Ritter Center

Filing Period

Jul 1, 2010 to Jun 30, 2011

Signed

May 8, 2012

Return Version

2010v3.4

Gross Receipts

$2,686,729

Mission

Major Activities

Activity 2

Other client servicesthe center has been providing the less fortunate in the community with free supplemental and emergency clothing since its inception in 1980. The center is located a half block from a goodwill thrift store. During 2008, the two agencies formed a partnership to provide center clients with free clothing from goodwill stores. The two agencies periodically conduct joint clothing drives in the community. Goodwill converts the value of a portion of the items collected into clothing vouchers for center clients to shop at the neighboring goodwill store. In this manner, center clients can still receive free clothing while the two agencies are able to operate more efficiently and serve clients more effectively. The center will still keep a stock of emergency survival gear onsite for the homeless, including rain gear, sleeping bags and warm socks. During the year ended june 30, 2009, the center, in collaboration with legal aid of marin and the canal alliance started marinhelpers.com. Other organizations and agencies, including nonprofits and faith-based communities throughout marin county, actively support this project. Temporary workers do not have access to jobs and may lack the skills to market their availability. Employers looking for short-term help do not know where to find temporary workers or they are hesitant to approach workers on the street or without a reference. Marinhelpers.com is an initiative that aims to bridge this gap and connect workers and residential employers (homeowners and renters) in a legal, safe and more efficient way. Marinhelpers.com is not an employment agency but does provide the opportunity to both parties for a job match. Marin-helpers.com does not charge a fee to prospective employers or workers and all wages paid by employers go directly to workers. Other services and programs include assisting clients to obtain driver's licenses or identification cards, holiday dinners and gift matching and back to school.

Activity 3

Food pantrythe center maintains the largest food pantry in marin county. Each year, the center distributes more than 11,000 bags of groceries to over 3,000 households, including over 600 children. The vast majority of food comes from the san francisco food bank. The pantry packs special bags for the homeless consisting of food that does not need to be cooked and military surplus can openers. Due to the weak economy, the center experienced a 37% increase in the number of encounters over the past two years. While hunger and starvation are not prevalent issues for the housed in the united states, the high cost of living in our community forces many households to seek supplementary food assistance. There is nothing more heartbreaking for a parent than having to decide between paying the rent and putting food on the table. Higher food prices due to the rising cost of oil have put further pressure on low-income families. This can prompt parents to purchase less expensive, but also less nutritious foods that can lead to negative outcomes for adults and children alike, such as malnutrition, diabetes and obesity. The pantry minimizes these unhealthy outcomes and allows families a little more financial flexibility with their monthly budget.

Filer

EIN

94-2675517