Safe Lives, Strong Voices Ep.6

This month, Host Soo shares how Tri-Valley Haven and the community came together to meet rising food needs during a busy season at the Food Pantry. Hear how volunteers, donors, and partner organizations worked together to ensure every family received support with care and dignity. Soo also highlights the 2025 Holiday Program, offering festive food, gift cards, and stockings, as well as the 10th Annual Mony Nop Turkey Drop. This episode reflects on the power of community, gratitude, and coming together to bring hope and joy to families in need during the holiday season.

Transcript

SPEAKER_00: 0:05

Hi everyone, welcome back to Safe Lives Strong Voices, the podcast by Tri Valley Haven. I'm Sue and I'm so glad you're here. The month of November has brought us moments of challenge and moments of deep community support. Our food pantry has been especially busy, and today I want to share what that looked like, how our volunteers and partners helped us meet the need, and highlight what's ahead for the holiday season, including our annual holiday program and the 10th annual Moni Knop Turkey Drop. As we moved through fall, we saw more families coming to the food pantry than usual. Some had been here before, and others were walking in for the very first time. Everyone carried their own story, and we welcomed each person with care. On our busiest days, the line formed before the doors even opened. But every time the need rose, someone from the community stepped forward. Our wonderful volunteers showed up early and stayed late. Neighbors offered to help organize shelves. Local groups held multiple food drives for us. And partner organizations reached out to ask, what do you need? How can we help? And thanks to that teamwork, we were able to serve every household that came to us with warmth and dignity. What could have been an overwhelming season became a reminder of what community truly looks like. And now we're in full preparation mode for one of our most cherished traditions, Tri-Valley Haven's annual holiday program. This program brings joy, nourishment, and a sense of celebration and dignity to families throughout the Tri-Valley during both Thanksgiving and the December holiday season. Our 2025 holiday giveaway will once again provide households in need with holiday food, a turkey or vegetarian option, cheerful stockings, and gift cards. And we chose gift cards intentionally. They give families the freedom to pick out what fits their traditions. Every household celebrates differently, and honoring that choice is important to us. And this year we're seeking donations of festive holiday stockings, monetary donations, or$25 gift cards from Safeway, Grocery Outlet, Walmart, or Target. These contributions directly help parents and families create a warm holiday season for their children, one that feels personal and meaningful. To everyone who has already donated or shared the word, thank you, this program truly exists because of you. Next, I wanted to talk about some of the upcoming events that you can be a part of. First, this Saturday, November 15th, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., Tri-Valley Haven and Partners will be at participating grocery outlet locations in the Tri-Valley. We'll have our trucks parked and ready to accept donations, so stop by your local store between 10 and 1 if you can. Every donation dropped off that day goes straight into this season's distributions. Next is the 10th annual Moniknob Turkey Drop. We're asking our community to help in a special way. On Sunday, November 23rd, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., join us at the Livermore City Hall parking lot. For the anniversary, we're inviting donors to give 10 turkeys or a$100 donation in honor of the 10 years of this event. Your support that day will ensure families have a warm Thanksgiving meal and feel the care of their neighbors. Both events are simple ways to show up for neighbors in need. Whether you can drop off a few items at grocery outlet on the 15th or mark the Moni Knop anniversary on the 23rd with a larger gift, either way, your generosity helps families celebrate with dignity and warmth. November is a natural time for reflection, and at Tri-Valley Haven, we have a lot to be grateful for. We're so grateful for our volunteers. Your steady presence, your kindness, your willingness to adjust on the spot. You're truly the heart of Tri-Valley Haven and all of our programs. We're grateful for our donors. Whether you give once a year or every month, your support directly touches families in real, tangible ways. We're also grateful for our partners, schools, businesses, faith communities, and civic groups. Your teamwork helps us extend our reach so more families can receive support when they need it most. We're grateful for our staff who carry out this work with compassion and professionalism, even on the busiest days. And above all, we're grateful for the families we serve, for their resilience, their trust, and their courage. As we move into the holiday season, there are many ways you can make a difference. Please consider volunteering your time at the food pantry, during our holiday distributions, or admin processes at our community building. Even a few hours helps everything run smoothly and makes a huge impact for families. Consider donating a holiday stocking or gift card. Every gift helps families celebrate with dignity and choice. For adult stockings, consider items like mittens, scarves, lotion, games, self-care items, journals, or small cozy items. For children's stockings, crayons, craft kits, non-violent toys, or books are perfect. All items should be new and stockings should be medium size, about 12 to 24 inches tall. You can also donate a$25 gift card from Safeway, Grocery Outlet, Walmart, or Target. Donations can be dropped off at 3663 Pacific Avenue in Livermore Monday through Friday from 9 to 5 p.m. You can also consider organizing a food drive at your workplace, school, or place of worship. Bringing your community together for a shared cause multiplies your impact. Also spread the word about Tri Valley Haven programs. Sharing information with neighbors, friends, or social networks ensures families who need help can find us. Partner with us if you're part of a business, organization, or a corporate group that wants to contribute. Whether it's sponsoring a holiday giveaway or helping with logistics, your collaboration helps us reach more families in need. Every small action matters. When you show up, you create hope, warmth, and joy for our neighbors during the holiday season. Together we can make sure no family goes without this year. Thank you for spending this time with me today and for being part of the Tri-Valley Haven community. As the holiday season approaches, may you find moments of warmth, gratitude, and connection with the people around you. Please remember your support, encouragement, and care help create a stronger, more compassionate community for everyone. From all of us here at Tri Valley Haven, we wish you a safe and peaceful November. We'll see you next month on Safe Lives Strong Voices. Until then, take care of yourselves and each other.