Business Profile: Petaluma Market
Petaluma Market is an essential business—today and every day.
Jim Agius’ parents opened the store in 1987 and were among the first to support COTS. That was in 1988 when, headquartered at Copperfield’s Books, a group of volunteers banded together to form the “Committee on the Shelterless.”
Jim took over the business from his parents in 2007 and kept their giving streak going. And the market’s support for COTS hasn’t flagged for over 30 years.
Jim says he values that relationship, the opportunity to help COTS help those who are struggling. And his commitment has only deepened as one of his employees, Cheese expert Marie Schmittroth, has become involved as a volunteer.
But community giving for the market doesn’t stop with COTS—not by a long shot. Look at nearly any local acknowledgments page and you’ll see Petaluma Market’s name or its logo with the friendly red rooster. There’s no cause too small—bake sales, raffles, softball leagues, Girl Scout Gold Projects. But the market also thinks big and gives generously to causes like Mentor Me; the Petaluma Educational Foundation; Petaluma Valley Hospital; our county’s fire relief funds; and Jim’s favorite, the all-ages Phoenix Theater, where he serves on the board.
There is no other place like the Phoenix in the world, Jim says. “It’s a place for people who otherwise wouldn’t have a place. It’s a place for expression, a place to develop skills or hobbies. Or just hang out. There’s great live music and there’s no alcohol involved. The primary motivation is to be open and to belong to anyone and everyone.”
Shoppers at Petaluma Market allow Jim to employ over 100 people and to support local causes.
“I think the real meaning of community is in action,” Jim says. “If you shop here, you’re making a choice to support an independent market and our employees. We support the community that supports us. It’s our responsibility to do it. This is where we live, and we love it.”
Jim credit his employees for providing the service that keeps people coming back. Especially now, calm, maturity, kindness and competence are the traits that inspire loyalty. He’s hired ten new people to deal with the increased need for sanitation and crowd management and says that he and his employees have a system that is “on lock.”
What role will local business play in recovery and community health post-COVID-19? “The short answer is that I think it will be a big one,” Jim says. “I think we’re lucky to live in an area where people care about putting money and energy into the causes that important to us. I think our downtown and our community have a better chance than most.”
Thank you, Petaluma Market. We are grateful to have your support.
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Business Profile: Century 21 Bundesen
Pictured: Century 21 Bundesen owner, Karl Bundesen, right, handing former COTS Development Director Sarah Quinto
the check for the proceeds from Century 21 Bundesen's 2018's 12 Nights of Dining fundraiser for COTS
“Contagious” is a risky word to throw around these days.
But we’re going for it.
Because “contagious” perfectly describes Karl Bundesen’s enthusiasm for COTS and for countless other good causes.
Karl’s the owner of Century 21 Bundesen, the large and venerable real estate firm on Petaluma Boulevard South. It was founded in 1963 by his Dad, Herb, who believed in giving back to the community where he’d grown up and where he’d prospered. That’s a family tradition Karl embraces.
Herb Bundesen once told the Argus-Courier that he gave back because Petaluma was “a common-sense community of warm and caring people. And it has a sense of history that many communities don’t.”
Karl echoes that logic and that kindness: “COTS is a Petaluma brainchild,” he says. “We’re a Petaluma company, too. We are both in the housing business. We at Bundesen work with the more fortunate, COTS works with the less fortunate.”
It’s a logical fit, he says: “We’re honored to support the great work of COTS.”
He and his team have been on our side for decades. And they’ve shared their enthusiasm with the community through events like their Oyster Barbecues that benefitted COTS, and, more recently, through their hugely successful Restaurant Raffles, which likewise benefitted COTS. This summer, we became proud homeowners, thanks to a generous gift from The Finley Foundation. Century 21 Bundesen waived all their fees and convinced a variety of inspectors to do the same. Six people now live in that home!
Not only have Karl and his team raised many thousands of dollars for COTS, they’ve brought countless people into our orbit in a myriad of ways. They bring guests to our events, collect coats and food, sign petitions and share our news. Most importantly, they assure people that they’ll love helping COTS.
And COTS is by no means the only cause that Karl, his staff and his agents support. COTS Board President and Century 21 Bundesen agent Bill Gabbert says that, together, the Bundesen team supports “almost every cause you can think of,” and that, usually, when an agent or staff member supports a cause, the business does, too.
