Jul 18, 2019
Back to School
Help us send Lifeline Community Services youth BACK TO SCHOOL without the stress As the summer months pass by, families across the nation begin to prepare for the upcoming school year. New teachers, classroom friends, and new opportunities for academic and extracurricular success all add to the excitement. For some families the new school year brings anxiety and stress over the looming costs associated with sending a child back to school. According to the National Retail Federation, the average U.S household spent $684.79 per child on back to school essentials in 2018. That number is expected to increase for 2019! For many families the choice may be between paying their rent or purchasing school supplies...and for some families the choice could be between purchasing food and basic needs items or purchasing school supplies. For many students from low-income families, having all of the necessary supplies at the beginning of the school year helps to remove barriers to learning. We are committed to helping the youth in all of our community-based programs start the year off right. Please join us by donating new backpacks and school essentials, or by hosting your own backpack and school supply drive, now through August 2nd. Every donation and hour served makes a tremendous difference! GIVE THE GIFT OF LEARNING! Click on the photo above to donate. We are in need of the following school essentials: Backpacks Binders Folders Notebooks Calculators Pencil Cases Art & Coloring Supplies Pens, Pencils, & More... You can also volunteer to help pack and distribute school supplies, or to host a backpack drive at your place of business or worship (we'll provide you with all of the supplies needed for a successful drive!) Contact our Volunteer Manager for moreinformation: volunteer@nclifeline.org.
Jun 21, 2019
Congratulations Class of 2019!
CLUB CROWN HEIGHTS GRADS... LOOK AT THEM NOW! Our after school program, in the Crown Heights neighborhood of Oceanside, is bursting with pride! As schools wrap up all of their end of the year festivities, we're reflecting on all of the milestones our youth and young adults who have gone through the Club Crown Heights program are reaching. We wish all of them the best of luck in their academic careers and hope they come back to visit often! “The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.” ~ Eleanor Roosevelt KNOWLEDGE IS POWER! From the tutoring program to Mira Costa grads, our CCH alumni continue to reach for the stars! This year Club Crown Heights had 5 fifth grade students promote from the after school tutoring program at La Casita, 14 high school graduates, and 4 alumni graduate from Mira Costa College, all of whom will be transferring to four-year universities in the Cal State system this fall. One of our CCH high school grads was awarded the Martin Luther King Jr. scholarship, which is based on academic achievement, perceived ability to succeed in college, and the ability to overcome challenges. He will be attending University of California San Diego in the fall. We continue to be inspired by the resilience of these youth and young adults. We wish them luck on their next adventures and throughout their journeys in life. Thanks to each of them for leading by example, and for paving the way for other Crown Heights youth to succeed!
Apr 28, 2020
Thanks to our Sponsors!
Our staff at Club Crown Heights used some of theLifeline Emergency Fundto surprise the youth from the program with a special Easter treat. Continuing Our Mission Through COVID-19 Over the past several weeks, Lifeline Community Services has continually adapted and adjusted as an organization with one goal in mind: self-reliance for those who need help now more than ever. We remain committed to meeting the growing challenges faced by our staff and clients as a result of COVID-19. Early on it was apparent to us that our services were essential for the community. With government regulations tightening to prohibit the spread of the virus, we needed to move quickly to ensure that those services would continue. From that need theLifeline Emergency Fundwas born.Each day since we have been overwhelmed with gratitude for the generosity of organizations, companies, and individuals who have responded to our call with an outpouring of support. Our Executive Director, Don Stump summed it up perfectly when he stated that "Lifeline Community Services is a home for individuals and families on their road to self-reliance." During this time of distress we have been able to aid our clients with rental assistance, groceries, telehealth services, and other basic needs items. Thank you to each person and organization who has donated, includingCoastal Community Foundation,Rancho Santa Fe Foundation,Leichtag Foundation,BBVA,Nordson Corporation Foundation,Oceanside Rotary,andThe San Diego Foundation. We've even seen our staff members rise to the challenges of COVID-19 and continue to provide high-level services in unique and creative ways. Our hearts are full. On the behalf of our clients, we'd like to thank you all! Easter at Club Crown Heig
