OAKHURST — There are those who see a need—despite perhaps having limitations themselves—and determine to meet it. Michele Gonzales is one of those. She regularly participates in the Sunday meals offered by Soup 4 Friends and also joins up with Mountain to Mountain Support Crew, both grassroots support groups who make it their mission to serve the needs of those less fortunate. You could say it’s her mission.
Michele’s current focus is on gathering winter supplies for the homeless, but she will collect donations (hard goods only, not monetary) to meet any need—a needy family, an elder. She says the groups she works with have identified approximately 30 homeless in our area, based on those they serve at the Sunday Soup 4 Friends gatherings.
Michelle wants to provide coats, clothes, food and camping supplies through donations from folks throughout the area. Of special interest at this time are backpacks you might be able to donate. Camping supplies could include covers, tents sleeping bags canopies or tarps and rope, Coleman stoves , propane cylinders, lanterns and batteries , power banks, briquets and grills. If you have something not on the list that you think might be of use, call Michele to ask.
Did you have a yard sale and have items left over? Michele will come get them.
Need to declutter? Michelle will pick up items of use to help those in need.
Why not make your holiday season one of giving to more than just immediate family?
If you have items that would be useful to those alone or down on their luck, consider contacting Michele. She’ll make arrangements to pick up your donations in Oakhurst, Coarsegold, Bass Lake, North Fork.
Donations can also be dropped off at the Oakhurst Library on Sunday afternoons when the Soup 4 Friends gather from 12 noon to 2 p.m.
Do you know of someone in need? Let Michele know that, too. She said that most of the needs she identifies come by word of mouth. The giving goes both directions . . . from those who have to those who need.
To get more information on Soup 4 Friends or Mountain to Mountain Crew Support, visit their Facebook pages. See the story here about Soup 4 Friends, and contact them if you can donate time, food or money to their Sunday meal offerings. These are all local groups who have come together in an informal way to meet the needs of certain parts of our community.
Contact information: Michele Gonzales, 559-676-0755.
Photos other than Michele Gonzales, courtesy of Pixabay.