CCMin 2010-01-25 - Laserfiche WebLink

Browse Search

volunteers. She said Redwood City gives it $12,000 and that they commit to providing 67 hot meals to clients that are made and delivered everyday. She explained how the average client donation is $.50. Michael Garb, representing Youth and Family Enrichment Services, spoke about their work in suicide prevention, suicide intervention, assisting with school hotlines that are connected to national hotlines, and running a chatroom for youth. He expressed his appreciation of City Council support in past and hopes for future funding. Shirley Gibson, Supervising Attorney of the Legal Aid Society of San Mateo County, spoke about the clinic they operate at the Fair Oaks Community Center on Friday mornings and how they feed 20-30 households. She explained how their assistance is often the difference between involuntary eviction and resulting in emergency shelter or homelessness or maintaining residency with a plan in place. She thanked Council for its time and support. David Carducci, Attorney with Legal Aid Society of San Mateo County, spoke about housing cases and how society can be judged by how it supports its poor people. He opined that Redwood City should be commended for its past and current support and he urged continued support as the best way to reduce and or prevent homelessness. Michael Nevin, representing the Service League of San Mateo County, opined Redwood City does its best and that Human Services Manager Teri Chin epitomizes what "a public servant" is. He congratulated the City and staff for what they try to do and he suggested that it is a partnership when it comes to law enforcement because they cannot do it all. He opined that it is economically wise to continue to support these programs. Bonnie Miller, representing the Salvation Army, asked for continued support for the programs that serve the County and Redwood City with over 75% of their clients in Redwood City. In their last fiscal year ending December 31, 2009, they saw 20,000 people and provided them with food, bus tokens, information and or referrals. Andrew Lopez, representing Fresh Lifelines for Youth (FLY), said that they have chosen one representative to speak, Christa Gannon, Executive Director of FLY. She expressed their gratitude to Council for their compassionate leadership and she asked them to think of the following vital needs for young people: the health and welfare of community, their leveraging of funds is (with all funding sources maxed out and all taking cuts), partnerships that work (and that they would take years to rebuild), and the cost-effectiveness of helping them (as opposed to the high costs of incarceration). Laurie Wishard, Family Service Agency of San Mateo County provides service to older adults at the Fair Oaks Community Center and they mostly serve Redwood City residents so that they can maintain their independence. They provide hot meals, transportation, case management, and prevention programs for exercise and health. She said they save lives and their services are crucial to people who live below the poverty line. Joy Thorton said she joined the Fair Oaks Community Center for the exercise class and expressed her appreciation for the center and how people's lives are improved by going REGULAR CITY COUNCIL JANUARY 25, 2010 MEETING MINUTES PAGE 6 MINUTE BOOK NO. 63 Page No. 017