Meadow Vista Friendly Neighbors Update - April 2019

By Judith Whitman, Meadow Vista Friendly Neighbors

The Meadow Vista Friendly Neighbors Club installed our 2019 officers at the beginning of the year during a lovely ceremony at the Winchester Country Club.  Our officers are:  President, Margo Lambert; Vice President, Etta Gross; Recording Secretary, Rhoda Martin; Corresponding Secretary, Diane Meran; and Treasurer, Sharon Bradford.  We are grateful to these ladies for their service and wish them well as they guide our club this year.
The Friendly Neighbors held our annual Easter See's Candy Sale earlier in April.  This is an important fundraiser for our club and we are very grateful to our wonderful community for the support we have received. We are grateful to Holiday Market and its manager, Joel, for allowing us to “set up shop” in front of the market!
The Friendly Neighbors will be participating in Pioneer Day again this year.  This is a wonderful community event and a great way for us to let our community know how much we appreciate it.  We'll march in the parade and hold a free raffle for gas at our booth in the park.  So, stop by our booth to say “Hello” and enter this fun, free raffle.
  We are excited to be able to again offer free swim days at the Community Pool this Summer.  The exact dates will be announced shortly.  These free swim days are open to everyone so please come and enjoy the pool during one of the swim days – it's our treat!
The Friendly Neighbors meet at the Faith Lutheran Church on Combie Road in Meadow Vista on the fourth Wednesday of each month (with a few exceptions).  Social time begins at 11:30 AM with a complementary lunch served at Noon.  Our meeting follows lunch.  Community members interested in our work are invited and encouraged to attend and join us in our efforts to serve our wonderful community. If you would like more information, you can visit our website www.meadowvistafriendlyneighbors.com or send a message and someone will get back to you quickly. 

From the Meadow Vista Friendly Neighbors

Submitted by Judith Whitman, MV Friendly Neighbors

The Meadow Vista Friendly Neighbors participated in the PHEF BBQ on August 25, 2018 by serving the delicious barbequed chicken, tri-tip, and sides prepared by the Meadow Vista Lions Club.  Our community turned out in droves – it was wonderful to see such great support for our schools.  Thanks Meadow Vista!!
At our meeting on August 25, 2018, we were honored to receive a presentation by Janine Dexter, the Director of the After-School Community Music Program in Meadow Vista.  Ms. Dexter explained how vital this program is for our youngsters because music education in grades K through 8 has been eliminated and students who want to participate in high school band must have some preliminary music education in order to do so.  The music program is open to all students in the Meadow Vista area and is offered at no cost to the students.  The facilities for the program are provided by the Faith Lutheran Church but the program is not affiliated with the church or with any other religious organization.  We are grateful for the hard work and dedication Ms. Dexter brings to this endeavor. 
We are now gearing up for our most important project of the year – the Christmas Basket food and toy program.  There will be food drives at our local schools, a toy drive at Wells Fargo Bank and requests for monetary gifts to support this program.  We hope our entire community will find a way to get involved in this effort.  We will be assembling the food boxes on the evening of Friday, December 14, 2018.  Mark your calendar to save the date as this is always a fun event and every member of our community is warmly invited to participate as we fill the boxes full of healthy, nutritious food for members of our community who need a helping hand.
Our October meeting will be on October 24, 2018 also at the Faith Lutheran Church with social time at 11:30 and lunch at Noon.
Community members interested in learning more about the worthy work we do are invited and encouraged to attend our meetings which are held on the fourth Wednesday of each month.  We will enthusiastically welcome each of you to join us as we serve our wonderful community.  If you would like to participate in the many projects we sponsor but are not able to attend all (or any) of our week-day meetings, you are still very welcome to become a member and lend a hand when you can.  Please visit our website (noted below) and let us know if we can send you a membership invitation.  We would love to have you join us!
The Meadow Vista Friendly Neighbors Club, www.meadowvistafriendlyneighbors.com

