Helping People Every Single Day!
When you live in a small, rural, isolated place like Del Norte County, California, things can get really rough. Wages are lower than the state average while basic living expenses are higher, and many families already living paycheck to paycheck are just one bad break away from being homeless or hungry.
That's where the good people of Community Assistance Network come in. This lens is to showcase what they are doing, and help them help others.
photo credit: Community Assistance Network Home Page
That's where the good people of Community Assistance Network come in. This lens is to showcase what they are doing, and help them help others.
photo credit: Community Assistance Network Home Page
Who/What is CAN?
From the Community Assistance Network Homepage: "Community Assistance Network (CAN) is a faith-based, multi-faceted, nonprofit human services corporation, based in Del Norte County, California.
Birthed in 1995 by the Del Norte Evangelical Ministerial Association, CAN was originally but a small food bank, serving some 165 people the first month of operation. Since then, the Lord has blessed us richly. We are in the business of passing those blessings on to others. This translates into our present array of 19 different services being delivered to the Del Norte and surrounding communities."
Birthed in 1995 by the Del Norte Evangelical Ministerial Association, CAN was originally but a small food bank, serving some 165 people the first month of operation. Since then, the Lord has blessed us richly. We are in the business of passing those blessings on to others. This translates into our present array of 19 different services being delivered to the Del Norte and surrounding communities."
*** Feeding the Hungry ***
FOOD BANK
Every year CAN's food bank feeds anywhere from 18 to 20% of the residents of Del Norte County. What makes this so terribly important lies in these facts:
Del Norte County is extremely isolated - the nearest city of any size is a 2 hr drive. There is a large population of homeless individuals and families, and not enough in the way of services. Recently, due in part to higher gas and grocery prices, more people have been showing up for the boxes of food. The elderly and disabled rely heavily on the CAN food distribution.
In 2005, 237 tons of food were distributed. It is estimated at 35% of this food went to children, while the disabled population received 22% and 25% was given to homeless individuals.
Given the current economic situation in our country, CAN's assistance is going to be needed in 2008 and 2009 even more!
Del Norte County is extremely isolated - the nearest city of any size is a 2 hr drive. There is a large population of homeless individuals and families, and not enough in the way of services. Recently, due in part to higher gas and grocery prices, more people have been showing up for the boxes of food. The elderly and disabled rely heavily on the CAN food distribution.
In 2005, 237 tons of food were distributed. It is estimated at 35% of this food went to children, while the disabled population received 22% and 25% was given to homeless individuals.
Given the current economic situation in our country, CAN's assistance is going to be needed in 2008 and 2009 even more!
A Del Norte Cab Driver had THIS to say about CAN:
You know, I take a lot of people out to CAN, and something always strikes me: No matter how dark a mood the people may be in when I drop them off, when I pick them up again, their mood has completely changed. They seem bright and sunny. Something out at CAN changes people.
Homelessness - Help and Prevention Services
Hot Showers & Hygienic Supplies
These services and supplies are available for the homeless, as needed. All CAN services are given free of charge.
Temporary Emergency Shelter
Provided to help the homeless transition to housed and as a reprieve from harsh weather conditions, these services are offered after completing a screening process.
"We've never been homeless; it's been difficult. I won't take for granted the comforts of home again."
Homeowner & Rental Assistance
Available for the elderly and disabled during tax time, this service reduces the tough choices many face about whether to pay for medicine, food, or housing.
CAN Cottages
Innovative and Exciting Idea!
CAN has tapped into a new way of building homes. We call it Structurally Innovative Affordable Housing. In the coming months we will, Lord willing, be building a prototype, 2-3 bedroom, single family house using this construction method. The end result is expected to be substantially less expensive than a conventionally built home, but stronger and more durable. Our long-term ambition is to build an array of single family homes, along with multi-family townhouses throughout the Crescent City and Del Norte County area, to help ease the local housing crunch and make proper housing more attainable for low-income to middle-income families.
WORKFORCE & ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
CANWork Welfare-To-Work Job Training Program
CAN's highly regarded welfare-to-work job training program, CANWork, presently equips about 100 individuals per year to not only acquire jobs, but to keep jobs, and win promotions.
Fields of training include: customer service, inventory stocking and management, general professionalism, warehouse, retail sales, reception/clerical, food/produce, grounds/building maintenance, custodial, and administrative assistance.
Fields of training include: customer service, inventory stocking and management, general professionalism, warehouse, retail sales, reception/clerical, food/produce, grounds/building maintenance, custodial, and administrative assistance.
CANSee Window & Power Washing
Licensed, bonded, & insured, CANSee provides professional window & power washing services to residential and commercial customers. CANsee also offers yard maintenance as well as Holiday light installation & removal.
