Youth College Tour - Child Development - AT&T - Maria Luisa Molina - Volunteers

MNC Youth College Tour (continued from front page) MNC Bernal Dwellings Director, Ginale Garcia Harris said, “All of our tours were worth going to because of the (many positive) things we heard and saw. Hearing about something is one thing, but to see it is to believe it and I know we changed a few minds about the college experience!” Ginale reported that the girls’ favorite college visit was to Morris Brown College. A Morris Brown alum showed them around and let them know how serious an education is. A choir even welcomed them in song! They were given hope and motivation to bring home. All of the girls (who were already 3.0+ students!) realized how important education was and how they needed to take their educations a lot more seriously. One young lady recommitted so seriously that upon returning to San Francisco, quit her part-time job so she could focus more on her studies. These students were given a glimpse into their own futures and know they ARE college bound! This was an experience of a lifetime only made possible by Southwest Airlines! Southwest Airlines, has once again given our young clients a unique opportunity to see in person, places they may have only read of in school. This first-hand learning experience will be something they will never forget. The next sponsored trip will take 12-15 more of our youth clients - this time to Washington D.C. for a college tour and civic learning experience. MNC is very grateful to Southwest Airlines for its sponsorship of the Mission Girls’ Career Exploration Program!
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Child Development (continued from front page) The program officially launched on January 24 2011 and will serve 6 infants and 8 toddlers, and of course, their families will be provided with supportive and referral services. This new program will provide high quality childcare and development services, allowing low-income parents to pursue educational goals, vocational training, or full time employment. MNC is very excited to implement the infant/toddler program and looks forward to many more years of enhanced service delivery. For more information, please visit our Child Development page.
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AT&T (continued from front page) This funding will assist MNC in continuing to provide supportive services to children, youth, and families. According to Santiago “Sam” Ruiz, MNC Executive Director, “This generous and timely grant is the lifeline for our Infant and Toddler care unit. Without AT&T support we would not be able to introduce quality early care services to working poor and low-income families residing in San Francisco’s Southeast sector.” MNC would also like to congratulate its staff members, who worked in conjunction with AT&T staff, for their persistence in securing this contribution!
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Maria Luisa Molina (continued from front page) She started coming every day making new friends, participating in the exercise, computer, and ESL classes and came to all the workshops and festivities.  She soon became a volunteer in the dining room helping serve meals to other seniors.  Eventually, Maria Luisa was volunteering in many of the other activities offered at the center, especially in the San Francisco Food Bank produce distribution program, where seniors receive free fresh fruit and vegetables every Wednesday.  In the last 5 years, Maria Luisa has become an integral part of the MNC family. She is loved by her peers and staff alike. Everyone knows they can depend on her for anything.  “Since I came to Mission Neighborhood Centers, my whole life changed. Now I feel like I belong to a community. I feel that I am part of an extended family. Now, everywhere I go and see ladies sitting by themselves in fast food places, or anywhere else, I invite them to come to Mission Neighborhood Centers and be somebody special.” Like Maria Luisa, most of the seniors who come to our center do not have close family members. The family-like atmosphere, the friendly staff and the activities offered at the center really make a difference in the lives of seniors. “Coming to Mission Neighborhood Centers, brought me back to life!”
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Volunteers (continued from front page) The volunteers from GAP, Inc. spent the day at our Capp Street senior program. The delectable smell of corn masa filled the building as 10 volunteers helped 45 seniors make chicken tamales. The senior program sold the tamales the next day to hungry MNC staff and clients, creating a mini-fundraiser for the program! Finally, volunteers from KPMG held a toy drive at their San Francisco office and then handed out those toys, books, and school supplies to our 24th Street Head Start Center students. The children and their parents appreciated the toys and supplies very much. The gifts were handed out in conjunction with the center’s holiday party, so whole families were able to share in the festivities with the volunteers and thank them personally for their gifts. Staff and clients of MNC are very grateful to these three corporations and their many volunteers for giving so graciously of their time in support of what we do! Thank you also to the San Francisco Firefighter’s Toy Program for donating toys to the MNC Bernal Dwellings Family Resource Center, the University of Phoenix volunteers for working with the MNC Mission Girls program, and the San Francisco Bar Association for donating a toy to each of our 380 Head Start children! MNC’s reach goes so much further with support from volunteers like you!
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