Gimme (more) shelter
Wine walk fundraisers added to support Wild Iris’ Transitional Housing Program.
Donna Richards is proof positive that a determined person with a good idea can really make a difference.
Richards, the Spa Directtor at Sierra Nevada Resort, was the innovator behind last year’s inaugural Gimme Shelter Carnival held in the Sierra Nevada Resort parking lot.
A portion of the proceeds from the carnival, approximately $12,000, went to Wild Iris to support its Transitional Housing Program, which was launched in December, 2014.
Donna Richards, Susi Bains and Heather Schaubmayer. Photo courtesy: Lunch.
According to Susi Bains of Wild Iris, the Family Counseling and Crisis Center which serves Inyo and Mono Counties, Wild Iris leveraged the $12,000 to successfully apply for additional grant funding which helped jumpstart the program.
The 18-month program offers participants and their families food, shelter, clothing and counseling as they attempt to transition from unhealthy living situations to start new lives.
This year, in addition to the 2nd Gimme Shelter Carnival which will take place july 8-12, there will also be two wine walk fundraisers for the Transitional Housing Program next weekend in both Mammoth (June 19) and Bishop (June 20).
The Mammoth event, to be held at the Village at Mammoth, will feature entertainment by Mick Adams and the Stones tribute band and a wine walk from 6-9 p.m.
Tickets are $40 online or $45 the day of the show and can be purchased at gimmeshelterfund.org. Tix are also available at the Sierra Nevada Resort, Tailwaggers and Mammoth Disposal.
Ticket purchases will include three ticket booklets to the upcoming Gimme Shelter Carnival, so if you have kids, you can actually save money by drinking wine, because the wine walk is $40 and the carnival ticket value is $60.
The Bishop event (bishopwinewalk.com) on Saturday will be held at Roxanne Tallman’s gorgeous and intimate Hidden Creek Ranch at 85 Reata Road.
Petra’s will cater the event. There will be musical entertainment. The cost will be $65/person.
Heather Schaubmayer, who is organizing the Bishop event, said 22 wineries serving more than 60 wines will participate at both events.
Here are sone reasons why the Transitional Housing Program is important.
An estimated 600 people use Wild Iris services each year.
The program already has a waiting list.
“A bunch of our clients can’t leave [bad situations] because they have nowhere to go and can’t get a leg up,” says Bains.
The program requires participants to work/volunteer or go to school at least 20 hours per week. Participants are also required to save a portion of their income to give them a small nest egg when they finally venture out into the world.
By year three, the program hopes to serve between 21 and 28 people.
The program is always looking for more rental housing partners. Those interested can call 760.873.6601 or 760.934.2491.