From the Friendly Neighbors

Submitted by Judith Whitman

The Meadow Vista Friendly Neighbors Club (the Friendly Neighbors) (a non-profit organization) installed our 2018 officers at the beginning of the year.  Our officers are:  President, Dana Johnson; Vice President, Margo Lambert; Recording Secretary, Rhoda Martin; Corresponding Secretary, Carrie Pitta; and Treasurer, Sharon Bradford.  We are grateful to these ladies for their service and wish them well as they guide our club this year.
The Friendly Neighbors held our annual Easter See's Candy Sale in March.  This is an important fundraiser for our club and we are very grateful to our wonderful community for the support we received – thanks to each and every one of you who stopped by and bought some delicious Easter candy.  Thanks, too to Holiday Market and its manager, Joel, for allowing us to use this space and for being so supportive of our efforts throughout the year!
On June 3rd, the Friendly Neighbors will be participating in Pioneer Day.  This is a wonderful community event and a great way for us to let our community know how much we appreciate it.  We'll march in the parade and hold a free raffle for gas at our booth in the park.  So, stop by our booth to say “Hello” and enter this fun, free raffle.
 We are excited to be able to offer five free swim days at the Community Pool this Summer.  The exact dates will be announced shortly.  These free swim days are open to everyone so please come and enjoy the pool during one of the swim days – it's our treat!
The Friendly Neighbors meet at the Faith Lutheran Church on Combie Road in Meadow Vista on the fourth Wednesday of each month (with a few exceptions).  We meet in April on the 25th and in May on the 23rd.  In June and August, we will meet for a brown bag lunch at the Community Park (there will be no meeting in July).  Social time begins at 11:30 AM; a complementary lunch is served at Noon (except during brown bag lunch meetings); our meeting follows lunch.  Community members interested in our work are invited and encouraged to attend and join us in our efforts to serve our wonderful community.
The Meadow Vista Friendly Neighbors Club, www.meadowvistafriendly neighbors.com

Meadow Vista Friendly Neighbors Update

Submitted by Etta Gross

The Meadow Vista Friendly Neighbors Club says THANK YOU Meadow Vista Community for another successful Christmas Basket Project in 2017.  It would have not been possible without your financial and physical support.  Special Thank You to all those that purchased the $5 Brown Bags at Holiday Market in the month of November.  Those we EXTREMELY helpful to the Christmas Basket Food Program.  And for those that donated toys through Wells Fargo Bank in Meadow Vista, we are greatly appreciative of you all too!  Those toys provide a smile to the children’s face on Christmas.  Not to forget all those that came to Sierra Hills School on Friday night to assist with the packing of the food boxes. We say THANK YOU everyone did a great job.  The Colfax Ladies Soccer Team and the Colfax Baseball Team did an excellent job at assisting us with the physical part of this project! 
We had a special donation this year from Ms. Jones who teaches at Sierra Hills.  Ms. Jones wanted to recognize her wonderful group of volunteers who are Beverly Bell, Brooke Stuart, Anthony Grady, Jessica Keller, Kristin Kolster, Jeanette Mentas, Lorey Moore, and Molly Richardson.  We are thankful that Ms. Jones made a special generous donation to the Christmas Basket in her volunteer’s names to honor their outstanding volunteerism.
Please look for us in front of Holiday Market the second and third weekend in March this year selling See’s Easter Egg Candies.  All proceeds will be used for the many projects we do throughout the year!
Any questions please visit our website at www.meadowvistafriendlyneighbors.com

Meadow Vista Friendly Neighbors Fundraising 2017

By Cathy Williams, Meadow Vista Friendly Neighbors

Winter is fast approaching and the Friendly Neighbors Club is in full swing with fund raising events that support our annual Christmas Basket and Toy Program, which is the club's major project. 
With the generous help of the Meadow Vista Lion's Club, the Pancake Breakfast, held on November 4th at Placer Hills School was a great success!  Despite the inclement weather, the Lions cooked eggs to order, pancakes and sausage.  More than 85 members of the Meadow Vista community braved the rain and enjoyed the breakfast!  Thank you Lions for your continuing support of the Friendly Neighbors!
Harjinder Kaur and Gurcharan “Bill” Singh of the Meadow Vista Mountain Mike's Pizza  hosted a Family Pizza Night on Friday, November 10th.  A portion of the sale of pizzas was donated to the Friendly Neighbors Club in support of the Christmas Basket and Toy Program.  When I walked into the restaurant at 6:05 in the evening, the whole restaurant was packed with patrons all enjoying pizzas!  A wonderful turn-out!  Again, thank you to our community and Harajinder and Bill for their continued support!
Mark your calendar for late afternoon and early evening on December 15th (Friday) to assist with the packing of the Christmas Baskets at Sierra Hills School.  It's a great way to give back to the community and very much appreciated!
      Luncheon meetings are held the 4th Wednesday of each month at the Faith Luthern Church on Combie Road in Meadow Vista .  New members and guests are welcome.  There is no charge for the luncheon.  For further information contact Cathy Williams at 878-6843 or Gerry Hinkle at 878-6117.  Additional information can be found at our new website: www.meadowvistafriendlyneighbors.com.  Our mailing address is  P.O. Box 764, Meadow Vista, California  95722.  We are a non-profit organization.

