LIFELINE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION OF MERCED COUNTY

Our Winton Community Center is a resource for the small, unincorporated town of Winton. The staff and many volunteers come together to help each other thrive. We strongly believe in partnerships, and then many good things happen: a thriving community garden where we not only grow food but also help people grow their vegetables and learn to budget. Youth enrichment, where young people can find a safe place to engage and learn (e.g., resume building, job searches, community engagement). Mental health services where people can find deeper relationships and safe spaces to develop and heal. we provide emergency food, resume help, and a number of other resources people might need to help them move out of poverty. We provide the VITA (Volunteer Income Tax Assistance)bringing over $300,000 back into the Winton community through refunds. But most importantly, neighbors are working together to make Winton a better community an a better place to live. We have several interns from the local UC Merced, as well as young people learning and growing together through a WorkNet program. Everyone using their gifts and abilities to help the community. On any given day we have unhomed, retired teachers, people struggling with addictions, community members in need of food, educators, youth doing their community service, and other community members, all working together to put Winton on the map for something good.

The Loughborough area is known for its high crime, gang activities, and low-income housing. Our Community Center is a place where people can come and receive resources, volunteer their time, have access to fresh fruit and vegetables, and receive help with resumes, job searches, and mental health care. Our after-school has about 15-20 children come to get help with homework, have social interactions, learn through science projects, and have lots of fun. We want our young people to see a better future for themselves, and our interns are a big asset to make them dream big. We provided free income tax assistance for over 100 families and learned about budgeting. We have partnered with the local elementary school to provide resources for a school garden. Here too we have partnerships with the Health Department, Behavioral Health, the People's Fridge, the Probation Department, the local library, and so many other groups. Together, we can provide resources community members need to move out of poverty.