You’ll see a lot of real estate trophies when you walk into Century 21 Bundesen’s offices. But you’ll also see a lot of thank you cards. Karl gives to the causes his parents loved: the Salvation Army, the Petaluma Museum and Hope Counseling. The office contributes to Rebuilding Together (another natural fit because it keeps people housed), the Polly Klaas Theater and the Miracle League of the North Bay. The office also contributes to the Petaluma Chapter of Realtors, which contributes to a myriad of local causes (including COTS).
Diane Olson from Hope Counseling says her organization is honored to be among the organizations Karl and his team support. “Karl is a wonderful example of a business partner who gives generously to support the less fortunate in Petaluma.”
“For Karl, it’s always about people,” Bill says. “He believes that if you take care of people everything else will work out just fine. He is loaded with integrity.”
Bill shares that when he shifted careers and became a real estate agent, he never considered working for anyone other than Karl. That’s high praise, indeed, Bill will tell you, when you consider that, “My kids grew up with him. And I know some of what they got up to back then.”
Judging by Century 21 Bundesen’s roster of heavyweights, Bill’s not the only one to feel happily home there.
We are grateful that Karl and his team devote so much of their talent and treasure to ensuring that our clients can feel happily at home.
Thank you, Century 21 Bundesen!
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Business Profile: Lace House Linen
Pictured: the Lace House Linen Family.
The Libarle family of Lace House Linen knows something about losing it all. Twice in their history, they’ve had to start from scratch—once after the 1906 earthquake and once after a fire in 1948.
Each time, they rebuilt bigger and better than before. Pre-COVID-19, they operated seven days a week, providing freshly laundered linens to over 700 clients all over the Bay Area. They owe their growth and success to hard work, and, family members are quick to add, to the goodwill and support of neighbors, business colleagues and the community.
Maybe that resilience and gratitude explain what seems to be the Libarle family’s genetic predisposition to help others, including those, like our clients at COTS, who have lost much.
For over ten years, we’ve been the lucky recipients of an endless supply of clean towels and aprons. They arrive at our kitchen door every week, free of charge, delivered by a friendly Lace House employee. They not only help us feed people, they help us change lives.
“Meals are more than food around here,” Shelter Services Manager Robin Phoenix says. “Meals are the way we make people feel welcome. They’re the way we build relationships that make it more likely for people to accept help. Lace House Linen is part of that work. We’re so grateful.”
Lace House Linen’s lost about 70 percent of its business in recent months. The restaurants and hotels that make up the bulk of their business have had to close entirely or cut back operations in wake of the COVID-19 health crisis.
Still, the company continues to serve COTS.
Fourth generation co-owner/operator Phoebe Ellis (ne Libarle) downplays the contribution. “You’re in our backyard. It’s easy,” she says. “And, sometimes, you give our employees muffins!”
But then she says that her parents, and their parents and grandparents, made giving back “a part of our family culture. It’s assumed that you’ll help others and volunteer. It brings us a lot of happiness. It feels good to be a productive part of your community.”
COTS is by no means the only cause the Lace House family supports. Education, children, and community health and heritage are huge concerns. Phoebe served on the Petaluma School board and on the PTA for her kids’ schools. She also serves on the Petaluma Health Center’s board. Sister Nicole, also a co-owner and operator, serves on the Sonoma Marin Fair Board.
“Our parents, Carol and Dan Libarle, set a high standard for volunteerism and engaging with your community,” Phoebe says. Carol Ann Libarle has devoted much of her life to improving educational opportunities in Petaluma. She’s a Petaluma Educational Foundation board member and also a member of the SRJC committee dedicated to raising funds for the Petaluma campus. In a 2015 profile with North Bay Business Journal, Carol Ann explained her work this way: “I personally believe that every child is born with the right to have food, shelter and health care. I also believe the education of our children is the most important mission facing us as a society.”
Dan Libarle also supports education, serving as president for Sonoma State University’s foundation. He’s been active with Rotary, the Boys and Girls Club, and the Chamber of Commerce, and he serves on the Exchange Bank’s board of directors.
Both Dan and Carol Ann were huge boosters of the Green Music Center. They’ve been COTS supporters since our earliest days. In their time, Carol Ann’s and Dan’s parents each gave back. Among other notable contributions, Carol Ann’s Dad was a co-founder of the Petaluma Boys and Girls Club, and Dan’s Mom served a term on the Sonoma County Grand Jury.