Jun 25, 2020
Congratulations Class of 2020
Jul 17, 2020
Give the Gift of Education
COVID-19 Brings New Barriers to Academic Success Even with the number of COVID-19 cases on the rise, uncertainty about howschools will operate this fall, and the financial burdens of our weakened economy, families across the nation are beginningto prepare for the upcoming school year. The start of the school year traditionally brings new teachers, classroom friends, and new opportunities for academic and extracurricular success, but this school year has a different feel already. We are in the midst of a global pandemic, and for many of the families we serve, the anxiety and stress over the looming costs associated with sending a child back to school weigh heavy on them.Our youth and young adults heading back to school need your help now more than ever. According to the National Retail Federation, the average U.S household can expect to spend$789.49per child on back to school essentials this year. If you take into account the hybrid (modified in-person learning mixed with online components) and distance learning models many school districts have proposed, that number can be expected to almost double! Most county schools are not at a 1:1 ratio for devices, so the burden of providing Chromebooks and tablets for online learning will fall back onto the families.The AnnualBackpack Index, performed by Huntington Bank, shows the school supply cost breakdown for elementary, middle, and high school students. For many families the choice may be between paying their rent or purchasing school supplies...and for some families the choice could be between purchasing food and basic needs items or purchasing school supplies. For students from low-income families, having all of the necessary supplies at the beginning of the school year helps to remove barriers to learning and sets them on a level playing field with their peers. Online learning has it's own set of challenges, and we are committed to helping the youth in all of our community-based programs start the year off right. Please join us by donating new Chromebooks, earbuds, backpacks and school essentials, or by hosting your own backpack and school supply drive, now through August 10th. Every donation makes a difference in the lives and education of the youth and young adults we serve! Donate Today
Sep 20, 2021
Adopt-a-Family 2021
Frequently Asked Questions Learn More about Lifeline's Annual Holiday Giving Tradition What is Adopt-A-Family? Adopt-A-Family is a holiday giving program designed to help low-income families who are Lifeline clients celebrate the holiday season by connecting them with local businesses, organizations, and individuals who “adopt” them. How does it work? Complete the Adopt-A-Family interest form to get started. Lifeline will match you with a Lifeline family and provide you with a personalized list of the things they need most, as well as wish items for the holidays. Then, you deliver the gifts no later than December 10th, 2021to Lifeline’s Vista Campus. Please make sure to meet this deadline. Lifeline staff arranges the delivery of gifts, and can include a personal message from you and your own household or group if you wish. Donors typically receive a thank you note from their recipient family. This year, because of COVID-19 and in an effort to maintain as little physical contact as possible, we are encouraging donors to use our online donation option, if they wish, so that families can purchase their own gifts. We will also be taking extra precautions for those who wish to continue to purchase gifts and deliver them to Lifeline. How are families selected for Adopt-A-Family? All families who are adopted are Lifeline clients and are nominated by Lifeline staff for their hard work and dedication to becoming self-sufficient. This includes families who have experienced homelessness, youth who have aged out of foster care, youth participating in juvenile diversion programs, survivors of human trafficking, and others. These families are low income or face economic challenges on a daily basis. Will I get a chance to meet thefamily I adopt? Due to the nature of services Lifeline provides and in order to best respect their confidentiality, we do not allow donors to meet the family(ies) and will not provide donors with more than first names of family members. Lifeline strives to give our clients the dignity and confidentiality they deserve. Thank you for your support and respecting the privacy of our clients. How much does it cost to adopt a family? We encourage donors to provide at least two gifts