March 2022
Hi Everyone! I hope this newsletter finds you healthy and safe. First of all, I want to thank everyone who helped make all of our fundraising efforts in 2021 a success. If you donated financially –Thank You. If you donated your time – Thank You. If you donated items for food distribution – Thank You. And last, but not least, Thank You to our dedicated board members who have kept this organization moving forward year after year. Salvation Army bell ringing this year was very successful. We raised a little more than $20,000 this year. Our total was larger than Paso Robles, Morro Bay, and San Luis Obispo. We had the highest average daily count per kettle in the county. Thank You Los Osos. You were very generous this year. I also want to thank everyone who rang the bell for those most in need among us. 96% of the 240 shifts were filled this year. You should be proud of yourselves. On another bright note, the 16th Annual Needs ‘N Wishes Holiday Fundraiser for the Homeless, held this year again at the South Bay Community Center on December 11th, was also very successful. We raised a record for the event of $53,159. The previous high for the event was $47,695. The SLO Noor Clinic and 40 Prado Homeless Services Center each received checks for $26,579.50. Needs ‘N Wishes 2022 will be held in December 10th from 10 AM to 6 PM.Also, in 2021 we completed our fundraiser campaign to help the South Bay Community Center financially during the Covid shut down. We raised over $33,000 from this community who cares about the future viability of the center and showed it with their checkbooks. On top of that, People Helping People donated an additional $3,000 to the community center from our 2 very successful rummage sales last year. All told, People Helping People raised and donated over $109.000 to other organizations last year. Not bad for an organization that has no paid staff. Just think what could be accomplished if all organizations with similar goals helped in fundraising for each other: Greater event attendance, proceed totals, and interactive communication: All resulting in an ability to help more of those of least means among us. We continue to distribute food every Wednesday morning at 9:30 AM at the South Bay Community Center. If you need help supplementing your weekly food budget, or know someone who may, please show up and partake of what we have to offer. Everyone is welcome. If you would like to donate to our all-volunteer organization, please make your check out to People Helping People and send it to Box 6221, Los Osos, CA 93412. Thank you in advance and be assured we will leverage your donation to maximize its impact towards helping those in need in our community. In closing I want to say that there are too many people to thank individually for helping PHP accomplish what we do each year. So, I’ll just say Thank You to everyone who makes us what we are collectively: People Helping People. Have a great Year!
Sincerely,
Richard Margetson – President
November 2021
Hi Everyone. I hope this newsletter finds you healthy and safe. With the holidays upon us, PHP will be busier than normal. We continue to provide nutritious food for those in need at our weekly Wednesday morning distribution at the South Bay Community Center. Also, our year-round medical equipment lending program is available to all in need. Just call 805-528-2626 to see if we have what you may be looking for. Beside these popular PHP programs. Salvation Army Bell Ringing at Ralph’s Market starts November 19th and the 16th Annual Needs ‘N Wishes Holiday Fundraiser will be held on December 11th.
Salvation Army Bell Ringing this year runs from Friday, November 19th thru Friday, December 24th. Our ringers will be at both doors of Ralph’s Market Monday thru Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. We could use more ringers this year and I know the Salvation Army appreciates every penny we collect annually. The 2 hour shifts start at 10 a.m. and end at 6 p.m. Please call 805-528-5800 if you can help. Also, if you normally mail a donation to the Salvation Army, please consider dropping it in the kettle instead. That will ensure that 90% of your donation stays here locally.
This year the PHP sponsored 16th Annual Needs ‘N Wishes Holiday Fundraiser will be back at the Community Center on Saturday, December 11th from 10 a.m. until we close the silent auction at 6 p.m. See the attached flyer for more details. Even though we raised a little over $22,000 at the greatly modified event we held last year in Baywood, it wasn’t the same as being at the Community Center. The goal is to double that amount this year. Remember, we have no overhead deduction from the total event proceeds. Therefore, 100% of your donation or purchases go directly to the two wonderful organizations Needs ‘N Wishes benefits. Also, the first $8,000 in monetary donations will be matched dollar for dollar. Your donation has a good chance of being doubled.
As always, thank you to all of our volunteers and donors who make us what we are collectively: People Helping People. Be safe. Enjoy the Holidays. And, if you have the means, please help those of least means among us. Not just during the holiday season, but throughout the year.
Sincerely,
Richard Margetson – President
July 2021
Hi Everyone! The time has finally arrived; the South Bay Community Center is open again as of July 1st. I am pleased to announce that we will be holding our annual PHP Rummage Sale on Friday, August 6th from noon to 4:00 p.m. and Saturday, August 7th from 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at the Community Center. We have so many treasures this year that we will be completely reloading the tables both days. Come by more than once so you don’t miss out on that one particular item you’ve been looking for. We have tons of household goods, small furniture, tools, sporting goods, collectibles, and electronics. There’s something for everyone. 1/3 of the proceeds will be donated to the Community Center. 1/3 will go to support People Helping People. And, 1/3 will be donated at the 16th Annual Needs ‘N Wishes Holiday Fundraiser on December 11th that benefits both the SLO Noor Clinic and 40 Prado Homeless Services Center.
