tahoe youth and family

Three local community groups were recently awarded grants form the South Lake Tahoe Rotary Club. The Drug Store Project was given $1,000, H.E.R.O Scholarship Fund $2,000 and the Sierra House Elementary 5th Grade Nature Bridge $1,500.

The Drug Store Project, which is operated under the guidance of Tahoe Youth and Family Services will use the money to continue its annual youth drug awareness and avoidance program in 2016. This is program is designed to reduce future drug experimentation/use/abuse and increase student knowledge about the dangers of drug and alcohol use.

The Soroptimist International of South Lake Tahoe invites the community to their 45th annual “An Evening of Food & Wine Tasting” on Friday, October 16, 2015 at MontBleu's Convention Center. Enjoy incredible wine from Northern California’s top wineries and sample a wide variety of delicious appetizers, entrees and desserts from the South Shore’s finest restaurants.

When children are removed from their homes and put into foster care, it is most likely the worst day of their life. Foster children are kids who have to be taken from their homes due to some sort of safety risk, such as abuse, neglect, parental incarceration, or illegal activity in the household. When a community does not have enough homes to accommodate for foster youth, the children have to move to the closest available foster home, often times being several hours away.

There were two high-end bike thefts in South Lake Tahoe city limits this week and the Police Department is issuing a warning.

One bike, a Kona ManoMano, was stolen off the back of a Tahoe Youth and Family Services board member's car as he attended an afternoon meeting at the agency's office on Fremont Avenue. His bike is described as a 27 speed Kona ManoMano, white in color with black printing. A witness saw a man walking by the parking lot with bolt cutters at approximately 4:20 p.m. on Monday, March 30. In a matter of moments the perpetrator was riding off on the bike.

What are the first thoughts that go through your mind when you see a youth on the streets? How did they get there, where are their parents, and are they safe? It’s disturbing to realize that between 1.6 and 2.8 million youth run away annually. Most youth who run away do so because of threatening environments at home, such as physical/verbal abuse, substance abuse issues, questions of sexual orientation, or escaping state care. Unfortunately, by choosing to run away, they further subject themselves to threatening situations that impede their progress in life.

The South Tahoe Drug Free Coalition (STDFC) was formed in 2012 by Tahoe Youth and Family Services in collaboration with key community partners. Some of these community partners include the South Tahoe Police Department, El Dorado County Public Health, and Lake Tahoe Unified School District.

The South Tahoe Alliance of Resorts (STAR) has spent the last several months spreading good cheer to local non-profits. They gave Christmas Cheer All Year $5,000 prior to the holidays and have now given both Tahoe Youth and Family Services and Live Violence Free $5,000.

Tahoe Youth and Family Services is hosting their Annual Evening of Giving on December 11 at the agency's offices at 1021 Fremont Avenue in South Lake Tahoe. Refreshments will be served at the event which is from 4:30 pm to 6:30 pm.

The agency has a wish list oh in-kind donations for the holidays:

Items for clients:

Hand warmers
Warm sleeping bags
Winter boots (adult sizes)
Winter coats (adult sizes)
winter gloves or heavy duty mittens (adult sizes)
knit hats and beanies
Tents (new or gently used)
Men's boxers (adult size small)

Inaugural "Pony N Pumpkin" festival will be held over the weekend of October 11-13, 2013 at Forest Suites in South Lake Tahoe. There will be local food growers, games, pony rides and pumpkins! A percentage of all proceeds will be going to the following 4 non-profits (Lions Club, National Forest Foundation, Tahoe Youth and Family Services and Pony Express Territory Nevada).

The event is sponsored by Forest Suites and Borges Sleigh and Carriage Rides. For more information, visit their website.

Join your friends and neighbors on March 15th at this year’s annual St. Patrick’s Day Celebration hosted by the Rotary Club of Tahoe Douglas. This is the club’s 45th year to host this crowd pleasing South Shore Lake Tahoe event which includes a traditional Irish buffet, wine tasting, entertainment and one of the biggest silent auctions to hit the area!

Tuesday, Dec. 18 will be an opportunity for all to have a nice, healthy dinner and support both Lake Tahoe Wildlife Care and Tahoe Youth and Family Services.
Lake Tahoe Wildlife Care will be at Freshies, 3330 Lake Tahoe Blvd., South Lake Tahoe, 5 to 9 p.m. for a photograph showing of some of the birds and animals we've cared for recently and will answer any questions.

“Empowerment” is the premise of Barton Health's Community Advisory Committee (CAC). After careful evaluation of 19 grant applications, nine-non-profits recently received $24,000 in grants from the CAC. Through these grants, the CAC is able to “empower” area community programs with funding to help close the health gaps and address health issues within the community.