Sharing Stories

Over the course of Season 02 of this series, we are going to introduce you to a few of the folks who've recently received one-time support from Season of Sharing Fund. If you want to hear more profiles of help and hope, or if you want to find out how you can help neighbors in crisis, go to SeasonofSharing.org/podcast. Did you know that one in four people in the United States have less than $1000 in savings? What this means is that many of our neighbors are one crisis away — a car accident, a sick pet, a health emergency, you name it — from falling behind and having to choose between rent and necessities like food and medical care.  Thanks to our donors and partner agencies, since 1986, Season of Sharing Fund has been able to provide some peace of mind to more than 190,000 people in the Bay Area when they needed it most. And as food insecurity grows, we provide funding for more than 4 million meals each year in the nine counties of the Bay.  Together, we help our neighbors remain housed, cared for, and nourished  — so they can get back on their feet.

Season of Sharing Fund gave some peace of mind to retired nonprofit leader Marlus Stewart.  Asking for help wasn't supposed to be part of Stewart's story. She was the helper. But in 2019, the unimaginable happened. Stewart's son, her only child, died of suicide at age 50. The grief was unbearable and struggling with health issues, she "lost everything."  She had been living in her car off and on for about six months when she connected with Season of Sharing through Catholic Charities. Season of Sharing Fund helped paid her deposit after she won a housing lottery in Sonoma. Now, she and her dog Mercedes Marie have a place to call home.  If you want to hear more profiles of help and hope, or if you want to find out how you can help neighbors in crisis, go to SeasonofSharing.org/podcast.

Season of Sharing Fund gave some peace of mind to aspiring boxing champ Keoni Washington, who became parent and breadwinner to his brothers after their mother passed  away early in the pandemic. We meet him at the East Bay apartment he shares with three of his brothers.  Keoni received rental assistance from Season of Sharing Fund in 2023, which has allowed him and his brothers to stay in their home. If you want to hear more profiles of help and hope, or if you want to find out how you can help neighbors in crisis, go to SeasonofSharing.org/podcast.

Season of Sharing Fund provided some peace of mind to Jaime and Alejandra Ramirez after their daughter was born prematurely and Jaime's work dried up.  Their daughter had to stay in the hospital for over a year and during that time they depleted all of their savings. They were worried about how to pay rent and their landlord suggested they call 2-1-1. That's how they found out about Season of Sharing Fund, which was able to help with two months rent.  During those two months, Jaime was able to find a new job...and is now a donor to Season of Sharing. In this episode, Jaime shares his family's journey. If you want to hear more profiles of help and hope, or if you want to find out how you can help neighbors in crisis, go to SeasonofSharing.org/podcast.

Season of Sharing Fund provided some peace of mind to Olivia Alatorre, who worked hard to take care of her family for nearly 40 years and was then diagnosed with stomach cancer soon after she retired. Her medical bills piled up as she received treatment and she fell behind on her rent. Season of Sharing Fund helped pay her back rent, so she could stay in her home. In this episode, she shares her story and her cooking! If you want to hear more profiles of help and hope, or if you want to find out how you can help neighbors in crisis, go to SeasonofSharing.org/podcast.

Over the course of this season of episodes, you to got meet a few folks who've recently received one-time support from Season of Sharing Fund — and a couple who help make it happen.   As we wrap up this season, we thought it seemed only appropriate to end on a hopeful note. So I asked many of the people who were profiled: what would you do if you had a magic wand — with three wishes? If you want to support Season of Sharing Fund's work, you can DONATE here.  If you want to hear more profiles of help and hope, LISTEN to the entire podcast.

Season of Sharing Fund gave some peace of mind — and dignity — to widower Michael Sharpe as he coped with the death of his wife. A couple of years after his wife Kimberly died, Michael Sharpe still keeps her clothes in the drawers and closets of his small Novato apartment. When Kimberly was first got diagnosed with uterine cancer in 2020, she was still able to manage her small business. Her cancer went into remission, but over the next year, the business suffered, losing a significant client. By the time Kimberly died, in October 2022, Sharpe was behind on rent. That's where social service agency Community Action Marin and the Chronicle Season of Sharing Fund came in.  If you want to hear more profiles of help and hope, or if you want to find out how you can help neighbors in crisis, go to SeasonofSharing.org/podcast.

Season of Sharing Fund gave some peace of mind to Jose Guevara while he focused on his daughter's health.  Jose is the proud papa of five, including Patti, 14, Richard, 13, and Emiliee, 5.  Patti Guevara's pain started two years ago — in her back and her knees. Doctors brushed off her father's concerns, blamed her symptoms on her weight and sent her home with aspirin. Guevara took her to "basically every hospital" in the area. Finally, in July 2022, physicians at Stanford Children's Health found a 4-inch tumor on Patti's spine — and rushed her into surgery. She had Ewing sarcoma, a rare cancer that strikes children and young adults. Jose had to quit his job to care for Patti and his younger kids. Assistance from the Season of Sharing Fund helped Guevara cover rent as he transitioned from working full time to being Patti's full-time caregiver, which he is paid for through California's In-Home Supportive Services Program. If you want to hear more profiles of help and hope, or if you want to find out how you can help neighbors in crisis, go to SeasonofSharing.org/podcast.

Did you know it costs upwards of $50,000 to help one person find stable housing after they lose their home? Meanwhile, it takes just a couple thousand to help someone deal with an unexpected financial emergency and stay in their home. That is where the Season of Sharing Fund comes in. Started in 1986, Season of Sharing Fund is a unique, compassionate homelessness prevention model that's powered by donations from Bay Area neighbors helping neighbors. On this episode, we'll look at how the Fund actually works. We'll introduce you to Season of Sharing Fund's Executive Director Kevin Swanson, as well as Laurel Hill, a longtime partner from Community Action Marin and Susan Malloy, a client who became a Season of Sharing Fund donor.  If you want to hear more profiles of help and hope, or if you want to find out how you can help neighbors in crisis, go to SeasonofSharing.org/podcast.

Over the course of this series, we are going to introduce you to a few of the folks who've recently received one-time support from Season of Sharing Fund  — and a couple of the people who help make it happen. If you want to hear more profiles of help and hope, or if you want to find out how you can help neighbors in crisis, go to SeasonofSharing.org/podcast. Did you know that one in four people in the United States have less than $1000 in savings? What this means is that many of our neighbors are one crisis away — a car accident, a sick pet, a health emergency, you name it — from falling behind and having to choose between rent and necessities like food and medicine.  Thanks to our donors and partner agencies, since 1986, Season of Sharing Fund has been able to provide some peace of mind to more than 185,000 people in the Bay Area. The fund has been there for individuals and families when a month or two of rent made the difference between staying in their home and becoming unhoused.