Meadow Vista Friendly Neighbors News

Submitted by Cathy Williams

The flowers of Spring are beginning to bloom in Meadow Vista and the Friendly Neighbors are beginning to plan for their many projects that help the community. After all, that’s what a “friendly neighbor” does, assist one’s neighbor and friend. Monthly luncheon meetings on the 4th Wednesday of the month are held at the Meadow Vista Grange at 12:00 noon where all guests are welcome to participate in the planning of upcoming events including a booth at Pioneer Days.
Ongoing projects include supporting the Meadow Vista Library’s Summer Reading program, Colfax High School Grad Night, promoting the Script program at Sierra Hills School and operation MOM. The Friendly Neighbor’s Club often provides some financial assistance to these and other community based programs.
The Meadow Vista Friendly Neighbors Club was founded in 1944 by a few local friends with the goal of assisting their community neighbors in time of need. For further information please contact Virginia Nettleton, President at 530/368-6595 or info@myfriendlyneighbors.com. The mailing address is P.O. Box 764, Meadow Vista, California 95722. We are a non profit organization.

Friendly Neighbors News

Submitted by Cathy Williams

The first quarter of 2017 has been very busy for The Meadow Vista Friendly Neighbors Club.  First and foremost, new officers were elected and installed at a luncheon ceremony held at the Sizzler in January.  Dana Johnson was elected President, Etta Gross as Vice President,  Rhoda Martin as Secretary and Sharon Bradford as Treasurer.  A new Board of Directors position as Immediate Past President was created and filled by Cathy Williams.
February began with the Club moving its meeting location to the Faith Lutheran Church on Combie Road in Meadow Vista.  The first meeting was held on February 22nd.  Guest speaker was Pastor Charlane informing the members of the past history and current goals  of the Church.
Scheduled events for the upcoming months include See's Easter Candy Sales in front of the Holiday Market and providing hot beverages (coffee, tea and hot chocolate) for those attending the Easter Sunrise Service in Meadow Vista Park.
The Meadow Vista Friendly Neighbors Club was founded in 1944 by a few local friends with the goal of assisting their community neighbors in time of need.  For further information contact Cathy Williams at 878-6843 or Gerry Hinkle at 878-6117.  Additional information can be found at our new website: www.meadowvistafriendlyneighbors.com.  Our mailing address is  P.O. Box 764, Meadow Vista, California  95722.  We are a non-profit organization.

Friendly Neighbors Thank You!

The Meadow Vista Friendly Neighbors Club says “THANK YOU” to Holiday Market and their customers that purchased all those $5 bags of groceries. Those bags will come in handy for the families receiving Christmas Baskets in our community this year.

Our “Thank You” goes to the students and parents at Sierra Hills and Weimar Hills School for their canned food drives. Those canned food donations really help us. And THANK YOU to all those individual resident monetary donations that make these Christmas Baskets possible.
Thank you Wells Fargo Bank Meadow Vista for allowing ornaments for local children in need to be placed in their bank. Thank you to all those that have made generous donations of toys to ensure children in our community will have a present to unwrap. If it was not for your gift these children may not receive a present to unwrap. Just a friendly reminder that we ask your donated present be returned to the Wells Fargo Bank by Wednesday, December 14, in order for us to match your present with the appropriate child (gender and age).

Placer County Association of Realtors (PCAR) grant award made it possible for the fresh vegetables and Christmas Dinner’s main course to be in our Christmas Food baskets this year. Thank you PCAR for awarding us that grant to ensure Christmas Dinner for our residents in need!
Thank you to those that attended our 9th Annual Christmas Basket Breakfast held on Saturday, November 12, 2016. It was heartwarming to see the community mingling while enjoying a delicious breakfast cooked by our Meadow Vista Lions Club.

