"Serving the Least Powerful and Most Vulnerable and Ending Homelessness in Santa Paula"
Diversity Statement
We are committed to equal employment opportunity and unbiased treatment of all individuals based on job-related qualifications and without regard to race, color, gender, age national origin, religion, creed, sexual orientation, gender identity marital status, citizenship, disability, veteran status or any other basis prohibited by law.
Meet Our Board
Ned Branch
Chairman of the Board,
Blanchard Library Director,
Santa Paula
Bill Fowlie
Chief Financial Officer,
Spirit's Facility Director
Real Estate Agent, Santa Paula
Kay Wilson-Bolton
President,
Broker, Century 21 Everest Real Estate,
Santa Paula
W. John Kulwiec,
AIA Emeritus
Director, Project Manager
Kulwiec Group Architects, Santa Paula
Susan Kulwiec
Director, Spirit's Fund Development
Kulwiec Interiors, Santa Paula
David Lippert
Director
COF Rabalais Bistro, Santa Paula
Vern Alstot
Director
Spirit's Emergency Specialist
V.P., COO, CARE PODZ, Ventura
Lorissa Magdaleno
Director
Admin., Catalyst Church,
Santa Paula
Jenny Arana
Vice President,
Real Estate Agent,
Century 21 Everest, Santa Paula
Betsy Chess
Director
Author, Santa Paula
Advisory Committee
Dr. William Simmons
Spirit's Futurist
IPrise Communications, Oxnard
Howard Bolton
Spirit's Graphics Specialist
H. Bolton Graphics, Santa Paula
Dawn Bavero
Spirit's Events Coordinator
Advisory Board Member,
Santa Paula
Jill Wallerstedt
Spirit's Counseling Specialist
St. Barbara's Monastery, Santa Paula
Dave Bavero
Director DPI Specially Foods, Santa Paula
Kay's Welcome Message
"Do all the good you can, by all the means you can, in all the ways you can, in all the places you can, at all the times you can, to all the people you can, as long as ever you can."
— John Wesley
We are a 501C3 non-profit corporation formed in 2002 by six local business people to do "good things" for our community. Little did we know that finding a homeless man dead in one of our churches on Christmas Eve 2008 would launch us in a direction we never dreamed.
Our beliefs are Christian and our service areas are non-denominational and varied. They range from serving a generous, nutritious hot meal each week for 600 people to assisting the community with rental assistance and utility payments, advocacy in Homeless Court, counseling at our Resource Center for people who are homeless, hungry and lonely. We are approved by Ventura County Sheriff's Department to provide pastoral visits to the jail, we work with parolees and lead the Homeless Count in Santa Paula. We are ServSafe Food Certified and adept at food rescue, food pantry services, USDA food distribution and counseling. We have helped parents with at-risk kids, sponsored outreach programs for kids in the park, the Police Clergy Council, and 12-step efforts. We believe in linking arms with other service providers. We lend a hand to them and lean on them when necessary. We try not to duplicate services and we work hard to communicate.
Every day someone finds us who needs rental or utility bill assistance, pet food (shots and licenses), a baby crib, a car seat, new glasses, the co-payment for a prescription, food to get them by, a bed for aging parent joining the home, bandages for homeless people with wounds, warm jackets, clean socks and newer shoes, a bus ticket to the doctor, a meal, a cup of water, a refrigerator, a new tire or battery, blankets or household items.
We are called to serve everyone who needs help and love them along the way. We receive grant money through the United Way, CDBG, Private Foundations and FOOD Share is our best food partner. Ventura County Healthcare Agency is our partner in real "Whole Person Care" with weekly showers, healthcare and services. As Volunteer Director, I also serve as Chaplain to Ventura County Fire Department and in touch with those in greatest need.
Kay Wilson-Bolton, Director