Volunteers are now needed for evening meal services at the Residential Family Center in Sacramento. For more information on how you can make a difference, click here. To see past volunteer events at the center, see below.

Volunteers are now needed for evening meal services at the Residential Family Center in Sacramento. For more information on how you can make a difference, click here. To see past volunteer events at the center, see below.

Former teachers host Valentine's Day party for children in residence

Retired teacher Lynda Ryerson (above) and fellow
veteran educator Sue Cain hosted a Valentine's Day
party Feb. 11 for the children in residence at the
Residential Family Center in Sacramento.

With nearly 30 years as an elementary-school educator – from classroom teacher to principal – Lynda Ryerson could be called a holiday-party expert.

Following a recent tour of the newly opened Residential Family Center, Ryerson knew she could lend a hand almost immediately by putting some bright smiles on the faces of the children in residence at the downtown Sacramento shelter.

"I was absolutely excited about doing crafts with the kids there," said Ryerson. "It's a great activity for me, as well as the kids."

Ryerson recruited friend Sue Crain, another retired elementary-school teacher and, together, they hosted an afternoon party complete with games (bingo using conversation heart candies as markers), arts-and-crafts activities (including Valentine's Day card making) and treats galore.

To learn more about available volunteer opportunities, click here, or contact community relations manager Kim Castaneda at 916.442.3691, or at kimc@voa-sac.org.

Former teachers host Valentine's Day party for children in residence

Retired teacher Lynda Ryerson (above) and fellow
veteran educator Sue Cain hosted a Valentine's Day
party Feb. 11 for the children in residence at the
Residential Family Center in Sacramento.

With nearly 30 years as an elementary-school educator – from classroom teacher to principal – Lynda Ryerson could be called a holiday-party expert.

Following a recent tour of the newly opened Residential Family Center, Ryerson knew she could lend a hand almost immediately by putting some bright smiles on the faces of the children in residence at the downtown Sacramento shelter.

"I was absolutely excited about doing crafts with the kids there," said Ryerson. "It's a great activity for me, as well as the kids."

Ryerson recruited friend Sue Crain, another retired elementary-school teacher and, together, they hosted an afternoon party complete with games (bingo using conversation heart candies as markers), arts-and-crafts activities (including Valentine's Day card making) and treats galore.

To learn more about available volunteer opportunities, click here, or contact community relations manager Kim Castaneda at 916.442.3691, or at kimc@voa-sac.org.

Residential Family Center volunteers now serving!

You can join volunteers like sisters Brandy and Amanda
Palm, who are now regularly serving the evening meal at
the Volunteers of America Residential Family Center.

When her great-grandmother passed away in 2008, leaving her a bit of an inheritance, then-20-year-old Sierra College student Brandy Palm decided to make some changes.

"She was really into helping people," said Palm, "so I thought I would work less and volunteer more – because that's what my grandma would want me to do."

When she discovered Volunteers of America online, she scheduled a tour that proved to be an eye-opener, and led to a volunteer shift serving dinner to clients at the Winter Shelter at Cal Expo.

"It was really neat to have the hands-on experience of serving," said Palm. "You understand better what's going on rather than just hearing about it, and makes you appreciate everything you have so much more."

Since then, Palm has recruited family and friends to join her in support of Volunteers of America, including younger sister Amanda who is now joining her to serve dinner at the Residential Family Center in Sacramento.

Beyond plating and serving the food and washing the trays, Palm says she tries to engage the children in light-hearted conversation.

"I wonder about how their homeless experience will affect them in later life," she says. "I try to talk to them and make them happy – cheer them up."

To learn more about available volunteer opportunities, click here, or contact community relations manager Kim Castaneda at 916.442.3691, or at kimc@voa-sac.org.

Residential Family Center volunteers now serving!

You can join volunteers like sisters Brandy and Amanda
Palm, who are now regularly serving the evening meal at
the Volunteers of America Residential Family Center.

When her great-grandmother passed away in 2008, leaving her a bit of an inheritance, then-20-year-old Sierra College student Brandy Palm decided to make some changes.

"She was really into helping people," said Palm, "so I thought I would work less and volunteer more – because that's what my grandma would want me to do."

When she discovered Volunteers of America online, she scheduled a tour that proved to be an eye-opener, and led to a volunteer shift serving dinner to clients at the Winter Shelter at Cal Expo.

"It was really neat to have the hands-on experience of serving," said Palm. "You understand better what's going on rather than just hearing about it, and makes you appreciate everything you have so much more."

Since then, Palm has recruited family and friends to join her in support of Volunteers of America, including younger sister Amanda who is now joining her to serve dinner at the Residential Family Center in Sacramento.

Beyond plating and serving the food and washing the trays, Palm says she tries to engage the children in light-hearted conversation.

"I wonder about how their homeless experience will affect them in later life," she says. "I try to talk to them and make them happy – cheer them up."

To learn more about available volunteer opportunities, click here, or contact community relations manager Kim Castaneda at 916.442.3691, or at kimc@voa-sac.org.