If we are not shut down again by October 14th, we will be holding our Annual Pizza Party Awards Dinner that night at 6:00 p.m. at the Community Center. Since we were unable to hold this event last year, the PHP Board has decided that all 3 awards for 2020 will be titled Covid-19 Essential Workers collectively. Our 2021 recipients are a secret and will be announced at the event. The 3 awards will be for Volunteer of the Year, Person of the Year, and Lifetime Achievement. Please come and help us honor the selfless contributions of all our award winners. Tickets are $8 and should be purchased in advance if you can.
I know it may seem early to remind everyone, but it is less than 4 months until the start of Salvation Army Bell Ringing on November 19th thru December 24th. Hope all our regulators can help again this year and hopefully we can pick up some new ringers this year. Last year was by far our most successful ever and will be hard to beat, but together we will give it our best effort.
As always, thank you to all of our volunteers and donors who make us what we are. People Helping People. See you on the 6th and 7th of August.
Sincerely,
Richard Margetson – President
February 2021
Hi Everyone, I hope this newsletter finds you healthy and safe during this time of Covid-19. First of all, I want to thank everyone who helped make all of our fundraising efforts in 2020 a success. If you donated financially – Thank You. If you donated your time – Thank You. If you donated items for our food distribution – Thank You. And last but not least, Thank You to our dedicated board members who have kept this organization moving forward during both good times and trying times.
Now, on to the good news: Salvation Army bell ringing this year was unbelievably successful. We raised almost $25,000 this year. By comparison, our previous high total was a little less than $19,000 two years ago. Thank You Los Osos. You were exceptionally generous this year. I also want to thank everyone who wore a mask and rang the bell for those most in need among us. You should be proud of yourselves.
On another bright note, our vastly scaled down 15th Annual Needs ‘N Wishes Holiday Fundraiser for the Homeless was also very successful. We raised $22,014 at our Bake/Craft Sale on December 7th and 14th in conjunction with the Monday Farmers’ Market. The SLO Noor Clinic and the 40 Prado Homeless Services Center each received a check for $11,007. Hopefully this December we will be able to hold this annul event back at the South Bay Community Center.
We continue to distribute food every Wednesday morning at 9:30 AM at the South Bay Community Centre. If you need help supplementing your weekly food budget, or know someone who may, please show up and partake of what we have to offer. Everyone is welcome.
If you would like to donate to our all-volunteer organization, please make your check out to People Helping People and send it to Box 6221, Los Osos, CA 93412. Thank you in advance and be assured we will leverage your donation to maximize its impact toward helping those most in need in our community.
In closing I want to say that there are too many people to thank individually for helping PHP accomplish what we do each year. So I’ll just say Thank You from the bottom of my heart to everyone who makes us what we are collectively: People Helping People. Have a great new year, be safe, wear a mask, wash your hands frequently, and social distance when appropriate.
Sincerely,
Richard Margetson – President
October 2020
I hope this newsletter finds you healthy and safe during this year of Covid-19. PHP was designated as an essential service to the community at the beginning of the outbreak which has allowed us to continue our Wednesday morning food distribution at the South Bay Community Center starting at 9:30 A.M. If your or someone you know are in need of supplemental nutrition and your budget is stretched to the max, please come by any Wednesday morning and pick up a box of food, vegetables, bread, and other goodies.
We are still distributing medical equipment to those in need at no charge. Just call our office number (805) 528-2626, leave a message and someone will get back to you to make arrangements for either a home delivery or pick-up at the community center.
I want to thank all of our wonderful volunteers who have kept both of these programs running safely during this pandemic and to the dozens of you who have given monetary donations this year to keep our shelves stocked and PHP viable during these uncertain times for so many.
Because of the mandated closure of the community center we were unable to put on either our annual rummage sale or awards dinner/pizza fundraisers. Hopefully, we will be allowed to continue next year.
On a positive note, we are going to be bell ringing for the Salvation Army with all ringers wearing masks and sitting or standing a safe distance from the red kettle. We will be at both doors at Ralph’s Market starting on Friday, Nov 20th thru Thursday, Dec 24th. The 2 hour shifts start at 10 AM and end at 6 PM, Monday thru Saturday. If you would like to ring this year, please contact me at (805) 528-5800. We could use the help and I know Salvation Army needs every penny we can collect this year. Also, if you normally mail a donation to the Salvation Army, please consider dropping it in the kettle, which insures that 90% of your donation stays here locally.
Due to Covid-19, this year’s PHP sponsored 15th Annual Needs ‘N Wishes Holiday Fundraiser for the Homeless will not take place at the South Bay Community Center. However, in an effort to raise greatly needed funds for both SLO Noor Clinic and 40 Prado Homeless Services Center, we will be holding a Bake/Craft Sale on December 7th and 14th from 1:00 PM to 5:00 PM at 1305 2nd Street, across from the weekly Baywood Farmer’s Market. You can also bring your spare change to help fill our coin collection jug. We also have commitments of up to $4,500 in matching funds from local businesses and individual donors towards matching any monetary donations dollar to dollar up to a total of $4,500. If you would like to make a monetary donation and get it matched, please send a check, made out to People Helping People, to Box 6221, Los Osos, CA 93412. Please write “Matching Fund Donation” in the memo section on your check. If you have any questions, please call me at (805) 528-5800.
Lastly, I want to wish everyone a happy, safe, and healthy holiday season. Be kind to others and reflect on how fortunate most of us are even during these trying times. Thank you for what you do individually to make what we are collectively: People Helping People.
Sincerely,
Richard Margetson – President
P.S. Be safe, wear a mask, wash your hands frequently and social distance when appropriate.