We need physical labor of assembling the Christmas Food Baskets (boxes) at Sierra Hills School auditorium on Friday, December 16 starting at 5 p.m. Those willing to do heavy lifting of canned food boxes at 3:30 pm on December 16, please contact Etta Gross at (530) 637-5359. This is a great opportunity to see how our community comes together to help those in need.
We are very grateful to live in a community that is willing to watch over other residents that are not as fortunate and are struggling during the Christmas Season.

Meadow Vista Friendly Neighbors’ other community assistants throughout the year are Spring Break food for students and seniors, clothing for graduating students in need, free swim lessons/safety lesson/days for our community youths and adults along with emergency assistance and helping residents in need when food is needed. We welcome donations year round to allow us to provide other assistants to our community area residents in need. Monetary donations may be made on our website meadowvistafriendlyneighbors@gmail.com or checks payable to TMVFNC mailed to P.O. Box 764, Meadow Vista, CA 95722. All other donations for arrangements of delivery/pick up please contact Etta Gross at (530) 637-5359.

Our club wishes everyone a Merry Christmas and a happy healthy New Year.

Meadow Vista Friendly Neighbors Update

THANKS Meadow Vista Holiday Market for allowing The Meadow Vista Friendly Neighbor's Club to set up and sell Sees Easter Candy in front of your store to all those generous community folks who either donated money or purchased candy.  As you may already know, we are a 501©(3) non-profit organization, operated for the purpose of providing aid, relief and assistance in all areas of community welfare, cultural improvement, and community service for Meadow Vista and its surrounding communities.
     Please visit our new website @ www.meadowvistafriendlyneighbors.com to learn how you can join, how you can help, and how we help the community.  Our Club has been in existence since 1944.

Meadow Vista Friendly Neighbors 2015 Thank You

Submitted by Gerry Hinkle

A special Thank You goes out from The Meadow Vista Friendly Neighbors Club to all those businesses, organizations, clubs, churches, schools, and individual residents in the Applegate, Christian Valley, Clipper Gap, Meadow Vista, Weimar, and even in the Auburn and Colfax areas, who helped make our 2014 Christmas Food and Toy Basket Program a great success by donating canned foods, monetary donations, and toys.  

We are truly fortunate to live in a community that cares for its friends and neighbors, and this certainly showed during the assembling of Christmas food boxes on Friday evening, December 19th, Sierra Hills Multipurpose Room.  Thanks to all those wonderful hard-working volunteers, approximately 80 families (300 people) received enough food to last at least two to three weeks. It definitely warmed the hearts of those families who were experiencing some extremely difficult times.  

Thanks to Wells Fargo Bank for helping collect and store the many beautifully wrapped donated toys from generous community members.  Santa certainly had an abundance of gifts for all those happy little children on Christmas Day.

Thanks to all your caring support, our 70-year old Club has been able to continue helping local families in their time of need, provide emergency assistance whenever needed, and help support community activities and events.  

Happy New Year 2015!

Meadow Vista Friendly Neighbors Update

By Gerry Hinkle

Many thanks to Meadow Vista and surrounding communities for supporting our 7th Annual Christmas Basket Pancake Breakfast held on November 8th.  It not only brought our community together for breakfast, but also helped raise funds for the 2014 Christmas Food and Toy Basket Program.  A special thank you to the Meadow Vista Lions Club for their expert cooking skills.
We are very fortunate to live in a community that cares for their neighbors, as it shows through our Annual Christmas Food and Toy Basket Program.  Our 70-year old Club has always been there to help local families (Applegate, Christian Valley, Clipper Gap, Meadow Vista, Weimar) in their times of need.  Our goal is to have enough food to last for the two weeks of Christmas vacation from local schools, as some recipients' children are on the school lunch program.
In addition to canned goods being collected by Sierra Hills School, Weimar Hills School, local churches, and organizations, collection barrels and money collection containers are available in businesses throughout Meadow Vista and surrounding communities.
Christmas ornaments for toys are available at Wells Fargo Bank in Meadow Vista.  Please select an ornament, purchase your gift, and return your wrapped gift with an ornament attached to the package (please reconfirm the gender/age are legible so Santa's elves can ensure children receive the appropriate present.  Your generosity allows these children to have a wonderful Christmas after all.
On Friday, December 19th, at Sierra Hills School, starting at 5 p.m., with help of community members, we will begin assembling Christmas food boxes for the families in need.  The assembling process gives helpers the true Christmas spirit.
We are very grateful for your support, and should you have any questions, please call Etta Gross @ 530-637-5359, or Gerry Hinkle @ 530-878-6117.
The Meadow Vista Friendly Neighbors Club is a non-profit 501-c3 organization, so your tax-deductible donations are greatly needed and very much appreciated.  Please remember to consult your Tax Advisor for current tax deduction laws.  Please mail your donations to TMVFNC, P.O. Box 764, Meadow Vista, CA 95722.
We wish you and your loved ones a very Merry Christmas and Happy, Healthy 2015 New Year.