Little known fact: after the 1906 quake ruined their laundry facility in Petaluma, Dan’s grandparents returned home to their native France. But they took a leap of faith and came back to Petaluma to work for another laundry company. They bought that business in 1915.
We are so glad that the Libarle ancestors were brave and optimistic (and homesick for Petaluma). Their decision to return has enriched this community for over a century. When the Bay Area opens up again, we know that business will boom again for Lace House Linen.
Thank you, Libarle family!
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Business Profile: McNear’s Saloon and Dining House
Counter-clockwise from far right: McNear's owners Carrie and Ken O'Donnell with three of their four children, Joe, Tom and Shennon. Courtesy of the McDonnell Family.No one knows when a sea of tickets will set a chef’s heart racing again. No one knows when a bartender will be slammed, a host unable to squeeze you in without a reservation. The only thing we do know: it won’t be soon.
A tough time to run a restaurant.
And, yet, tough times bring out the best in Ken O’Donnell and his team at McNear’s Saloon and Dining House. They made headlines during the fires of 2017 and 2019 when, free of charge, they fed first responders and fire refugees. McNear’s even provided valuable floor space to become an ad hoc staging ground for volunteer efforts.
One of many delicious meals prepared by McNear’s for COTS
At COTS, we’ve always known how generous McNear’s is. They’ve been fantastic donors since our early days, and, for the last year, they’ve cooked, delivered and served wonderful meals to everyone who comes to eat at Mary’s Table. McNear’s Day is a great treat for diners—especially on Thanksgiving. Ken and his wife Carrie serve dishes right off their sister restaurant Seared’s catering menu. But we think our staff members love McNear’s Day best because it provides them a chance to catch their breath and prepare for other meals.
Now, in addition to their COTS delivery, the McNear’s team is also delivering one hundred free weekly meals to the staff at the Petaluma Health Center. And they’re providing free meals to local restaurant employees who’ve been laid off or seen their hours cut. Unemployment can be slow to arrive, Ken says, and even when it does come, it can’t pay all the bills. A good meal is a phone call away for any struggling restaurant employee.
Ken says that decisions about where to give are made with his business partners, Bente Niles and Jeff and Nancy Harriman. When they leased the adjoining Mystic Theater to Ineffable Music, they stipulated that one dollar from every ticket sale would continue to go into a community giving fund. The new theater management was happy to agree, and happy to have Ken and his team decide how to use it. “They know that we know the community best,” Ken says.
Drawing of McNear’s and the Mystic, courtesy of the artist, Richard Sheppard
Ken also credits his staff for working on community projects with enthusiasm. During the fires, for example, many of his staff members would finish a shift and then jump into a volunteer effort. Ken singles out cook Roberto Ramirez for doing 90 percent of the cooking for COTS. When Ken arrives at the shelter, he tells our clients, “Roberto has your back!”
Why give so much? “It’s my community. It’s where I live,” Ken says. He’s a graduate of St. Vincent’s Elementary and Petaluma High School. His four kids, Joe, Katie, Shennon and Thomas work with him in the business and Carrie teaches school locally. All of them share his commitment to community service.
Ken knows almost everyone in town, including many COTS clients. “Too many,” he says. “It’s hard to see people you know going through a tough time.”
Before COVID-19, he and Carrie used to dish up their COTS meals themselves. “People are so appreciative when they come through the line,” Ken says. Now, with social distancing, it’s not possible for them to serve. “We miss it,” Ken says.
Ken grew up “very limited financially,” he says. “That makes you see how close you can be to it [homelessness].” He and Carrie “got to know people at COTS. We got to hear about when they got jobs and housing. It’s a phenomenal feeling.” COTS is “close to my heart,” he says.
Right before the shelter-in-place order, Ken had just remodeled McNear’s second floor to host live music. Now, he’s using the space to organize supplies for his community meal projects. “We’ll adjust,” he says. “We always do.”
Thank you, McNear’s team!
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Chuck's Virtual Coffee - May 2020
As COTS’ CEO, each month I take a moment to consider what I want our community to know about our organization and our progress in serving Sonoma County’s homeless. I look forward to sharing these thoughts with you in this Virtual Cup of Coffee – my monthly communique about the business and mission moments of COTS (Committee On The Shelterless). In the Business portion, I will share the nuts and bolts of what we do to serve the homeless – our successes and our challenges. In the Mission Moment, I will share stories about our clients and our wonderful staff who make it all happen. I hope you enjoy it, and I look forward to your feedback.
