Whittier Area Community Church

KINSHIP. A caregiver currently undergoing the Resource Family Approval (RFA) process needs assistance with purchasing items for the children she plans to care for. Before the children can be placed in her home, she needs a crib, a dresser, and two twin mattresses. The caregiver already has two children of her own and is preparing to take in four additional children. Currently, she is not receiving any financial support for the children. Assistance with securing these items would significantly ease her financial burden and allow her to allocate her limited resources toward other essential needs for the children. This will ensure a safe and stable home for the children. Currently, the kin caregiver receives financial support from the government. She is currently receiving cash aid and Cal Fresh. The caregiver is committed to providing both financial and emotional support for the children by utilizing available community resources and continuing to receive assistance through cash aid. As this is her first time serving as a caregiver—especially to four children—she simply needs a helping hand to get started. Once she obtains the necessary items, she will be able to redirect her limited resources toward other essential needs, including food and clothing for the children.

Currently working with a family who is experiencing some financial difficulties. Client has 1 ½ year old and a newborn baby. Client does not have a stroller and struggles to do community outings with both children. Client's 1 ½ year old has some physical disabilities that prevents her from walking. Client is not working currently, but would like to work once her baby is little older. Client is in need of clothing for her two children. Thank You in advance for your support and consideration with helping this family. A link of the baby Double Stroller as a suggestion can be found in the notes section.

This request is on behalf of a resilient and loving kinship caregiver a grandmother who has held legal guardianship of her three grandchildren since 2021. She stepped up selflessly when the children's biological parents could no longer care for them due to neglect. Recently, her family experienced an unexpected hardship: a house fire caused by an electrical malfunction, which left their home and belongings significantly damaged. While no one was physically harmed, the emotional and financial toll has been substantial. Currently, the caregiver and children are temporarily staying with her elderly mother. However, her mother is in the process of selling the home, which means the family must relocate again. The grandmother has secured a new rental and paid a sizable security deposit, and she is scheduled to move into the home.

Mother needs one twin bed mattress, a waterproof twin mattress protector, and a twin bed frame for her child. Mother purchased a new mattress for the child back in October 2024 and had been wrapping the mattress in plastic to help protect the mattress, as the child frequently wets the bed. The child broke his bedframe by jumping on it and the mattress was soiled and had started to produce a heavy urine smell that spread from child’s room throughout the home; thus, mother had to throw both the mattress and bedframe away. Mother is unable to purchase said items for the child. Mother does have family; however, they have distanced themselves due to the intense behaviors of the child. The child is autistic; he elopes, has severe outbursts, can become violent and verbally aggressive. DCFS is requesting a twin bed mattress, a waterproof twin mattress protector, and a twin bedframe, otherwise the child will remain sleeping on a pallet of blankets on the floor. This need is being requested through Care Portal because unfortunately, DCFS’ timeframe in providing these items would take too long, as the child needs a mattress and bed frame. The total estimated cost of the items is $430.00.

A local Altadena lived in their home for 48 years. This is the home where they have raised their family an it was all gone in an instant. They have insurance and they have been partially paid out. The unfortunately they did not have coverage on relocation. This has resulted in them needing to pay for their mortgage ($2,200) and their rent ($3,200) totaling $5,400. They are using their partial payout to help cover their new rental while they are waiting to rebuild. The couple is severely rent-burdened, relying on savings and limited fixed income while their permanent home remains uninhabitable. Their resilience is evident in their commitment to rebuild and remain in the community, yet she continues to face serious challenges: Permanent Housing Support: Though the couple plans to rebuild, they need support with basic furnishings, summer clothing, and other essentials once construction is complete.

I have been working with this father for 2 weeks, since I had first met him on 5/30/25. Father is aware of his needs and expressed his need for therapy and to get into a substance abuse program. He has a history of substance abuse and has expressed using drugs to cope with his grief of losing his mother, alongside his traumas. He has expressed a desire to reunify with his daughter and recognizes that he needs to help himself before being able to help his daughter. Father has been transparent to CSW about his situation and has expressed needing support. Any assistance in the form of in-kind donations will eliminate some of the financial barriers in reunifying with his child. The father is currently homeless and does not have a stable place of residence. He has been utilizing friends for temporary residence, but cannot be permanent places of residence. He does not have familial supports. Father does not have employment but has utilized DPSS support to receive GR and Medi-Cal. He has been experiencing homelessness for 6-7 months and has experienced being assaulted and robbed from. Father was robbed of his belongings including his phone and his bicycle. I had referred father to two shelters yesterday, which is pending receipt of verification. The father is of need of clothing, blankets and food supplies.

I am advocating on behalf of a current relative caregiver of 3 children who also has 4 biological children of her own. There are a total of 8 people living in an apartment. The caregiver is receiving very limited funding from DCFS. 2 of 3 foster children who reside with the caregiver are adopted.  Despite those 2 children being detained from the adoptive mother she is still receiving her AAP benefits based on regulation. The adoptive mother is not providing financial support to the relative caregiver. The caregiver needs assistance to transport the children to school and daycare.

Young adult trying to obtain her drivers license. She did save and was able to get 4 driving instructions. However, since she doesn't have relatives to practice driving outside of the lessons she feels she needs more. Link to driving school is in description to pay direct or financial assistance if available. Go To Link

Single mother of 2 who is need of fresh foods. Cal Fresh has cut funding and with kids not in school food programs for the summer is struggling with fresh produce for kids.

A single man who grew up in Altadena lost his home in the fire. He has now been able to secure housing but is in need of assistance with some final items for his home. He is finally back to working after the fires and is in need of some more kitchen and house hold items until he is able to have more money coming in.

The child (16 years old) remains in the care of her maternal aunt and uncle, although they have recently relocated to a new residence.

They are currently pending RFA approval and are concerned that their recent move may jeopardize the process. The home is clean and my client is safe, but they are lacking some basic furnishings—specifically, bed frames, a dining room table, and other essential items. They were informed that these deficiencies could impact their approval status.

Getting a bed and dining room table for the child would help preserve relative placement for this child.

Grandparents ages 60 & 61 recently took in their three granddaughters ages, 17, 14, & 11 without any financial assistance from the Department of Child and Family Services or any other government assistance. Everything seemed to have been going well until the increase of ICE raids in our community, this family is facing fear like many others and the additional work hours they would count on to make ends meet have decreased. These grandparents need your support with their gas bill to get back on track and are hopeful that soon things can settle down to continue with their normal work lives without any fear to live in a safe country.