BasicNecessities.org

I’d like to thank the Northrop Grumman Employee’s Charity Organization (ECHO) for their generous donation to our Nosatras En Control program.   I was really excited to see that our grant request was funded.  This important program is designed to give young Latina girls self esteem, and to help them plan out an educational program, so that they can become the leaders of tomorrow.  Many of these Latinas come from impoverished backgrounds and are living in depressed areas of Livermore California and the surrounding community.  For many of these girls, the only thing that awaits them is a gang or teenage pregnancy if they don’t “take control” of their lives.  Our Nosatras En Control program is designed to give them another choice, and to help them make good choices in their lives.  The program will be run during the summer, from June 30 to July 3. 

The Friday before mother’s day we completed our 2nd annual “Baskets of Love” project, to provide the homeless mom’s at local shelters with gift baskets containing items they might not otherwise be able to provide for themselves.  We put together 60 baskets, each containing a $25 dining card at a local restaurant, coffee or tea, a compact with makeup from Ulta, a mug, chocolate, personal products such as body wash, nail polish, lip gloss, mascara, a guardian angel pin, and other items.  Some of the baskets contained CDs.  We delivered 10 of these to Shepherd’s gate in Livermore, California, 27 to Tri-Valley Haven in Livermore, and 23 to Migrant Worker Program moms.  At Shepherd’s gate we were able to meet with some of the moms.  It was so awesome talking with the moms.  They were so happy and excited to receive the gifts. For the next couple of days the migrant worker moms were calling us using their children as translators (as most of them can’t speak English), telling us how thankful they were for the gifts.  I think Catherine was flooded with calls, but I got a few also.  It was very touching to hear how grateful they were.  It’s really awesome how supportive the community is, to have donated all the gifts.  I’m always amazed at how giving we are. Thank you donors, and thank you God!

Many thanks to the Seroptimists International of Livermore, California.  Their generosity pretty much overwhelmed us, and particularly Catherine.  I was traveling at the time for my day job, otherwise I would have been at the award luncheon.  When Catherine told me about the grant, and that she just about fell out of her chair when she opened the envelope, I thought it was pretty funny but also touching.  These funds will go to our Nosatras en Control program for young Latinas.   This is an awesome program that teaches young Latina women about self esteem and helps them plan out an educational future so that they can be leaders of tomorrow.   Charlie Thiel

Hola Catherine, ayer todos los niños de kendergarden disfrutaron de las deliciosas galletas de chocolate que sus maestras hornearon. También una de las familias de bajos recursos en nuestra escuela comió mole de pavo. Y la ropa ya se la llevarón dos familias diferentes pues una de ellas tiene un varón y la otra una niña.  Maria Toscano

The Da Wata  Fountin continues to serve as an open door for the  unchurched  and for all. We have seen people come and go. We have welcomed them, ate with them, shared with them and talk about the gospel- the good news, the grace and forgiveness  of sin that can be found in and only in Jesus.

A  man who lives up the street from Da Wata Fountin (Front Street, Punta Gorda) have visited our Adult Bible Studies more than once. He was the owner of a prostitution house and bar.  He shared how he feels a peace as he sit with us compared to the turmoil and frustrations he experience each day where he lives. His business is no longer in operation but he can often be seen entertaining friends sitting around  sharing a bottle of rum and engaging in loud chatter. His name is Louis Braddict, He really need your prayers.

Miss Josie is an elderly  Garifuna  lady who works at Da Wata Fountin . She goes in on Wednesdays , Friday’s and Saturday’s  and opens the building  for people who borrows  and return books. She also meets at Da Wata Fountin on Thursday evenings with a group of Garifuna ladies. They are presently studying with a US missionary (Dennis- Teacher, TCA) about Spiritual warefare. They have been learning a lot especially since the Garifuna culture has a strong traditional practice of worshipping their ancestors.

We continue to have children study and adult study on Wednesdays. After our study we share food. Many of the street children and the adult who come look forward for this time.  We have made a catalogue of books we have and have passed them out to local churches in the area. The goal is to encourage more of the congregations to read more Christain Books. 

We want to thank you so much for your stewardship. Your financial gift has enabled us to rent the facility, operate daily and provide food.  Many, many thanks, we are grateful and praise God for each time we open those doors.  Please join us in praying for salvation of the souls of those who come to Da Wata Fountin.

When I first met Julia DeShong in early 2004, I was touched by the work that she was doing to spread the Gospel of Christ in Belize.  Some of her stories about the young girls who sell themselves on the streets of the downtown, and the long lasting effect that prostitution has on their lives, were particularly touching.  From her humble beginnings doing outreach, Julia eventually founded Da Wata Fountin’, and built it into an awesome ministry that continues to spread God’s word, seeking those who are hungry to grow their faith and find purpose.  Julia has since returned to the United States, and David and Deb Bunk, Gideon Richards, and Karol Smith continue her work at Da Wata Fountin’. 

Catherine, Director and Co-Founder of BasicNecessities.org, has an uncanny ability to locate people in need.  This past February, Catherine found a homeless mom with four children living in an old trailer in the parking lot of a Livermore store.  It was very cold, and Catherine was able to provide the family with a couple of Safeway gift cards, some blankets, and some food.  It’s a long story, but the family received support from several benevolent organizations over a three month period.  We were able to provide two more Safeway gift cards, a few nights in a local motel, help writing an application for housing, a letter of recommendation for housing, and moral support.  On Easter, we provided them with an additional night in a local motel so that they could shower, get cleaned up, and feel a bit of God’s grace.  In the few months while we were helping the family, the mom and two of her kids were able to find jobs in the local community.  By this past weekend, they had saved enough money to move into an apartment.  What a success story.   

Thank you Safeway for providing $3,000 in gift cards for our Support to Families and Individuals project.  This was an important grant, and our first since becoming a 501(c)3 last year, because it enables us to provide badly needed basic necessities to clients in need.  Typically these take the form of items such as toiletries, special baby formula, over-the-counter medications, or feminine products.  Thanks again Safeway for helping us help those who need it most.

Although I’m a bit late on this, we passed our first year as a corporation on March 8, 2008, and it has been an amazing first year.  Initially I thought we would be lucky to hit $10,000 in in-kind donations and financial assistance in our first year, but we were able to provide our clients with over $50,000 in donated items and assistance.  I want to thank everyone who donated to our projects last year, enabling us to do our benevolent outreach in the local area.   Our first project, gift baskets to the homeless mom’s at Tri-Valley Haven and Shepherd’s Gate, both in Livermore, was a tremendous success, and the mom’s loved the gifts.  Our subsequent projects, Nosatras En Control, Support to Local Families and Individuals, Bus Pass Buddies, Shoes to Local K-5 students in impoverished Livermore, CA schools, etc., were only successful because of your generosity.  Thanks again!

BasicNecessities.org is a non-profit charitable organization, headquartered in Livermore, California. Our mission is to provide resources to people in need, particularly those in transitional or crisis situations, who are trying to improve their lives.

We do this by providing resources, such as in-kind donations, limited financial assistance, and information, to those in need of life’s basic necessities, including food and shelter, financial and educational aid, medical assistance, pregnancy counseling and assistance, safety from abusive relationships, re-entry into the community, and help from alcohol and substance abuse. We serve the Tri-Valley area (Dublin, Pleasanton, Livermore, and nearby communities), and various mission locations.

On these blog pages you’ll find some of our case histories, or perhaps just something exciting or heartfelt that happened to us today.  Note that unless we have something worthwhile to write, we won’t write anything.