Please stay safe,
Chuck
How to Budget During a Pandemic?
Budgeting during normal times is already difficult. We prepare our best estimate of revenues coming in and money spent to better serve those experiencing homelessness. Budgets can be conservative (at least for me) as we do not want to overestimate revenues and underestimate expenses and thus get ourselves in trouble. Now, on top of all this, comes COVID-19 and all its uncertainties.
We have learned a lot during this crisis. We have an amazing and loyal donor base; the many benefits of strong community partners like the City of Petaluma, Petaluma Health Center and Petaluma Valley Hospital, Kaiser Permanente and St. Joseph Health System; that our cherished volunteers are the backbone of our programs, especially the kitchen; and how much we need to ensure that we have Succession Plans in place for key positions at COTS should something happen during a crisis. That is just good business to help maintain continuity and minimize disruptions.
We can also predict what we think will happen post-COVID that will impact the budget. The Recession will last 2+ years; high unemployment; maybe a shrinking non-profit sector; higher levels of homelessness, domestic violence, food insecurity, and mental health needs; reduced government funding due to budget deficits; and sadly, the likelihood for more disasters – fires and waves of COVID.
So how do we survive and thrive during COVID and prepare a good budget? At COTS, we are looking at our Mission and Vision Statements to make sure it is still relevant…and we believe it is. We are getting clearer on our core services so that we efficiently maximize our Mission – getting people housed. And because of likely government reductions, we are strengthening our processes around private donations and contributions. Also, we do not want to bring our loyal supporters together in one large room for our annual COTS Hour until there is a vaccine. So we are strengthening our digital platform to consider having the event virtually so people feel safe and comfortable. We also know that financial stability and having adequate cash reserves is crucial, so that is a priority. And we know that our staff is what makes our success happen. So we included Training & Development in our budget to ensure they have the necessary Management and Leadership and other training to do their jobs effectively.
We are also a business, so we budget to have more revenues than expenses…to help save for that rainy day and to make sure we have funds to replace large and expensive items.
Our Fiscal Year begins July 1, so we are in good shape to have our budget approved before then. In the meantime, we will continue to fine-tune our budget to be as realistic, conservative, pro-active, and flexible as possible during these unprecedented times.
Domestic Violence and COVID
For many, our home is a safe haven where we can escape the craziness of the world and recharge. But for some, home can be a dangerous place if they are a victim of Domestic Violence (DV) – predominantly women, children, seniors, and LGBTQ+. Now add in COVID, Shelter in Place, growing unemployment, financial stress, scarcity of community resources, the fear of getting sick, prisons releasing inmates early and the stage is set for more Domestic Violence. Sadly, DV especially impacts marginalized populations, especially if one is an essential worker that has to work, take public transportation, on the lower scale of pay, and lives with multiple families in crowded conditions. The inequalities just keep growing.
We know that DV is an underreported crime. With COVID, the victim is isolated with the abuser and unable to escape. Previously, victims could share their abuse with their pastor, friends, co-workers, or neighbors, but not with Shelter in Place. Previously and as Mandated Reporters, teachers could observe children or medical providers could observe their patients and notify authorities if they suspected something.
Recently, we had a couple that lived in their car and came into our shelter for lunch and dinner. Our staff noticed that the woman had bruises on her arms. Shelter residents, especially our males, also noticed and wanted to confront her abuser. She of course had excuses for the bruises. Thanks to our caring and very experienced Outreach Staff, they created a plan to separate the abuser from the victim long enough to give the victim information to call the County Victims Services Department 24 x 7 if she wanted help. They were also able to set up medical appointments with a medical provider at the Petaluma Health Center. This is very good and we are hopeful.
DV victims are often in a dilemma – do I stay and get abused or leave with no where to go and end up in a shelter? So they stay because they are afraid to leave. What awful options.
As a homeless shelter, a concerned citizen, or a neighbor, our responsibility is to be on the lookout and report suspicious activity or behavior. Now, this is more important than ever.
Until next month,
Chuck Fernandez
COTS May Program Spotlight: Recuperative Care
Recuperative Care: Helping homeless patients transition from emergency room to shelter
Imagine leaving the hospital after a surgery or a serious illness and having to recuperate in a bunk in a crowded homeless shelter dorm. How restful would your sleep be?
