OAK PARK’S WELLSPRING WOMEN’S CENTER UNVEILS UPDATED KITCHEN

2016 Leadership Sacramento class completes community project serving 200 women and children in need

SACRAMENTO, CA – With the assistance of Leadership Sacramento, a program of the Sacramento Metro Chamber Foundation, Wellspring Women’s Center unveiled an updated kitchen supporting and enhancing the organization’s ability to serve the community.

Every weekday, Wellspring Women’s Center opens their doors to women and children offering a place of community and respite while serving a nutritious breakfast and lunch. Located in a former Oak Park firehouse, for 30 years Wellspring has adapted to the needs of their guests and has grown from offering a meal to also offering social work and services. As the services have grown, so too has the volume of guests and Wellspring aimed to keep up by maximising the small space they had until they finally reached out to the community for help.

In early 2016, the Metro Chamber Foundation’s Leadership Sacramento class saw Wellspring’s call for assistance and partnered with the organization for their community project. The class aggressively raised funds and secured in-kind donations for the kitchen renovation and began active renovation in May. Three months later, Wellspring was pleased to unveil their updated kitchen last night and opened their doors this morning for guests to enjoy.

“Wellspring is home to so many women and children who need a safe place to be themselves and be with their community,” said Genelle Smith, Executive Director. “We are a resourceful organization who has made it work since opening our doors in 1987, with used appliances and the goodwill of partners who can build cabinets or counter tops. To now have a modernized kitchen and serving area, along with so many other necessary upgrades, we are unburdened by the need to fix things on what can be a monthly basis, and can fully focus on the guests and their needs. We are so grateful for this gift and for the new partnerships we have built through Leadership Sacramento Class of 2016.”

“The 2016 Leadership Sacramento class jumped in feet first to ensure Wellspring had a modern kitchen with the right equipment and space to meet the high demand of feeding over 200 women and children daily,” said Chad Roberts, Hefner Law and class project leader. For months, the class aggressively and creatively fundraised, volunteered, and worked closely with the Wellspring Board of Directors to ensure the project was a success. We were all very pleased to witness the unveiling last night and know Wellspring will continue to make a positive impact on our community.”

“On behalf of the Sacramento Metro Chamber Foundation, I would like to thank Wellspring Women’s Center for reaching out to our Leadership Sacramento program and partnering with the class during this project,” said Talia Kaufman, Executive Director of the Metro Chamber Foundation. “The program has a long-standing tradition of growing regional leaders and giving back to the community we call home and it is always gratifying to see a project through to completion.