Meadow Vista Friendly Neighbors: 2014 Christmas Baskets

Submitted by Etta Gross

Do you want to help those in our community that are having difficulties at Christmas this year?  The Meadow Vista Friendly Neighbors Club is in need of donation of canned foods and toys along with monetary donations for the Community Christmas Baskets.  This is our 70th year at assisting those in need in the community and in the surrounding areas (Applegate, Clipper Gap, Christian Valley and Weimar) at Christmas.  Last year, the community helped 135 families, and supplied toys to 78 families for our residents in need. Help us help even more families this year!

Please make checks payable to The Meadow Vista Friendly Neighbors Club or TMVFN, and mail them to P.O. Box 764, Meadow Vista CA  95722.

The club will also need physical help on Friday, December 19 for assembling the food baskets at Sierra Hills School, 16505 Placer Hills Road starting at 5 p.m.  For more information regarding the Christmas Basket Program, please contact Etta at (530) 637-5359 or Gerry at (530) 878-6117.

Our annual Christmas Basket Breakfast will be on Saturday, November 8, 2014, starting at 8 a.m.  The location will be Placer Hills Cafeteria.

"Neighbors Helping Neighbors"

By Gerry Hinkle, Club Secretary

The Meadow Vista Friendly Neighbor Club would like to thank all those who helped celebrate their 70th Anniversary during a luncheon held at the Auburn Valley Country Club on June 25, 2014.

In addition to many members and their guests, we were thrilled to have some long-time club and community members in attendance, which shared many wonderful stories of the past. We were even treated to a happy song sung by our local celebrity, Ms. Joni Roth.

Mr. George Lay, local historian, was Master of Ceremonies, and he took us down memory lane with lots of funny stories.  He acknowledged some past recipients of “The Friendly Neighbor of The Year Awards” and “Community Service Awards,” as well as past and present Club Presidents.

The MVFN Club is now on summer break, but will resume meetings at the Meadow Vista Grange Hall on the 4the Wednesday of each month, beginning September 24th, 11:30 a.m. (Social), 12 Noon (Lunch), followed by an informative speaker and general meeting.  We would love to have you join us!
Please call Gerry Hinkle, 878-6117, or Cathy Williams, 878-6843, for any questions.

70th Anniversary of the Meadow Vista Friendly Neighbors

Submitted by Catherine Williams, MVFN Vice President

On January 7, 1944, Mrs. Irene Ross, called together a small group of neighborhood ladies to meet in the old one-room schoolhouse and suggested starting a club that became The Meadow Vista Friendly Neighbors Club with the motto “Local People Helping Local People”. The first officers were Mrs. Jean Wegmann, Mrs. Jean Keiler, Miss Madge Harding and Mrs. Elizabeth Camenisch    The schoolhouse was formerly located right where the Placer Hills Fire Department now stands in Meadow Vista.  The Club's first project was to help improve conditions in the little schoolhouse, which had only 14 pupils by washing tin drinking cups, install window screens, install cheerful curtains, and purchase indoor games. Over the years the club grew and has been involved in many community projects  always there to help someone in their time of need.  To accomplish all these projects, the club held many fundraisers such as box socials, armature shows, dinners, sold snow cones and cup cakes to name a few .
When the Christmas Food and Toy Basket Program first started back in the early 1950's, there were only seven families in need of help.  Over the past few years, the numbers have grown to at least 120 families. A few of our current fun-filled and rewarding activities include:
• Christmas Food and Toy Basket Program/Shoe Gift Cards
• Help Sponsor Free Water Safety & Swim Classes (Jun 13, Jul 17 & Aug 6)
• Help prepare Mothers Day Flowers for Lions Club Breakfast
• Help Applegate Food Closet
• Booth at Pioneer Day
• Help with Skeet Reese's Kids Fishing Day, M.V. Pond
• Christmas Basket Fundraiser Pancake Breakfast in November
• Emergency Assistance When Needed
• Spring Lunch Bag Project
The Club meets at the Meadow Vista Grange Hall on the 4th Wednesday of the month, 11:30 a.m., Social Time/Delicious Luncheon/Speaker/General Meeting. For information call:  530-878-6117, 637-5359