Or, imagine trying to heal in a tent, far from running water, a long walk from help or a prescription refill. Could you keep your dressings clean? Could you rest, knowing that you were unprotected in your sleep?
Nationwide, those who are homeless wind up re-hospitalized or in an emergency room much more frequently than do housed patients. And, according to The American Hospital Association, someone who’s homeless typically needs to stay in the hospital for two to four days longer than someone who is housed.
That’s not ideal for anyone—the patient, the healthcare system or anyone who needs health resources.
Thankfully, St. Joseph Health and Kaiser Permanente have joined with COTS to provide short-term recuperative care at our Mary Isaak Center. In a large, airy and light-filled second room floor, we can house six people while they heal. Each resident has a bed, dresser, and night table. And each can draw a curtain around his or her bed to get a little peace and privacy.
The most important part of the equation is Julia Dodge, our Lead Recuperative Care Coordinator. She helps those in the program make it to medical appointments and understand and follow-through on directions from their doctors.
Most importantly, she helps them plan for their futures.
It’s possible for our recuperative care residents to move right into the shelter once they’re on the mend. But, ideally, they’ll move to homes of their own. Julia helps them inventory their prospects. Can they work? Are they eligible for disability or retirement benefits? Can they stay with friends or family? What kind of housing situations can they afford? Do they need ongoing support to address a health condition?
For many of the people who stay in recuperative care, this is a rare opportunity for calm consideration. Being homeless means being busy lining up your next meal, your next shower, your next place to lay your head. And through it all, the constant question: “Am I safe here?”
Now, in Recuperative Care, safety is a given. So are shelter, showers, good food, laundry, access to computers and supportive help. Residents are also right next door to the satellite office of the Petaluma Health Center, so medical care is a given, too.
“We have amazing people staying here,” Julia says, “people who have had amazing lives, amazing experiences. They’re at a crossroads and we’re here to help them figure out where they want to go.”
Julia’s career started in journalism and marketing. Among many career highlights, she wrote for “San Francisco Magazine” and did the publicity for the Napa Valley Film Festival. “I think that did prepare me for this role,” she says. “It gave me the ability to research and to work independently and meet deadlines. You have to be organized, and you have to be able to listen.”
While volunteering for San Francisco nonprofit Health RIGHT 360, Julia realized she wanted to devote her next chapter to helping people move on from homelessness. Her volunteer work involved helping people without homes access treatment, services, medical care and housing. And she loved it.
Julia inaugurated the Recuperative Care program at COTS in January. She created guidelines for the program and she designed the space. She found soft sheets and blankets, restful artwork and lovely houseplants to make her residents feel welcome and at home. It’s too soon to draw conclusions about the program’s effectiveness in keeping people healthy and out of the hospital, but, Julia says, few have needed to visit the emergency room or be hospitalized. Additionally, so far, 75 percent of Julia’s Recuperative Care clients have gone on to permanent housing or a safe bed in our shelter.
She’s now doing double duty at the Mary Isaak Center. In order to comply with social distancing requirements, we’ve had to reduce the number of residents in the recuperative care room to three. So, Julia is filling in wherever needed.
Programs Director Jules Pelican says gratefully that Julia’s “made herself available for any and all tasks, no matter the size or context.” Most importantly, Julia’s been providing case management to some of our shelter clients so that they, too, can benefit from her skills and encouraging manner.
Now, during shelter in place, we are more glad than ever that we have the space and resources to help people heal and move forward with their lives. Many thanks to our partners, Kaiser Permanent and St. Joseph Health.
Special thanks to local artist Lucy Arnold who donated her original artwork to hang on our Recuperative Care walls. You can see more of her work at lucyarnold.com.
Business Gives Back
We love to talk about the contributions our local businesses make to COTS. And, boy, do they contribute!
But if there’s one thing this health crisis shows, it’s that we’re all in this together. We all benefit when a business gives to any great local cause. We all benefit when a business supports its employees—especially now.
For the next few weeks, we’re going to feature our business supporters. We’ll tell you about how they partner with COTS to help our clients find and keep housing. And we’ll also let you know how these businesses strengthen our entire community.
Thank you for supporting COTS! We hope you enjoy reading about our local business heroes who share your passion for our work.
We’ll start by featuring Bergin Screen Printing and Etching, and Encore Events. These are two businesses with deep community roots—roots that help an entire community bloom. Keep an eye on our web page and social media for these and more profiles in the next few weeks.
Business Profile: Encore Events
Parties are cancelled, but food pantries are not.
