Four organizations that provide vital assistance and help improve the quality of life in Oakdale are being considered for this year’s Community Service Award, with the honor being presented Friday night, Jan. 15 at the Gene Bianchi Community Center.
Here are the nominees:
Central Valley Association of Realtors of Oakdale
The Central Valley Association of Realtors (CVAR) have been nominated because they are always helping out in the community. They are generous to our children and other groups in Oakdale. The CVAR of Oakdale has been around for many years. They became the Oakdale Council when Modesto Association merged with the larger San Joaquin Association. The merger took place July 1, 1998 and is now known as the Central Valley Association of Realtors. The Oakdale Council has 25 offices and around 130 members. They have been a great support to many different activities in the Oakdale Community. Their monetary and physical support has no bounds. They are glad to lend a hand when and where needed. Here are just a few contributions to our community, the Oakdale Council of the Central Valley Association made possible:
$5500 in School scholarships; $500 Dorada Park Rebuild; $750 Under Privileged children shopping spree; $375 Oakdale PD Mounted Police; $1000 Donation to local Cemetery; $13,500 Sponsored and donated to Community Sharing from the Christmas Can Tree Breakfast and many of cans were collected in the Can Tree Barrels from Oakdale Businesses.
Also, $1,500 Helped and supported the Oakdale Chamber of Commerce event, Arrest your Boss which helps fund Chamber’s Scholarship program; $1000 TL Davis.
These are just a few of the ways our Realtors help.
Our local Realtors believe in being part of the community, not just selling it which helps build a strong and prosperous community through their own participation and donations.
Oakdale Equine Rescue
The Oakdale Equine Rescue, organized in 2010, has continued to represent the best of Oakdale’s non-profit businesses to the community and surrounding areas. They have shown the heart of the Cowboy Capital of the World to the lives they have touched in their work to lovingly care for horses they have rescued. This organization has rescued over 300 horses since they started their work and provided new homes for over 230 horses.
This year was an especially important year for the Oakdale Equine Rescue and their Oakdale spirit. They represented Oakdale in the ongoing relief efforts during and after the Butte fire. This has been a challenging opportunity to the organization to demonstrate their capability to respond quickly and coordinate their efforts with other local agencies. The rescue of all types of animals, not just the horses they are used to working with, was essential. They assisted several law enforcement and animal control agencies by volunteering their time to transport and house displaced horses. In addition, they transported severely burned animals such as pigs, cats and even birds to UC Davis Medical Hospital and Loomis Basin Equine Hospital. There are continuing plans to broaden the support for horses that the owners cannot care for because of the loss of property in the fire. They are working on building a hay/farm barn and to purchase hay and feed for people who have fallen onto hard times due to the fires.
The Oakdale Equine Rescue is dedicated to identifying horses in need of immediate care and adoption. The organization is very active in the Oakdale community and participates in events throughout the year. The Oakdale Rodeo is a special event for the organization and they have participated in the event since their formation. In addition, appearances at local events, such as National Night Out, are another way the organizations supports the community. Fundraising is a key part of financing the rescue work. Oakdale residents have come to recognize the organization’s fireworks stand each year and their frequent yard sales at Ferrarese’s Deli restaurant throughout the year.
The Oakdale Equine Rescue was recently awarded a $35,000 annual grant to start a hay/grain food bank.
Friends of the Oakdale Library
The Friends of the Oakdale Library have been nominated for their encouragement for literacy for children and adults. This organization was established 50-plus years ago to support and improve literacy and use of the library resources.
The purpose of the Friends of the Oakdale Library is to promote the welfare and growth of the Oakdale Library through fundraising, advocacy, volunteering, and programming. The Friends promote awareness of the library and its resources, promote closer relationships between the citizens and the library, promote improvements in library services, provide financial assistance by purchasing items which are a great benefit to the library program and promote additions to the library’s print, audio/visual, and electronic collections.
The 2015 list of support to the Oakdale Library by Friends is too numerous to mention all of them. We will share a few:
Crazy Eights math literacy program; Lego Project; Dia STEAM Science Program for grades K-5 which incorporates Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math into its activities; Monthly Teen craft project; Refreshments for the book club adults; Additional performances of: Python Ron and Didgeridoo Down Under; Materials for Read Across America; Prizes for Summer Reading Challenge; Materials for 1000 books before Kindergarten; Purchased new equipment for the library; Successful Book Sale in March 2015.
In 2015 the average attendance for each of the library programs increased giving more children and adults the chance to learn. The Friends of the Oakdale Library are a very low profile group that work to support the needs of all library patrons.
Oakdale Family Resource and Counseling Center
The Oakdale Family Resource and Counseling Center is a “One Stop” Family Resource Center providing a variety of services to Eastside Residents in Stanislaus County. They are working to make Oakdale a better place and stronger community.
The Oakdale Family Resource and Counseling Center has supported the City as a whole through their community events, including but not limited to, a Community Baby Shower for expecting moms in need, hosting a block party and free market for residents, hosting and coordinating “Movie in the Park” and promote and participate in the City of Oakdale community events such as the farmers market and Spirit of Oakdale.
This year 20 expecting mothers were provided with necessities such as diapers and clothing at the baby shower. This does not include those who walk through their doors daily that are provided much needed supplies. About 200 individuals were fed and connected with resources at their Block Party and Free Market. Everyone in Oakdale was provided with a safe fun summer activity through the Movie in the Park. These numbers are just for the few events mentioned and does not include the hundreds of youth and families served daily in their offices.
Oakdale Family Resource and Counseling Center connects individuals with much needed resources, assisting with utility assistance, Cal Fresh, Covered California, emergency food, emergency clothing, counseling services, case management, school readiness, classes for youth, parenting classes for adults and basically assisting with any need that someone might have. They provide a hand up to those in need and not just a hand out. All services are provided at no cost.
