The Encinitas Community Resource Center (CRC) continued its Christmas basket project this year, giving gifts to low-income seniors.
“We have stamps, we have journals, we have See’s Candy…and a few more goodies. Objects that the elderly have identified that would bring them warmth”, said Rebecca Nussbaum, chief program officer of CRC. “We also have a blanket that we are giving to each of our elderly”.
Residents of Cantebria Retirement Homes in Encinitas received an unexpected surprise this week. The apartment community houses low-income seniors.
Nussbaum said holiday gift-giving for seniors is only part of the center’s annual traditions. They also fill holiday backpacks for homeless people and take needy families shopping. She said the holidays often bring a lot of stress to those on low incomes.
“They have the pressure of the holidays and they want to be able to provide for their families, but they’re often unable to do that,” Nussbaum said. “So we really want to relieve stress while also giving them a brighter vacation experience.”
While holiday gifting is an annual project, something new is on the way.
“CRC has been working within the walls of this facility for a long time, since the 1980s. And we’ve never really designed the inside of the building for the programs and services we provide,” said John Van Cleef, CEO of the CRC. “And a lot has changed since the 1980s and our service has grown; the number of people who come to us has grown”.
He said that in order to continue to meet the needs of the community with dignity, some changes are needed.
“We’re really renovating our current campus and have purchased the property next door to build a new food and nutrition center that will look more like a neighborhood market,” she said.
Van Cleef said their food and nutrition center will expand their building by about 1,000 square feet. But the expansion is expected to cost $10 million and only half of it has been insured.
Once they have the funds and permits, Van Cleef said the CRC hopes to make progress on construction over the next year, as it offers the community food and nutrition services, counseling, housing resources and support for victims of domestic violence, in addition to ‘instruction.
“CRC is truly the child of this community’s compassion and ability to help our neighbors in need,” said Van Cleef. “So, as we focus on caring for what we have and building our future, we really want to capture that spirit of one community and spirit of one heart, in this campaign for the capital.”