All proceeds from CANsee help support the nonprofit human services of Community Assistance Network.
All proceeds from CANsee help support the nonprofit human services of Community Assistance Network.
CANDeal Variety Shop
For many of Del Norte's residents and visitors, this is the only visible part of CAN in our community. Located across the street from the local newspaper, the Del Norte Triplicate, in the heart of Crescent City, CANDeal is a tasteful, artsy, variety store that almost didn't make it.
You see, when CAN first wanted to put this store in, which was intended to sell a mixture of new and gently used items, there were nay-sayers who did their best to quash this innovative idea. I'm very pleased to say that common sense finally prevailed, and CAN was allowed to open this store.
Now open 5 days each week, the CANDeal Variety Shop carries world-class custom-made furniture, home decor, quality apparel, local crafts & artwork, outdoor goods, and gifts.
They are also the only local eBay consignment shop in our little community, helping people sell unique items online who would otherwise not be able to. Just another example of an innovative idea that helps our community. I'm real proud of this agency.
All proceeds support the nonprofit human services of Community Assistance Network.
You see, when CAN first wanted to put this store in, which was intended to sell a mixture of new and gently used items, there were nay-sayers who did their best to quash this innovative idea. I'm very pleased to say that common sense finally prevailed, and CAN was allowed to open this store.
Now open 5 days each week, the CANDeal Variety Shop carries world-class custom-made furniture, home decor, quality apparel, local crafts & artwork, outdoor goods, and gifts.
They are also the only local eBay consignment shop in our little community, helping people sell unique items online who would otherwise not be able to. Just another example of an innovative idea that helps our community. I'm real proud of this agency.
All proceeds support the nonprofit human services of Community Assistance Network.
*** FAMILY SERVICES ***
LIFE ELEVATION ACTION PROGRAM (LEAP)
Preventing Child Abuse
LEAP is a child abuse prevention program which promotes the well-being of children & families by building on family strengths, & connecting families with the community resources needed to meet their goals. CAN functions in partnership with the Del Norte County Department of Health & Social Services to deliver these services.
The program is voluntary. CAN staff members help families identify and assess their strengths and critical unmet needs. Together they identify goals and objectives that are important for maintaining safety and stability in their lives. Support from and collaboration with local agencies help families achieve these goals.
The program is voluntary. CAN staff members help families identify and assess their strengths and critical unmet needs. Together they identify goals and objectives that are important for maintaining safety and stability in their lives. Support from and collaboration with local agencies help families achieve these goals.
LEAP with Faith
LEAP with Faith is an innovative child abuse prevention program which improves the quality of life for individuals and families through friendship, mentoring, and faith.
At-risk families are linked with trained volunteer mentors from local churches, whose ambition is to foster the health and success of those families by being a friend, a resource, and a role model.
At-risk families are linked with trained volunteer mentors from local churches, whose ambition is to foster the health and success of those families by being a friend, a resource, and a role model.
CAN needs YOUR help!
If you live in or around Del Norte County, please consider becoming a volunteer for CAN. Click Here for Contact Information
If you live outside of our community and feel led by your heart to donate funds directly to CAN, you can click on this link: Community Assistance Network Donations
But wait! There's something you can do that will help all of us! Shop the eBay CANDEAL-CAN store!
If you live outside of our community and feel led by your heart to donate funds directly to CAN, you can click on this link: Community Assistance Network Donations
But wait! There's something you can do that will help all of us! Shop the eBay CANDEAL-CAN store!
An EASY way to help CAN continue to help the community:
shop their eBay store!
Fetching new data from eBay now... please stand by
CAN has hundreds of items for sale
every sale helps CAN help the community!
Fetching new data from eBay now... please stand byHere's my favorite link:
Did you know about CAN before you saw this lens?
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- Charlie Girls Artistic Creations Charlie Girls Artistic Creations Nov 5, 2008 @ 6:30 pm
- Nice Lens, yes I knew about CAN, but not where the store was. Great Job!
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- CrypticFragments CrypticFragments Oct 10, 2008 @ 10:06 am
- nice job! I wish all communities had this kind of readily accessible resource. Squidoo needs many more lenses of this nature for other locations. Thank you for featuring this program...maybe you can start a trend!
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- Kleppins_Kitchen Kleppins_Kitchen Oct 10, 2008 @ 9:57 am
- This is a very worthy organization. Much needed in a rural area such as Del Norte County, CA. Too many people are in financial difficulty through no faault of their own. This organization bridges the gap between outright poverty and the ability to earn a sustaining income.
You don't need to live here to support this group. Great lens CCGAL!!
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- Joan4 Joan4 Oct 10, 2008 @ 9:55 am
- I did not know about CAN until I read your site! The eBay store is a great way to get support for this deserving charity! Great lens!
by CCGAL
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