per family member. Over the years, we have estimatedthat donors on average spend between $75-100 per individual. If you want to make your gift go as far as possible, please contact us. We can match you with a larger or smaller family to meet your budget. You can also adopt a family as a group of two or more donors who give together to sponsor a family. Or, you can donate gift cards which are helpful in providing basic needs for families. Can I donate used items? We do not accept donations of used goods for the holiday season. All gifts and donations must be new. Why is the family asking for electronics or other "luxury" items if they are low-income? While we encourage families to focus on basic needs, we also ask them to think of a 'special wish.' Many of our families have never had the opportunity to wish for something some might consider a 'luxury' (for example, aniPhone, a tablet,or mani/pedis). Please don't be offended. Please let us know if you would like us to match you with a different family whose wants and needs seem to be most in line with your budget and expectations. Remember, you are not obligated to purchase everything on the wish list. We hope to provide at least two gifts for each person. You are welcome to provide more if you wish. Can I adopt multiple families? Yes, you can adopt as many families as you wish as long as you can provide the same level of commitment to each family. We also encourage donors with larger budgets to adopt larger famlies (6+) as those are typically the hardest/last to be adopted. Can my group adopt a family? Yes! The Adopt-A-Family program is a great opportunity for schools, faith groups, businesses, and other organizations. Groups are often able to adopt multiple families or larger families, which are typically more difficult to match. When and where should I deliver gifts? We will be accepting gifts November 29 - December 10during designated drop off times at our Vista Campus. We also hope to bring back our annual "Donation Drop-off Party" this year but will decide as we get closer to December. More information and details to come. How should the items be delivered? Should we wrap the gifts? Some families love the surprise of wrapped presents for all, while some would prefer to wrap the gifts themselves. We typically see this with parents who would like to feel part of the holiday tradition of wrapping gifts for their kids. There is a section in the wishlist that lets donors know what the families prefer. We ask that you deliver your gifts in large bins, boxes, or bags so we can ensure your items stay together. It is helpful, but not required, to separate gifts for each family member into their own box/bin/ bag. Most importantly: make sure the recipient’s name and family code are clearly labeled on all gifts. Once all of your gifts are labeled and placed in boxes/bins/ bags, please label the container with the family code and list of how many boxes you have for the family. For example if there are 3 total boxes: Box 1 of 3, Box 2 of 3, Box 3 of 3, etc. If you have more than one family, please use separate boxes for each family. *if you include Gift Cards, please make sure they are activated at time of drop off. To ensure they do not get lost, please put them in one envelope, clearly labeled with the intended recipient, and write the family code on the envelope.* What if I can’t follow through with my adoption? If you are unable to follow through with your adoption, please contact us immediately, do not wait. We will need to make other arrangements for the family. I can’t adopt a family, but I still want to donate and/or volunteer my time. How can I help? We always appreciate any donation to Lifeline! Please visit this page to learn about the various ways you can help. Gift cards of any denomination and stores are used to support a family who either hasn’t been adopted, or who needs a little extra support. We also have an Amazon wish list with items needed specifically for Adopt-A-Family such as wrapping paper and supplies, gift bags, Christmas trees and decorations, etc. Throughout the first 2 weeks of December, we need dozens of volunteers! Contact us if you would like to volunteer—bring family, friends, co-workers, the more the merrier! We will of course be following safety recommendations and protocols to prevent the spread COVID-19. Is my donation tax deductible? Adopt-A-Family gifts and donations can be tax-deductible. You will receive a thank you letter in January describing your participation in the program; only gift cards or cash donations will be given their corresponding dollar value in the letter. Keep your receipts as backup for in-kind donations so you can attach those to the letter for tax purposes. Our tax ID Number is 95-2794253. Have a question that wasn’t answered here? Email give@nclifeline.org or contact 760-842-6254.