Meadow Vista Friendly Neighbors Thank You!

Submitted by Etta Gross

The Meadow Vista Friendly Neighbors Club wishes to say THANK YOU  to Placer County Realtors Association Foundation, Meadow Vista Area Lions Club, Placer Hills Union Methodist Church and their AGAPE Club, Meadow Vista Grange, Auburn Rotary, Lively Locks & Dead Bolts (Meadow Vista), Maki Heating and A/C, Meadow Vista Barber Shop, Sierra Pacific Real Estate, Weimar Country Store and Gas and all the other businesses, organizations and individual residents for their donations.

A special Thank You to Joel Richardson, Manager at Holiday Market in Meadow Vista and his customers for the brown bag program, which made 110 families Christmas much brighter.

There were children in 50 families that had a smile on Christmas thanks to having a present to unwrap due to the thoughtfulness of Wells Fargo Bank and their customers in Meadow Vista and the Meadow Vista Garden Club. Thank you to Placer Hills Union School District for their support to this project through the use of Sierra Hills School and the canned food drives at Sierra Hills and Weimar Hills' Schools.

For all those community residents that came on Friday night to help with the packing of the food boxes at Sierra Hills, we thank you tremendously since without your help this project would not happen. For those that have never witnessed this event, feel free to come in to see how our community comes together to help their neighbor in need during Christmas.  It is a wonderful sight to see.

During the distribution of the Christmas Food Baskets, our recipients received their perishable foods from our District Supervisor, Jennifer Montgomery.  Our community has several Santa helpers that made our Christmas Basket Program successful.  Thank you to each and every one that helped with the Meadow Vista Community Christmas Basket Program.  2014 Christmas will mark our 70th year at the Meadow Vista Community Christmas Basket Program.

Meadow Vista Christmas Basket Food Program 2013

By Etta Gross, MVFN

It’s Christmas Time!  The Meadow Vista Friendly Neighbors Club is gearing up for the annual Community Christmas Food and Toy Baskets to assist those that are less fortunate in Meadow Vista and those in the surrounding communities of Applegate, Clipper Gap, Christian Valley and Weimar.  This year will bring us new challenges since our donation from Campbell Soup in prior years of over a ton of canned goods will NOT be available.  Every year our community Christmas Basket Project budget increases at a higher pace than our donations.  Last year we helped 125 households with 73 families with children.  Monetary donations are always greatly appreciated and may be mailed to TMVFNC, (The Meadow Vista Friendly Neighbors Club) P.O. Box 764, Meadow Vista, CA  95722-0764.  Cash donations assist the club with allowing a greater buying power for food at the Placer Food Banks and other suppliers.  All donations are used in our community to help those in need.
Ornaments with a child's gender and age will be available after November 12, 2013 at Wells Fargo Bank in Meadow Vista.  Please return your wrapped present with an ornament attached to the package (Please reconfirm the gender and age are legible on the ornament).  This is tremendously helpful for Santa's elves to know and ensures children will be receiving the appropriate present for their ages and gender.
The Community's help is need on Friday, December 20, 2013, at Sierra Hills School, starting at 5 p.m., for the assembling the  Christmas Food boxes.  This event is so wonderful to watch all age groups in our community working together to help our community residents that need a helping hand during the Christmas Holidays.  This also gives those helping to assembly the food boxes the true Christmas spirit.  
Those that have strong backs and are willing to help with the physical labor of lifting heavy boxes, loading and unloading trucks and trailer we could use your assistance starting at 3:30 p.m. at Placer Hills School on December 20, 2013. Please trucks will be needed also for transporting the food to Sierra Hills School at 3:30 p.m. on December 20, 2013.    
Canned food donations are always greatly needed.  Sierra Hills and Weimar Hills Schools canned food drives will benefit this Christmas Food Basket program. Or you may call the people listed below for arrangements for pick up of donations.  
We are very fortune to live in a community that does care for their neighbors.  It shows through our annual community Christmas Basket Food and Toy program. Thank you everyone for your financial, physical assistance and your donations of canned foods and toys!  This community Christmas Basket Food and Toy program's success is due to the community support.  
Any questions, please contact Etta Gross at (530) 637-5359 or Gerry Hinkle at (530) 878-6117.We are a non-profit 501 c 3 organization and receipts for donations are available.  Please remember to consult your Tax Advisor for current tax deduction laws.

