Giving Tuesday: I’m Not Okay
I Am Not Okay
I'm barely getting by I'm losing track of days
And losing sleep at night I am not okay
Song by Jelly Roll
November 2024
“It’s gonna be alright, it’s not okay, but we’re all gonna be alright.” Every year when I sit down to write this letter, I consider it my way to share with all of you not only the work we do at Petaluma People Services Center, but also my way to share with you the need in our community. PPSC continues to stay true to our mission and we expect to work with over 45,000 community members this year.
“I am not okay”, PPSC is a true reflection of our community; a community that has experienced overwhelming need, uncertainty and fear and PPSC programs are there for them. Our Board, staff and volunteers have proven again this year that they are committed to answering the call from our seniors, families, and youth. This dedicated group has not missed a day of service. In fact, we have expanded our programs and served a record number of clients. The question in my mind is how is PPSC going to hold the safety-net together under this ongoing stress and sadness?
Our neighbors are experiencing a tremendous amount of loss and trauma. I typically use this letter to share our community successes, and we are proud of what we’ve accomplished, but this year we really want to focus on the need. “I’m hanging on the rails, so if I say I’m fine, just know I learned to hide it well”. Because I believe you are someone who wants to help, I am asking you today to enable PPSC to cast a wider safety-net. The faces of those who are struggling are familiar. They are our children, grandparents, neighbors and maybe us, as well. In years past, their lives were full, and their dreams and aspirations unlimited, but now they need support. We count on the support of the community to cover over 60% of the cost of our programs. Our core services include our
Aging Well Together Programs, that serves our residents 60 and older,
Counseling & Prevention which includes our SAFE Team,
Youth Programs, including Mentor Me,
Housing and Homelessness Prevention,
Economic Sustainability and our Petaluma Bounty Farm.
We have had periods of growth at this agency, but nothing like the growth we have seen in the last four years. Mentor Me has expanded the number of youth we serve and the number of educators and families we support. Our Meals On Wheels program serves over 10,000 meals a month! The SAFE Team (Specialized Assistance For Everyone) is present in Petaluma, Rohnert Park, Cotati, Sonoma State University and San Rafael, and they have responded to over 12,000 calls for mental health assistance. Thousands of families of renters were able to stay in their homes because of our homeless prevention program. And as we continue to stretch the safety-net, we continue to find more needs to address.
When PPSC began providing services in 1974, the mission was simple. It remains simple: people helping people. You probably know someone who has benefited from our services. Your donation of $100 will help to feed a senior for a full week or help two at-risk youth to get much-needed counseling or will ensure a youth has a Mentor. But honestly, anything will help.
PPSC has been the safety-net for thousands of southern Sonoma County residents for fifty years. This safety-net catches the young, the old, the unemployed, the homeless, victims of abuse and just about everyone else looking for a hand up. During these times an unprecedented number of our community members need PPSC’s help. We ask for your donations so that together we can provide that help. “When it’s all said and done, I’m not okay, but it’s all gonna be alright”.
You have opportunities each and every day to reach out to those less fortunate. Don't let those opportunities pass you by. If you have supported our programs before, we are deeply grateful for your continued support. If you are a first-time donor, we welcome you as a new friend. Your investment will make a big difference in the quality of life for your neighbors. It is a simple act of kindness and compassion. I am personally asking for your help, the song reminds us “I know, I can’t be the only one, who’s holding on for dear life”. We all need the support that PPSC brings to our community.
“So if I say I’m fine, just know I learned to hide it well, I know, I can’t be the only one”. The calls keep coming. The need keeps growing. There will be more heartache and hopefulness too. There will be more people who need PPSC’s help. We can continue to rise to the challenge with your support.
It is all about Community,
Elece Hempel – I’m fine
Elece Hempel, Executive Director
P.S. When you make your gift, we hope you’ll consider making an on-going monthly contribution. We believe with all our heart that the daily goal of PPSC should be to recognize that we all belong together hand in hand; we belong to each other.