Rehabilitation Services of Northern California (RSNC) has joined #GivingTuesday, a global day of giving that celebrates generosity worldwide. Occurring this year on December 1st, #GivingTuesday is held annually on the Tuesday after Thanksgiving and inspires people to collaborate in improving their local communities and to give back in impactful ways to philanthropies they support.

This will be RSNC’s first #GivingTuesday, and our goal is to raise $5,000 to continue to provide live music therapy for an entire year, create awareness of RSNC, which operates the Bedford Center in Antioch, and to gain volunteers.

Those who are interested in joining Rehabilitation Services of Northern California’s #GivingTuesday initiative can visit www.rsnc-centers.org/givingtuesday/.

About Rehabilitation Services of Northern California

Since 1949 RSNC has been a nonprofit partner removing barriers to independence for the frail and disabled. Giving much needed respite to our hero caregivers and their families, and providing nursing, physical, speech and occupational therapies, social work, a healthy meal and most importantly a sense of community all disguised as FUN, which enables our beloved participants to remain vibrant and independent. Our centers are all about avoiding unnecessary hospitalizations and premature placement into skilled nursing facilities. RSNC is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) public benefit corporation.

To learn more about Rehabilitation Services of Northern California and our goals for #GivingTuesday, please visit: www.rsnc-centers.org, www.facebook.com/RSNC1949, or www.twitter.com/RehabServicesNC.

The American Association of University Women (AAUW) Delta Contra Costa Branch is hosting a Book Fair, and will receive a percentage of the net sales for the entire day, Nov. 30 if you mention their Bookfair ID number 11714250. Download flyer for details – AAUW B&Nvoucher2015

You may shop at any Barnes & Noble, not just the one in Antioch.

You may also shop online from anywhere at bn.com/bookfairs from Nov. 30 – Dec. 5 and enter their ID number 11714250 on the checkout/payment page.

Books, CD’s and DVD’s make great gifts.

During the day at the Antioch store, they will offer free gift wrapping and children’s crafts. Plus, spin the wheel and win prizes.

From 1-2 pm Antioch author, Linda Locke will be holding a book signing and doing a talk about her book, Family Fables. http://rosedogbooks-store.stores.yahoo.net/familyfables.html

Thanks for shopping and supporting AAUW – proceeds go to educational scholarships and Tech Trek.

Give back this Christmas Season by providing a new pair of Pajamas to children in need in East County.

We are collecting New Children’s Pajamas

for ages 4 to 16 years old

Now thru December 10th

Please drop off an unwrapped package to one of these

Collection Locations:

Umpqua Bank – 3700 Lone Tree Way, Raley’s Center, Antioch

Fremont Bank – 200 Sandcreek Rd Suite F, Brentwood

Or donate by mailing a check to:

International Orphan Relief Foundation

2420 Sandcreek Road C195, Brentwood CA  94513

Contact Phone: (925) 418-4109 or online at www.iorf.org

All Donations are tax deductible and each donor will receive an emailconfirmation and tax receipt.

PJ’s will be distributed on December 12, 2015.

Thank You and Happy Holidays

Download the attached ballot and vote for your favorite window or store decorations from the list of participating Rivertown businesses and be entered to win Prizes from Shops in Antioch’s Historic Downtown! Voting starts this Saturday, November 28, during Small Business Saturday. You must turn in your ballot by 5 PM, Saturday, December 12. Please mark only ONE box. 2015 Rivertown Holiday Store Window Décor Contest Ballot

CLAYTON, Calif., November 19, 2015 – For the 24th straight year, a number of representatives from Contra Costa County non-profit agencies were on hand Thursday at the annual Marsh Creek Detention Facility’s Toy Show to fulfill their kids’ Christmas wish lists. The representatives were able to choose from numerous newly handcrafted toys and bicycles refurbished by the facility’s inmates. These gifts are given to the children who are being served by these agencies during the upcoming holidays.

Along with the many displayed toys and bikes, the inmates decorated the Marsh Creek Detention Facility’s workshop to look like Santa’s own. Joining the non-profit-agency representatives were Contra Costa County’s Superintendent of Schools Karen Sakata and Sheriff David Livingston, as well as numerous representatives from both agencies to celebrate this longtime agency partnership that benefits the community.

Both Superintendent Sakata and Sheriff Livingston gave their thoughts to the many attendees about the extremely successful partnership of the Contra Costa County Office of Education’s (CCCOE) accredited shop classes being taught in a Contra Costa County Jail. “We are so fortunate to have such a wonderful agency collaboration that brings such value to our county,” said Superintendent Sakata. “With this project, these adult students will certainly bring a brighter Holiday Season to many children throughout our community.”

A small group of Marsh Creek Detention Facility inmates have been working on this project since the workshop re-opened in early October. They have been extremely busy fixing up used bikes to look and ride like brand new, and crafting colorful and beautiful wooden toys, such as, ball and cup games, spinning carousels, cars, doll houses, baby cradles, toy tractors, train sets, and more. All of the toy makers and/or bike mechanics are students in the Contra Costa Adult School, an accredited school directed by the Contra Costa County Office of Education (CCCOE), located within the detention facility.
CCCOE’s woodshop teacher Paul Turner hit the ground running, directing this project, soon after being hired on September 28. “On October 7, we opened the doors to the woodshop and bike shop,” said Turner, “It was like going into someone’s garage,” he laughed. “We had a lot of work to do in a short amount of time, but luckily my small group of students had plenty of skills to produce more than 400 toys and refurbish 170 bikes by the time this event rolled around. I’m very proud of how hard they worked on this project.”

Non-profit organizations participating in this special event included: Bay Area Rescue Mission, Brighter Beginnings, Contra Costa County Independent Living Skills Program, El Cerrito Fire Department, Shelter Inc., The Salvation Army-Antioch Corps, Ujima Family Recovery Services/La Casa, and VESTIA.

ADDITIONAL NOTES:

During the 2014-15 school year, approximately 2,343 adult inmates (throughout the three Contra Costa detention facilities) were enrolled in classes ranging from academic programs, including basic literacy and GED preparation, to vocational programs, including woodshop, construction, and state-of-the-art computer training. By the end of the school year, 17 student-inmates received their GED and 23 received a high school diploma, and 34 students passed the California High School Exit Exam. In addition, there were 207 students who demonstrated learning gains in reading or math, and 122 students earned a certificate of completion in computer applications. Another course directed by the CCCOE is the DEUCE Program (Deciding, Educating, Understanding, Counseling, and Evaluation).

These three-part classes (90 days) focus on substance abuse prevention. Last year, 708 students completed at least one of the three phases, and 146 students graduated from DEUCE. The Parenting Inside/Out class teaches vital parenting skills to women and men, with 57 certificates issued last school year. Last year, the CCCOE opened a new re-entry class at the West County Detention Facility. The re-entry class offers workforce readiness, career exploration, soft skills workshops, and a nine-week cognitive-behavior-change program called Transitions. Currently, 46 inmates are enrolled in the re-entry course.

These classes help to provide education and skills needed for successful transition back into the community.