A Simple Gesture: Paradise (Cool Green Bag)

Happy Fathers Day to all our Cool Green Bag Cool Fathers out there! Look for our return to the Paradise Ridge with an October pick up this fall!!! Have a great Fathers Day!

Today was the second time in the 8 years since we started we did not pick up the Cool Green Bags on our scheduled day. The first was an ice storm in Magalia a couple of years ago, we delayed by one week. Looking forward to rebuilding our list of food donors, drivers and pantries. Hope to deliver food again some time in 2019. Glad to hear that people and organizations rallied to bring much need food to Magalia residents after their evacuation was lifted!

Symbolic of California Vocations Survival and Resolve, photo by Bob Irvine, graphic by Neil Schwartz.

Hello fellow Simple Gesture Donors....we look forward to the day when we can drive through the neighborhoods and pick up the cool green bags filled with food for our hungry neighbors. Unfortunately, the office of California Vocations, Inc. where the 3,000 green bags were stored has burnt to the ground. We will be back and we hope you will too! Until then....we will wait. Be patient, have hope and faith in our future. Blessings to all the first responders who tried to save our Town, may they be safe during the difficult task of making it safe for our return!

Through Nov 2, AmazonSmile is donating 5% (ten times the usual amount) to California Vocations Inc when you shop at smile.amazon.com/ch/68-0062031. #AmazonSmile #StartWithaSmile = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = AmazonSmile is increasing the donation rate 10x from Oct 29 - Nov 2.

The maps are printed and Jessica and the COVE crew are organizing the bags for our drivers! Pick up is on October 13. We are looking for 4 substitute drivers in Magalia and 3 in Paradise this time. If you want to help, please call 530-876-8448 and leave a message. We will be in touch...Thank you!

Our next pickup is in 3 weeks! Saturday, October 13. It is not too late to sign up to donate....call 530-876-8448 and leave a message with your name, address, phone and email. We will deliver a green bag to your front door. Thank you!

What a fantastic achievement our Simple Gesture "cousin" in Greensboro NC has accomplished! Congratulations We estimate nearly 100 Simple Gesture Programs have started in communities across the United States! What a great program to be a part of

Paradise High School July 1 Great news for you and your students. Paradise Unified School District is pleased to announce that we will be providing our healt...hy breakfast and lunch to all students at NO COST during the 2018-19 School Year at the following school sites: Cedarwood, Pine Ridge, Honey Run, Ponderosa, Paradise High School, Paradise Intermediate School and Paradise Elementary School. Meals at no cost are possible because of the Healthy, Hunger Free Kids Act of 2010 and Community Eligibility Provision (CEP). Each school cafeteria provides a health breakfast and lunch each day and we hope you will take advantage of this rare but incredible opportunity. What does this mean for you and your children attending the school(s) listed above? All enrolled students are eligible to receive a healthy breakfast and lunch at school at NO CHARGE to your household each day of the 2018-19 school year. No further action is required of you. Your child(ren) will be able to participate in these programs without having to pay a fee or submit an application.

Reminder of our Food Donation Pick Up day this Saturday, August 11!

Our August Cool Green Bag food collection is next Saturday the 11th! Pantry shelves are almost bare...please be generous with your non-perishable food donations. If you want to donate more than your bag will hold, just place them in a paper bag or box, no problem. This is back to school season, if you would like to donate back to school items for kids who are served by our pantries, our drivers will gladly take them for you. Thank you in advance for all your donations!

Special pic from East Greensboro NC! A great volunteer retrieving the cool green bag!

The day is almost here! Please be aware that we will be closed tomorrow, Thursday, June 28th to move. We will reopen on Monday the 2nd of July! Thank you and we look forward to serving you at our new location @ 6189 Clark Rd.!