And Encore Events Rentals is helping to feed a hungry county in need.
Weddings, parties and auctions are on hold, but the parking lot at the Sonoma County Day School hosts two enormous event tents. They’re Encore’s, and they’re helping the Redwood Empire Food Bank operate a drive-through food pantry. Encore’s owner, Bridget Doherty and her team have donated room in their north county Windsor warehouse to store food for the pantry. And instead of their usual spring chores of washing china and glassware, packaging linens and racking chairs, Encore employees are unloading and sorting crate after crate of food, to help their local communities.
“When she cares about something, Bridget always says ‘yes,'” says Encore’s Marketing Manager Kendall Burger. “So, when we had to temporarily close the business because of COVID-19, this was how she wanted to respond.”
Encore, together with its sister company Cal West Rentals, is a family-owned business which has been a great COTS supporter over many years. Bridget’s made financial contributions and huge material donations. Anyone remember how beautiful our tables looked at The COTS Hour in 2019? That was thanks to Bridget’s generous donation of linens. But in addition to giving to COTS, Encore Events supports a multitude of causes: everything from Little League and the Boys and Girls Club to the Alzheimer’s Association.
Together with her brother Tyler Doherty, Bridget owns Encore Events Rentals and Cal West Rentals. Currently, Tyler operates Cal West in Petaluma and San Rafael, which rents tools and equipment, and Bridget operates Encore Events Rentals with its three locations in Sonoma County.
Bridget learned the rental business from taking over daily operations at Cal-West in 2001. When Bridget was only 22 years old, her father, Pat Doherty, passed unexpectedly. Though Bridget had dreams of law school, she didn’t want to lose the business her Dad had founded in 1978. Fresh out of college, she took charge. Tyler joined her in 2007 after he’d completed college himself, later to take on full operations of Cal-West.
Bridget credits her team and Cal West’s senior staff with helping her learn the ropes. She’s come to love the creativity of entrepreneurship and the way employees and managers can inspire each other to work as a team.
Partly as a result of her baptism by fire, Bridget’s been a huge supporter of causes which support women and women-owned businesses.
Women In Conversation, the annual event at SSU which works to build a community of women engaged in meaningful conversations, is a favorite that Bridget sponsors bi-annually.
Encore has its main showroom in Windsor, another in Petaluma, as well as a design studio in St. Helena. Bridget is active throughout Sonoma County. Notably, she was the first female board member with Summit Bank and she presently serves as board president for Corazón, a Healdsburg non-profit. Corazón’s mission is to bridge the racial and economic divides in Northern Sonoma County through advocacy, partnerships and innovative programs.
Bridget says, simply: “I’m all about teamwork and supporting my community.”
On behalf of COTS and our community, thank you, Encore Events Rentals!
Want to read more stories about our business sponsors? Visit our Business Gives Back homepage by clicking here!
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Business Profile: Bergin Screen Printing and Etching
Happy hearts know how to welcome a happy accident. And once an accident happens, those hearts know how to spread their happiness around.
That’s certainly the case for Karen and Mike Bergin, the owners and operators of Bergin Screen Printing and Etching.
They met, by happy accident, at what could have been a dismal occasion: a training conference for corporate bankers. And Mike stumbled onto their new careers–painting, etching and screen printing directly onto wine bottles—when he fell in love with the work of one artist and began collaborating with her.
30 years later, they now employ 75 people and process more than 12 million bottles per year. Next time you’re in the wine aisle, check out the bottles without the paper labels. Most likely, they’re the work of Bergin Screen Printing and Etching.
And next time you’re looking through a list of supporters for a Wine Country nonprofit, check for Bergin Screen Printing and Etching and you’ll likely find their name.
You’ll certainly find them on COTS’ lists of MVPs—not just for their generous financial support, but for the way Mike and Karen share our mission with friends, neighbors and colleagues.
“We couldn’t wish for better ambassadors,” says COTS CEO Chuck Fernandez. “They have a way of inspiring people to want to get involved.”
It was a happy accident that first brought the Bergins to COTS. Our then board member Bob Billings shared school carpooling duties with Karen and Mike. He invited Karen to The COTS Hour, our annual fundraising breakfast.
“I was absolutely aghast at how many people were homeless and how much need there was. COTS was an outstanding organization that I had known nothing about,” Karen says. “I went home and said to Mike, ‘We have to give these people money. They’re doing incredible work and they deserve our support.'”