Meadow Vista Friendly Neighbors Christmas Basket Program in 2013

It’s almost Christmas Time and the Meadow Vista Friendly Neighbors Club is preparing already.  This year will bring us new challenges since our donation from Campbell Soup in prior years of over a ton of canned goods will NOT be available.  We are starting early to seek new donations and secure those annual ones from our community too. Every year our community Christmas Basket Project budget increases at a higher pace than our donations.  Last year we helped 125 households with 73 families with children.  Monetary donations are always greatly appreciated and may be mailed to TMVFNC, (P.O. Box 764, Meadow Vista, CA  95722-0764.  Cash donations assist the club with allowing a greater buying power for food at the Placer Food Banks and other suppliers.  All donations are used in our community to help those in need.  Our community includes the surrounding towns of Applegate, Christian Valley, Clipper Gap and Weimar.
We will be hosting the annual Community Christmas Pancake Breakfast on Saturday, November 9, 2013 at the Placer Hills School cafeteria, starting at 7:30 a.m. The Meadow Vista Lions will be cooking their delicious breakfast of eggs, sausage and pancakes.  And of course coffee, tea, hot chocolate and orange juice will be available too! Last year's breakfast proceeds help to purchase half of the shoe gift cards we present to the teenagers in need at the Christmas Toy Basket program.  Pre-ticket sales for breakfast will start in October. Look for us outside of Holiday Market mid-October.

Ornaments with a child's gender and age will be available after November 12, 2013 at Wells Fargo Bank in Meadow Vista.  Please return your wrapped present with an ornament attached to the package (Please confirm the gender and age are legible on the ornament). This is tremendously helpful for Santa's elves to know and ensures children will be receiving the appropriate present for their ages and gender.
On December 20, 2013, at Sierra Hills School, starting at 5 p.m., with the community's help the  assembling of the Christmas Food boxes for our community residents in need will begin.  This does give those helping to assembly the food boxes the true Christmas spirit.  Our goal is to have enough food to last for the two weeks of Christmas vacation from our local schools since some recipients' children are on the school lunch program.  
Sierra Hills and Weimar Hills Schools canned food drives will benefit this Christmas Food Basket program. We are very fortune to live in a community that does care for their neighbors. Thank you everyone for your financial, physical assistance and your donations of canned foods and toys!  This community Christmas Basket Food and Toy program's success is due to YOUR support.  
Any questions, please contact Etta Gross at (530) 637-5359 or Gerry Hinkle at (530) 878-6117.We are a non-profit 501 c 3 organization and receipts for donations are available.  Please remember to consult your Tax Advisor for current tax deduction laws.

Thank You from Meadow Vista Friendly Neighbors!

By Etta Gross, MV Friendly Neighbors Club

Christmas is much brighter for 125 families this year due to Meadow Vista and surrounding area volunteers.  Thank you to the local Boys and Girls Scouts, the 4H Club, Meadow Vista Lions, church members and residents that came out on Friday, December 14, 2012 and  physically assembled the Christmas food baskets. Thank You goes to Sierra Hills and Weimar Hills schools and the 4H Club for their canned food drives which helped to supply the food that made up the baskets. 

 Thank you to Placer Hills Community United Methodist Church for their fabulous job collecting canned foods, not only this year but many years past.  A Thank you to those secret Santa's that delivered presents to Wells Fargo Bank in Meadow Vista.  It would not be Christmas without Santa. THANKS goes to the organizations and businesses that made special presents appear to brighten the families' Christmas.

 Everyone that contributed to the Meadow Vista Christmas Baskets either financially or with their time and efforts, “Thank You”, without your assistance this project would not be possible!  

