Spring Forward – Sunny Weather, and New Opportunities
Now that it’s officially Spring, we have much to celebrate! Here at COTS, Spring means abundant sunshine, healing nature walks, fun community events, and new opportunities to serve our community.
This Spring, COTS will celebrate its 35th anniversary at our annual fundraiser, Hops for Homes. We welcome you to join us for dinner, drinks (non-alcoholic beverages also available), live music, and stories of our work in the community. This year’s fundraiser is on April 27th at Brewster’s Beer Garden in downtown Petaluma. Please join us to celebrate our successes, learn about our programs, and to meet other supporters like you. Get your tickets here!
Spring also brings sunshine, warm weather, and beautiful wildflowers peppering the green hills around Sonoma County. We recognize that connecting with nature can be healing for many—that’s why the COTS Social Supports Manager leads nature walks for clients to relax, recharge, and develop bonds with their peers. As the rain fades, clients and staff are excited to explore the natural beauty of Sonoma County once again!
Spring also marks the season of growth for COTS. March through May is grantmaking season, bringing new opportunities for COTS to best support those we serve. COTS is renewing its focus on a housing-focused approach to services, and that means analyzing our programs to identify existing service gaps. The COTS team is hard at work identifying funding sources to address these gaps. We look forward to providing an update on our growth trajectory in the coming months.
We hope that all of you have exciting plans for the Spring. We are honored to receive your support and look forward to seeing you at our Spring fundraiser!
Until next time,
Chris Cabral
Mission Moment: Volunteers Make All the Difference
COTS relies on a core team of volunteers who help us offer a range of services. From helping in the kitchen at Mary’s Table, to providing transportation, to assisting clients obtain documentation for housing, these volunteers are critical to our success in the community.
The work we do every day is hard, complex, and rewarding. Our volunteers know the feeling of serving a warm meal to someone in need, helping a family navigate housing resources, or helping a client apply for a job as they reintegrate into our community. They know the joy of getting to know our clients as individuals. This year, we hope to expand our volunteer opportunities to better enrich the lives of those we serve every day.
Do you want to help our amazing kitchen team prepare hot and nutritious meals every week? Perhaps you would like to help us pick up regular donations throughout the community?
One-time volunteer opportunities for individuals and groups are also available. Are you a musician or artist interested in teaching a class or performing at the Mary Isaak Center? Maybe you’re a Wellness Coach or a Financial Advisor interested in talking to vulnerable community members about small steps they can take toward self-sufficiency. Or perhaps your company or team is looking for a way to give back to the community together. Our volunteers come from all walks of life, and they all have unique reasons for their commitment to serving COTS.
All COTS programs rely heavily on community supporters, including our cherished volunteers. The entire COTS team is honored to work alongside dedicated, talented, and passionate volunteers every day.
Are you interested in volunteering at COTS? We would love to hear from you! Please reach out to us at [email protected] to learn more.
To our cherished volunteers—thank you for all you do.
Sincerely,
Chris Cabral, CEO