Life can feel overwhelming in an instant for an individual or family faced by a life altering diagnosis. In those cases, it is not uncommon to find a GoFundMe, meal train or fundraiser of some type to help those in need.
This past year, the community found a new non-profit to embrace and while its goal may have seemed large, Melonie Rocha and her team proved that people will show up.
Rocha, the Chapter Leader for Helping One Woman (HOW) Oakdale Chapter, first became familiar with the non-profit when asked to attend a HOW dinner in Lodi. Impressed by the turnout and the feeling of community at the dinner, Rocha shared starting one herself sat on her heart.
A faithful woman, she asked for God to show her how she could help and what her role might be.
The HOW Motto is: One woman with $10 can buy another woman lunch. Ten women with $10 can buy another woman groceries. One hundred women with $10 can make a real difference in another woman’s life.
Each month a nominated recipient is honored by the community under this simple motto. Attendees pay a separate fee for a catered dinner and are asked for a $10 donation at the door.
“I didn’t know anybody and I thought how can I get this started in my own area,” Rocha said of finding that initial nominee.
The women honored by the group are those who have found themselves experiencing a life changing hardship or irreplaceable loss by way of their health, their spouses or that of a minor child.
Realizing her sister, who was supporting her husband through kidney disease, was an ideal candidate the first dinner was launched in January of 2025.
“It’s open to anybody in the surrounding area, not just Oakdale,” Rocha said of the monthly dinners and recipients. “Whichever Chapter you’re closest to, you want to try and go to that Chapter.”
Nominees are chosen by a random draw at the end of each dinner. Attendees are encouraged to nominate someone they may know that fits the criteria to be celebrated the next month. Once the name is drawn, the individual who nominated the recipient becomes the “Sponsor.” This person (and/or team of people) is responsible for collecting raffle items, silent auction items and dessert auction items for the following month’s dinner.
The HOW team guides them, HOW provides the venue and the caterer. The HOW team also tries to find someone to sponsor the cost of the venue.
Rocha further shared that she didn’t realize there was such a need until she started attending the dinners herself.
“Once I went to one, you just realize,” she said, noting not everyone is public, but this creates an opportunity to help them.
For the 2025 year, the majority of dinners were catered by Cindy’s Restaurant and the events were hosted at the Oakdale Event Center.
“They were so kind and generous,” Rocha said of the Verduzco family, owners of the event center. “I’m thankful to them for being a part of our journey.”
Now, with the growth of the dinner, the group has partnered with Reata on 3rd for their event space for the 2026 year.
“I think it’s grown, because once you attend a dinner, you leave with this whole different feeling,” Rocha said. “It’s not about the money, at the end. It’s about community support and letting women know they’re supported.”
As they look to moving to the new space there is excitement and hope. Excitement for a new location with high visibility.
“I’m hoping to get sponsorships,” Rocha shared of paying for the space to host dinners. “I’m looking for some other people, who believe in us, like we believe in us. Helping 11 more women through 2026.”
To kickstart the 2026 fundraising and celebrate its first year, a Chapter dinner will be hosted Wednesday, Dec. 17 at the Oakdale Event Center.
Tickets for the event are $27 per person and must be purchased in advance. Tickets may be purchased through a link on their social media pages: Helping One Woman Oakdale on Facebook and Helping One Woman Oakdale Chapter on Instagram.
As their monthly dinners grow, Rocha hopes they start to mimic more established chapters with an 80 percent return rate, noting it’s really in the spirit of a “Girls Night Out,” supporting a woman through a tough season as a community.
“One hundred percent of the proceeds from that night, goes directly to the woman that night,” Rocha said. “I think it’s important because there are women out there who have tons of support and there are women who just have a small circle. Maybe if they see strangers are coming to give the support, it can give them a little more hope.”
Reflecting on its first year and the community support, Rocha is pleased.
“I’m at a loss for words. If people have a compassionate heart, you go,” she said of the dinners. “But I’m not surprised, because the women that I’ve met in this community have compassion and big hearts. Some of them are going through challenges themselves but they’re right there helping out.”
Looking to the year ahead, for Rocha it all comes back to community.
“I feel like it’s the community that makes it more special than anything else, without them it’s not possible,” she said. “It helps one woman who’s experiencing something they probably never thought they’d be experiencing.”
For monetary donations to support the HOW Oakdale Chapter or for additional information regarding sponsorship, e-mail Rocha at 1howoakdale@gmail.com.