Sep 27, 2023
Adopt-A-Family 2023
Frequently Asked Questions Learn More about Lifeline's Annual Holiday Giving Tradition 1. What is Adopt-A-Family? Adopt-A-Family is a holiday giving program in North County San Diego designed to help low-income families who are Lifeline clients celebrate the holiday season by connecting them with local businesses, organizations, and individuals who “adopt” them. 2. How does it work? Complete the Adopt-A-Family interest form to get started. Lifeline will match you with a Lifeline family and provide you with a personalized list of the things they need most, as well as wish items for the holidays. Then, you deliver the gifts no later than December 9th, 2023to Lifeline’s Vista Campus. Please make sure to meet this deadline. Lifeline staff arranges the delivery of gifts. 3. How are families selected for Adopt-A-Family? All families who are adopted are Lifeline clients and are nominated by Lifeline staff for their hard work and dedication to becoming self-sufficient. This includes families who have experienced homelessness, youth who have aged out of foster care, youth participating in juvenile diversion programs, survivors of human trafficking, and others. These families are low income or face economic challenges on a daily basis. 4. How much does it cost to adopt a family? We encourage donors to provide at least two gifts per family member. Over the years, we have estimatedthat donors on average spend between $75-100 per individual. If you want to make your gift go as far as possible, please contact us. 5. Can I donate used items? All gifts and donations must be new. 6. Why is the family asking for electronics or other "luxury" itemsand not just basic needs? While we encourage families to focus on basic needs, we also ask them to think of a "special wish".Many of our families have never had the opportunity to wish for something some might consider a 'luxury' (for example, aniPhone, a tablet,or spa days, etc). Please don't be offended. Please let us know if you would like us to match you with a different family whose wants and needs seem to be most in line with your budget and expectations. Remember, you are not obligated to purchase everything on the wish list. We hope to provide at least two gifts for each person. You are welcome to provide more if you wish. 7. When and where should I deliver gifts? We will be accepting gifts December 4 - December 9during designated drop off times at our Vista Campus. We will also be hosting our annual "Donation Drop-off Party" this year.More information and details to come. 8. How should the items be delivered? Should we wrap the gifts? Some families love the surprise of wrapped presents for all, while some would prefer to wrap the gifts themselves. We typically see this with parents who would like to feel part of the holiday tradition of wrapping gifts for their kids. There is a section in the wishlist that lets donors know what the families prefer. We ask that you deliver your gifts in large bins, boxes, or bags so we can ensure your items stay together. Most importantly: make sure the recipient’s name and family code are clearly labeled on ALL gifts. Once all of your gifts are labeled and placed in boxes/bins/ bags, please label the container with the family code and list of how many boxes you have for the family. For example if there are 3 total boxes: Box 1 of 3, Box 2 of 3, Box 3 of 3, etc. *see samples below. If you have more than one family, please use separate boxes for each family. *if you include Gift Cards, please make sure they are activated at time of drop off. To ensure they do not get lost, please put them in one envelope, clearly labeled with the intended recipient, and write the family code on the envelope.* 9. Will I get a chance to meet thefamily I adopt? Due to the nature of services Lifeline provides and in order to best respect their confidentiality, we do not allow donors to meet the family(ies) and will not provide donors with more than first names of family members. 10. Can I adopt multiple families? Yes, you can adopt as many families as you wish as long as you can provide the same level of commitment to each family. We also encourage donors with larger budgets to adopt larger famlies (6+) as those are typically the hardest/last to be adopted. 11. What if I can’t follow through with my adoption? If you are unable to follow through with your adoption, please contact us immediately, do not wait. We will need to make other arrangements for the family. 12. I can’t adopt a family, but I still want to donate and/or volunteer my time. How can I help? Gift cards of any denomination and stores are used to support a family who either hasn’t been adopted, or who needs a little extra support. The most requested stores include: Food4Less, Stater Bros, Albertsons, and any gas station. Throughout the first 2 weeks of December, we need dozens of volunteers! Contact us if you would like to volunteer—bring family, friends, co-workers, the more the merrier! Email us at volunteer@nclifeline.org 13. Is my donation tax deductible? Adopt-A-Family gifts and donations can be tax-deductible. You will receive a thank you letter in January describing your participation in the program; only gift cards or cash donations will be given their corresponding dollar value in the letter. Keep your receipts as backup for in-kind donations so you can attach those to the letter for tax purposes. Our tax ID Number is 95-2794253. Have a question that wasn’t answered here? Email give@nclifeline.org or contact 760-842-6254.