive medical care, legal advice, information and referral assistance, a monthly membership newspaper and more. The Association is 100% volunteer run; it accepts no government funding or any other money with strings attached – rather it exists through the dedication and generosity of its members as well as those allies in the community who have joined our cause. CHA serves no other aim or aspiration outside its stated goal. 

Our Fundraising Plan

The amazing team at California Homemaker’s Association in Santa Rosa, CA has been tirelessly working to build a better life for all. Due to some supportive donors, they have recently been able to move into a new and permanent location, a house in a business district of converted homes. This will enable them to  provide even more services, but they need to furnish the home to get going.

 

If you feel inspired to support their needs, you can either make a tax deductible donation in any amount HERE or use this CHA's Amazon Wish List LINK to purchase an item for CHA from their Needs List.

Thank you so much for always showing up 

and making a difference!

Be well everyone,

From all of us at Dream of a Better World

Helping Refugees During COVID Times

COVID-19 has certainly created many new and unexpected problems for our under-served communities and families.  Through our partners at Legacy Mission Village (LMV), we began focusing on addressing the food insecurity and financial insecurity that LMV's families were facing.  They are a Tennessee based non-profit that is focused on helping refugee families who have been relocated to Tennessee due to famine, genocide, war and poverty, in primarily African countries.  We have been working with them for over 15 years, even before founding Dream of a Better World.  Our recent partnership has translated into providing food, medical aid and even funeral funds for refugee families affected by COVID.  As another example of LMV's community impact, they normally delivers 20,000 free diapers a month through their no contact drive-thru diaper days. They are an AMAZING group!

Recently, Dream of a Better World received notice of an new, unique additional challenge that LMV refugee families are facing.  Most of their clients are still learning English, and are now struggling with the online learning process for their children who are now at home.  Not only do they need online equipment and access, but they need volunteers to help navigate the virtual schooling system.  

We are very thankful for all of the efforts of LMV and our partnership with them.  Thanks to ALL OF YOU, we will continue to support them through this challenging time! 

If any of you are interested in donating specifically to LMV, please CLICK the GIVE button here or the one designated on the sidebar above. As always, 100% of your donation will flow straight through to them and their needs.

 

With much LOVE,  

Dream of a Better World

Bay Area ELDA offers support at the End-of-Life

Thank you everyone who recently donated to the Bay Area End of Life Doula Alliance’s fundraiser to support the dying and their loved ones. We were so grateful to be able to offer funeral services for a beloved woman from the Philippines who died of Covid-19 after being sick with the virus for just one short week. Her loved ones were so appreciative that your support gave them the opportunity to honor her life with a proper funeral. Everyone deserves that, but sadly these days, many are dying alone and loved ones are left to grieve without closure. We plan to continue to offer financial support for others facing death as the years go by.

Bay Area ELDA is a group of end-of-life doulas and many of you have asked what we do. Simply, we offer emotional, practical and spiritual care to the dying. We are non-medical, so we spend time with our clients getting to know them and working with them to help them discover what matters most in their life, what brings them joy, what their worries might be, and we work through all of this to bring peace and comfort in their final days. If you want to know more about our work, reach out to us, or check out our website at Bay Area ELDA.

This fund is to offer support to those who have specific needs or wishes at the end of their life that they cannot afford. It will be an ongoing fundraiser so please donate any time you want to! If any of you know of someone who is dying who might have a final wish, needs medical supplies, or something to bring them comfort or entertainment, please reach out to us!

Be well, Everyone!

With Gratitude

Wow. 2020 was certainly unforgettable, and unfortunately, it’s not over yet! We still have a long way to go before we can look back and reflect on all that has changed in our lives due to Covid-19. We are grieving the lives lost, of friends and strangers around the world. Through this tragedy, you all have been there to offer us encouragement, ideas, and financial support. For all of this, we are forever grateful. None of this works without all of you.

Because of your generosity during the pandemic, we have been able to stock local food pantries, support educational programs, and provide food, clothing, rent payments, diapers, sporting equipment, laptops, child care, gift cards, toys, holiday celebrations, Thanksgiving dinners, shoes for health care workers and more! 

We could never do all of this without YOU! Thank you for being part of our lives and for always believing in us.

 

With love and appreciation,

Carly, Jack, Hannah and everyone at Dream of a Better World!

 

As always, we want to remind you that 100% of your donation goes to the causes we support. Administrative and accounting responsibilities are provided pro bono. We would like to especially thank the amazing team at Friedlander, Cherwon, and Capper for generously donating your time and skills to provide us with our annual tax reporting needs! Thank you!