The Children’s Crisis Center’s Turlock location, Verda’s House, has seen a 33% increase in families seeking assistance during the two years of the pandemic. With the increase in demand for support and hardships of the winter months, the nonprofit crisis center is seeking donations of all kinds from community members.
“The winter months are especially challenging,” said executive assistant Tisha Chang. “Families need help more than ever during the holiday season.”
Verda’s House is part of the Children's Crisis Center of Stanislaus County. The Crisis Center provides nurturing, homelike environments, offering proper nutrition, security, encouragement and growth opportunities that develop trust, promote higher self-esteem and foster positive behaviors and attitudes for children who receive services.
The programs provide immediate separation of children from parents at times when critical family events have heightened the potential for abuse and neglect allowing children who are at-risk time away from the negative circumstances of their family life.
Some of the items they provide families are food baskets, personal care products and winter clothes. A few of their most generous donors are the Cal-Freight in Ripon and California Highway Patrol.
In 2021, Verda’s House served 770 children from 346 family units with 41,471 hours of care. The community has already been generous to the crisis center. This holiday season alone, the house has received 770 gifts from community members. Verda’s House is looking for donations of all kinds, however, due to the pandemic, all items must be new.
Some of the most needed items are all types of food, different kinds of milk to account for allergies and new clothes primarily for children three months to six years old.
“We are really looking for almond milk, oat milk and really all types of milk because of different allergies children may have,” said Chang. “Items like jackets and shoes really help out this time of year.”
For those interested in making a donation, call (209) 577-0138 and for families seeking assistance, the 24 hours crisis hotline can be reached at (209) 577-4413. For more information visit childrenscrisiscenter.com.