Lacin/Christophel gift family center with inspirational mural

KCRA's Leticia Ordaz interviews Sofia Lacin and
partner Hennessy Christophel about their Residential
Family Center mural donation for a December 2009
morning news segment. Lacin and Christophel will
be recognized for their contribution during the
center's Feb. 23 dedication event. Read the
Feb. 19, 2010 Sacramento Business Journal
story on the project by clicking here.

At a time when many recent college grads are hitting speed bumps on their fast tracks to success, Sofia Lacin and Hennessy Christophel are cruising at warp speed.

The Sacramento-based artists' joint venture – Lacin/Christophel Mural & Design – has been so successful that the pair was able to afford to recently take a week off to paint a mural at the newly opened Volunteers of America Residential Family Center.

The four-panel mural represents four important inspirational messages: nature and community; education; friendship, cooperation and diversity; and the idea that anything is possible, that the future is unlimited.

After seven consecutive days of work, and pints and pints of donated paint (thank you, University Art and Sherwin-Williams), Lacin and Christophel completed the project on Dec. 22, achieving their goal of having it ready to present by Christmas.

To see photos of the duo's work throughout the mural's creation, please click here.

Leticia Ordaz of KCRA 3 interviewed the pair as they put the finishing touches on the piece for a live report the morning of Dec. 22. The segment also aired on the station's noon news. (click on the YouTube icon above to view). In February 2010, the Sacramento Business Journal ran a story on the duo and their project as part of its "Partners in Philanthropy 2010" series. To read that story (photo is at right), click here.

Many thanks to Sofia and Hennessy for their dedication and passion for the project. It's beautiful! 

Lacin/Christophel gift family center with inspirational mural

KCRA's Leticia Ordaz interviews Sofia Lacin and
partner Hennessy Christophel about their Residential
Family Center mural donation for a December 2009
morning news segment. Lacin and Christophel will
be recognized for their contribution during the
center's Feb. 23 dedication event. Read the
Feb. 19, 2010 Sacramento Business Journal
story on the project by clicking here.

At a time when many recent college grads are hitting speed bumps on their fast tracks to success, Sofia Lacin and Hennessy Christophel are cruising at warp speed.

The Sacramento-based artists' joint venture – Lacin/Christophel Mural & Design – has been so successful that the pair was able to afford to recently take a week off to paint a mural at the newly opened Volunteers of America Residential Family Center.

The four-panel mural represents four important inspirational messages: nature and community; education; friendship, cooperation and diversity; and the idea that anything is possible, that the future is unlimited.

After seven consecutive days of work, and pints and pints of donated paint (thank you, University Art and Sherwin-Williams), Lacin and Christophel completed the project on Dec. 22, achieving their goal of having it ready to present by Christmas.

To see photos of the duo's work throughout the mural's creation, please click here.

Leticia Ordaz of KCRA 3 interviewed the pair as they put the finishing touches on the piece for a live report the morning of Dec. 22. The segment also aired on the station's noon news. (click on the YouTube icon above to view). In February 2010, the Sacramento Business Journal ran a story on the duo and their project as part of its "Partners in Philanthropy 2010" series. To read that story (photo is at right), click here.

Many thanks to Sofia and Hennessy for their dedication and passion for the project. It's beautiful! 

Santa, elves visit the family center in form of LP Capital Advisors

Siblings Gabriel and Lillian were thrilled with
the early Christmas they enjoyed courtesy
of LP Capital Advisors.

Staff members from LP Capital Advisors in Sacramento played Santa Claus (figuratively and literally) for the children of the Residential Family Center in December, bringing toys for the children in residence, as well as household items and more toys for the children who were due to arrive later in the month.

The children were thrilled with the opportunity to meet jolly, old St. Nick and to open gifts weeks before the 25th, and were playing with their radio-controlled cars, holding tea parties and erecting towers with building blocks almost immediately.

After the four-person contingent delivered the goodies and talked with the families, program coordinator Norma Ward gave them a tour of the newly refurbished facility.

The Residential Family Center, which was recently converted from a shelter for singles thanks to help from HomeAid Sacramento and Standard Pacific Homes, officially opens Dec. 15 and expects to reach its capacity of 12 families by Christmas.

Santa, elves visit the family center in form of LP Capital Advisors

Siblings Gabriel and Lillian were thrilled with
the early Christmas they enjoyed courtesy
of LP Capital Advisors.

Staff members from LP Capital Advisors in Sacramento played Santa Claus (figuratively and literally) for the children of the Residential Family Center in December, bringing toys for the children in residence, as well as household items and more toys for the children who were due to arrive later in the month.

The children were thrilled with the opportunity to meet jolly, old St. Nick and to open gifts weeks before the 25th, and were playing with their radio-controlled cars, holding tea parties and erecting towers with building blocks almost immediately.

After the four-person contingent delivered the goodies and talked with the families, program coordinator Norma Ward gave them a tour of the newly refurbished facility.

The Residential Family Center, which was recently converted from a shelter for singles thanks to help from HomeAid Sacramento and Standard Pacific Homes, officially opens Dec. 15 and expects to reach its capacity of 12 families by Christmas.