“I’ve never brought anyone to the COTS breakfast who hasn’t been profoundly moved,” Karen says. “The work is necessary and so effective.”
Bergin Screen Printing and Etching supports lots of other social services. And they’re big supporters of our local arts scene, especially our local theaters.
Elly Lichenstein, Cinnabar Theater’s Artistic Director, says that although Karen and Mike are too busy to see all the shows in any season, “Their support of us remains unflagging and steady. To me, it proves that the generosity that they show us, year after year, comes from the heart and from the deep belief that our work has great worth in the community.”
The Bergins also give to their employees’ favorite causes, whether it’s a Girl Scout cookie drive, a Little League team or the fight against Diabetes.
“We always refer to staff as family,” Karen says. “It might sound corny, but it’s true. We feel like we’re successful because of all the work they do. We want to show our appreciation to them.”
What else motivates them to give?
“We just feel very fortunate to be in a position to able to help,” Karen says. She remembers watching her own single mom working two or three jobs to raise Karen and her three siblings. “Growing up, we were the beneficiaries of help from friends, family, school, churches…That helped us. Mike has a very generous nature. It’s in our DNA to give back once we were in the position to do so.”
Inspired by the example of their parents, Karen and Mike worked hard to instill a spirit of giving in their own children. Karen worked in their schools, served on the Board for the Waugh School District, and was an organizing committee member of TEDx Sonoma County.
Their kids and grandkids have followed in Karen’s and Mike’s footsteps. “When our kids were teens, at the end of the year, we’d give them a thousand dollars to give to causes they believed in. They did their own research to find out what organizations they wanted to support. We wanted them to have some ownership. All of them have adopted or adapted a spirit of giving back to the point now where they know that one of ways, they can please us most is to make a contribution in our honor. That can be to a cause they love or a cause they know we love.”
Their business is related to agriculture, so it remains open through this health crisis. That involves social distancing protocols, extra cleaning and disinfecting, masks and sanitizers, and temperature checks. To date, no one connected with Bergin Screen Printing and Etching has been diagnosed with COVID-19. But, like everyone in business, the Bergins are anticipating that they or their employees might be affected by the disease. “It’s a delicate balance when it comes to giving,” Karen says. “But we’ll figure it out.”
COTS will figure it out, too. And we are grateful to have the loving support of the Bergins and their company to help us through this challenging time.
Want to read more stories about our business sponsors? Visit our Business Gives Back homepage by clicking here!
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Volunteer Profile: Diane Bedecarre
In November, when Diane Bedecarre had just cut back her nursing hours to part time, the self-described “workaholic” wasted no time in filling her schedule. One of the first things she did was complete a COTS volunteer application.
But if you think Diane was speedy, you haven’t met COTS Community Engagement Specialist Diana Morales!
Diane clicked “submit” on her application and went out of a walk. She’d gotten half a block and her phone rang. “It was Diana,” Diane says. “She wanted to know when I could start.”
Diane eventually ended up on our Tuesday team and loved it immediately. She loved the camaraderie and the jokes in the kitchen and on the serving line. She loved the great meals and the commitment to using our community’s food resources wisely and well. She loved the “Dewey Decimal System” that volunteer Rick Royball had created in the pantry. She loved meeting our guests.
But what clinched it for her was a coffee break conversation she had with Marge Popp, the elder stateswoman of all our volunteers. It was Diane’s second day, and “Marge asked me what I thought we could be doing better.”
What Marge didn’t know yet about Diane is that systems are a passion for her. After a long career as a Medical Surgical Nurse at Marin General Hospital (a profession that, in addition to medical skills, requires talents for organization, multi-tasking and people management), Diane went back to school to earn her Master’s degree in Nursing Education and Informatics. As a result, she became involved with a groundbreaking electronic medical record project for the VA. Post grad school, medical informatics became her profession. Diane specialized in training end users and in communicating the needs of nurses and doctors to developers. “A system isn’t any good if people won’t use it,” she says. “It has to meet our needs.”
“So, it was a kick to have this old gal ask me what we could do better. Here she is, doing quality management improvement. I just loved it,” Diane says. “I thought, ‘I am going to fit in here.’”
