Grant will help Sacramento women break the cycle of homelessness
SACRAMENTO – Save Mart C.A.R.E.S. has donated $25,000 to help homeless women in Sacramento find homes and jobs to support their families through Women’s Empowerment’s comprehensive job readiness program. The mission of Women’s Empowerment aligns closely with the mission of Save Mart C.A.R.E.S., which supports programs that have a record of results and contribute to the advancement of community, arts, recreation, education and/or sports.
“Women who experience homelessness have greater barriers in their job search, so our program addresses all of their basic needs including nutrition so they can get healthy and focus on job readiness skills,” said Lisa Culp, executive director, Women’s Empowerment. “We are grateful to Save Mart C.A.R.E.S. for its steadfast support that ensures more women leave our program healthy, employed and living in their own homes.”
Women’s Empowerment’s initial eight-week program for women who are homeless addresses their basic needs such as health, mental health and housing while preparing them to become work-ready. The job-readiness component is mostly taught by volunteers from the community and includes computer literacy training, resume writing, communication skills, mock interviews, dressing for success and more. They also meet with an onsite employment specialist to search for jobs. Once women graduate from Women’s Empowerment, they can join the advanced job readiness program that includes paid job training programs, certifications, financial literacy and more.
Women’s Empowerment offers the most comprehensive job-readiness program in the Sacramento area designed specifically for women who are homeless and their children. The 2014 Organization of the Year has graduated 1,177 homeless women and their 2,552 children. Last year, 81 percent of graduates found homes and 90 percent found jobs or enrolled in school or training. The program combines self-esteem courses, job training, health classes and support services to help homeless women across diverse ages, races and cultures. Women’s Empowerment is funded solely through private donations from the community. To donate online: www.womens-empowerment.org.
Save Mart C.A.R.E.S. is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization focused on supporting: Community, Arts, Recreation, Education, and Sports. It was founded by Save Mart Supermarkets and operates with a separate board of directors maintaing a separate focus on supporting the company’s principle of giving back to the communities it serves. Visit http://www.savemart.com/save-mart-cares-129 to learn more.
Nicole Pesco of Save Mart gives Lisa Culp of Women’s Empowerment a check for $25,000 to empower women who are homeless to find homes and jobs.