First published in the Feb. 17 print issue of the Outlook Valley Sun.
The Los Altos Auxiliary of Sycamores wrapped up a year of giving by providing 487 holiday gifts to 47 youth at Sycamores’ El Nido residential campus in Altadena, in addition to $50 gift cards for 140 young adults in the organization’s Transitional Independent Living Program.
“Donations from our generous members and supporters allowed us to fulfill holiday wishes for the youth residing at El Nido, provide special cottage wish gifts to enhance life on the El Nido campus during the pandemic, and bestow gift cards to young adults in Sycamores’ Transitional Housing Program,” according to Los Altos Holiday Campaign co-chairs Carol DeFond and Cayce Sheppard.
“Due to COVID, youth at El Nido cannot currently eat in the campus cafeteria. To upgrade the cottage kitchens and provide a more home-like dining experience, we provided each of the campus cottages, where the youth live, with brand-new pots, pans, blenders and table settings,” Los Altos co-President Laurie Rodli explained.
“For the first time, in addition to providing gifts for the foster youth in the residential program at El Nido, we were also able to supply young adults in the Transitional Independent Living Program with gift cards to help them celebrate the 2021 holiday. The young adults in the program have either emancipated from foster or probation care or are in danger of becoming homeless. This program provides housing and helps the young adults acquire the skills needed to live independently,” she added.
Sycamores President/CEO Debra Manners said, “The members of Los Altos fulfill an important role at Sycamores, providing the youth with special gifts and experiences year-round, in addition to funding upgrades to our El Nido campus. We are so grateful for all the ways the generous and caring members of Los Altos enrich campus life for our foster youth and staff.”
During 2021, Los Altos commemorated 40 birthdays at El Nido with 24 homemade cupcakes and gift cards for each youth; supplied 40 handmade, no-sew blankets to the residents; celebrated fall, Halloween, Thanksgiving and Easter with festive parties; and funded numerous exciting on and off campus sporting and social activities. These activities were made possible through the volunteer efforts of members, and with proceeds from the Los Altos annual wine tasting party.
According to Hilary Gregg, co-president of Los Altos, “When my friends ask me what Los Altos does, I share the many ‘family-style’ activities we provide the residents and the critically important things our fundraising purchases. But the bottom line is that we provide comfort and care to the youth at El Nido who have severe challenges that prevent them from safely living at home or in other foster placements.”
El Nido’s professional staff deliver inclusive, trauma-informed therapeutic services designed to stabilize behaviors so the young residents can heal, recover, and achieve a permanent home solution. Los Altos volunteers offer year-round services that enhance the emotional and social lives of the youth on campus.
Many Los Altos members live in La Cañada and are eager to share their stories with other women interested in joining Los Altos. For more information about Los Altos, visit losaltosauxiliary.org/.