Diane’s fit for nursing became clear to her when, in 1978, shortly after graduating from SSU, she volunteered to be her sister’s Lamaze coach. She thrilled to the birth process but also to the way the doctors and nurses worked so efficiently and kindly with each other and their patients. “It was a holy card moment, an epiphany for me,” she says. “I knew, ‘This is what I want to do.’” Her niece was born in December and she enrolled in nursing prerequisites in January.
She and her artist/musician husband Henry raised their two children in Petaluma, so she was aware of COTS’ founding and operations. “I followed it in the news,” she says, and she and Henry have been steadfast financial supporters. “But, until now, I haven’t had the time to volunteer.”
When it comes to volunteering, Diane takes inspiration from her parents. They were both teachers, active in social justice campaigns and in providing support and guidance for other teachers. Her Mom has passed, but her Dad, at 98, is still doing what he can to make a difference. Diane loves the fact that he’s still writing checks for the causes he believes in, still glued to MSNBC and—most of all—that he pays his caregiver to make her incredible enchiladas every week for the residents of a nearby homeless shelter.
She shares caregiving opportunities for her Dad, so she has to absent herself from volunteer work at COTS for now. “I miss it. I can’t wait to get back,” she says.
Thank you, Diane!
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Volunteer Profile: Shirley Donovan
A smile on her face, a spring in her step and with a million stories to entertain her fellow volunteers—that’s how Shirley Donovan shows up to work at Mary’s Table.
“I miss it so much,” she says from her home, where she is observing the shelter in place order. “I really can’t wait to get back.” Shirley loves her Wednesday lunch team, which includes Marge Popp, Jacky Evans and Bob Rich. “We work well together, side-by-side, whether it’s making a salad, peeling potatoes or serving our clients. We always seem to find things to talk and laugh about! Even though we come from different backgrounds we’re all here because it’s a way of giving back to our community.” Shirley says.
Diana Morales, who coordinates volunteer scheduling and training, says she admires “the way Shirley shows up. She works hard. She’s dedicated. She wants to make sure everyone has enough to eat and that everyone has a good time.”
“And she never stops moving,” Diana says. “She may be a senior citizen, but she sure doesn’t move like one!”
That same energy and dedication marked Shirley’s professional life. She blazed trails for women, taking on leadership roles (in marketing and research) with Gillette, Wilson Sporting Goods and Dakin Toys. And she did it on her own terms.
“My second interview with Wilson, I decided, ‘I’m going to wear a pantsuit. If they can’t deal with that, they can’t deal with me.’”
Wilson proved equal to the task.
Shirley was the first woman executive Wilson hired, and she is forever grateful for the mentorship and opportunities the company provided. If you are a fan of 70s tennis, try to work a volunteer shift alongside Shirley, who can regale you with tales about Chris Everett, Jimmy Connors and Billie Jean King.
She came to San Francisco when Dakin Toys lured her away from her native Chicago to be their Director of Special Markets. After only a few weeks in San Francisco, Shirley realized that “Chicago is a nice place to visit but California is where I want to live.” In San Francisco, Shirley was finally able to own a dog, an experience that changed her life.
After 30 years in corporate offices, Shirley changed direction in 1995 and became an on-staff dog trainer for the San Francisco SPCA. She might even still be there if it wasn’t for those pesky stairs at her San Francisco condo—there were 37 of them!
Always athletic, Shirley’s had her share of medical issues. When her condo steps became an unpleasant daily challenge (following bi-lateral knee replacements) she moved to a one level home in Petaluma. She started volunteering with COTS in 2014 and quickly became a dedicated team member; just as quickly, these team members became friends.
The depth of their friendship became clear while she was recovering from ankle replacement surgery in 2018. “Marge would send home lunch to me every Wednesday. She and my other team members would call to check up on me,” Shirley says. “Those are the kind of things that mean a lot.”
Shirley also enjoys the residents that she works with and serves.
“It’s so rewarding when folks finish eating and make a point of not leaving without saying ‘Thank You! Thank you for doing this.'”
“Janin, our new chef, is amazing. She’s a great delegator and, for a volunteer, is fun to work for. Some of the residents have culinary skills and it’s great having them help in the kitchen as well. Somehow, we all connect,” Shirley says.
Shirley lives with her two dogs, Annie and Tad. She takes exercise classes at the Senior Center and works out at a local gym. She’s also active with New Life Christian Fellowship in Petaluma.
Her advice to people who are thinking about volunteering: “Check it out! I did 6 years ago and kept going back—I find volunteering at COTS to be both rewarding and fun!”
Thank you, Shirley!
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