   

Meadow Vista Friendly Neighbors Holiday Fundraisers

Submitted by Etta Gross

THANK YOU for your support of our 5th Annual Christmas Pancake Breakfast.   A Special THANK YOU to Meadow Vista Area Lions for their excellent cooking abilities.    Without the Lions this event would not have happened. 

 There is still plenty to do for the Christmas Baskets since Christmas just around the corner.   Ornaments are available at Wells Fargo Bank in Meadow Vista.  Each ornament represents a child in our community that could use some JOY at Christmas by unwrapping a present that a kind resident in the community has chosen for them.   Please remember that the Friendly Neighbors ask that your toy donation (wrapped with the ornament attached) be returned to Wells Fargo Bank in Meadow Vista by December 12, 2012.  Physical help is needed with sorting and packing the food boxes.  This will give you the opportunity to see your community working side by side to help their neighbors, please join all of us on Friday, December 14, 2012 starting at 4:30 p.m. in the Sierra Hills School Auditorium.   This evening is just so heartwarming to witness.  It is like watching Santa's elves hard at work!  Cash donations are always greatly appreciated. 

 Checks should be mailed to The Meadow Vista Friendly Neighbors Club or TMVFNC, P.O. Box 764, Meadow Vista, CA  95722.  You will receive a receipt for your tax records since the club is a non-profit 501 c 3. 

 It is not too late if you know of someone, or should you need assistance with food during the Christmas Holiday, please call Etta Gross at (530) 637-5359 or Gerry at (530) 878-6117 to register for a Christmas Basket. 

News from Meadow Vista Friendly Neighbors

It’s that time of year again.  Your Meadow Vista Friendly Neighbors Club (TMVFNC) will be at work on Saturday, November 10, 2012 with a Pancake Breakfast to benefit the Meadow Vista Christmas Basket Program.  The Meadow Vista Lions will be doing the cooking of those delicious pancakes, sausage and eggs.  All proceeds will be used for the Meadow Vista Christmas Baskets.  The surrounding communities of Applegate, Clipper Gap, Christian Valley and Weimar are included with Meadow Vista for this Christmas Basket Program. Donation of cash, canned food or a new toy will be happily accepted at this Pancake Breakfast event.   A suggested amount or value of $5 in exchange for a breakfast plate would be greatly appreciated to support the Meadow Vista Christmas Baskets.   Come visits your neighbor plus help those neighbors that need some assistances during the Christmas holiday.

Here is how the Meadow Vista Christmas Basket program works; families that are in need will complete an application.  Starting in October applications can be picked up at the local post offices and bulletin boards throughout the communities and various other ways.  The completed application is mailed to TMVFNC, P.O. Box 764, Meadow Vista, CA 95722 to begin registration.  Another way is families in need, or should you know of a family in need, may call Etta Gross at (530) 637.5359 to register for the Christmas Basket Program.

Thanks to the community and Wells Fargo Bank in Meadow Vista, every child signed up will receive a gift to open on Christmas.  This happens by residents selecting an ornament from the basket at Wells Fargo.  The ornament will have the child’s gender and age.  Once you have purchased, wrapped your donation with the ornament attached, please return the package to Wells Fargo Bank in Meadow Vista by December 10, 2012. 

Along with a present for a child there will be food baskets containing items for Christmas Dinner and other donated canned food.  Our goal is to supply enough food to last for two weeks during the Holiday season.  This allows the children in the household food during the school Holiday break.  Cash donations assist us in purchasing large quantities of canned foods, fresh vegetables, and other items to complete Christmas Dinner and fill in where the donated canned foods may need some additional support. 

The assembling of the food baskets will take place at Sierra Hills School auditorium on December 14, 2012 starting at 4:30 p.m.  Please note this is a new start time!  WE invite you to come see how the community works together on helping their neighbors that are having difficulties during the holiday season.  Once you have helped with food box assembling, it really gives you the feeling of what Christmas is ALL about. 

If you would like to financially support the Meadow Vista Christmas Basket Program, check payable to The Meadow Vista Friendly Neighbors Club (or TMVFNC) should be mailed to P.O. Box 764, Meadow Vista, CA  95722. 

For more information please contact Etta Gross at (530) 637-5359, or Gerry Hinkle at (530) 878-6117.  

THANK YOU Community for year after year of making this event so SUCCESSFUL!