DIXON, CA (MPG) - As we continue to assist people who have been financially affected by the Coronavirus, it is clear that our organization has never been more vital to our community’s health and well-being.  More and more families are asking for our help to find and navigate government and other benefits systems that they now need as a temporary solution to their economic difficulties.  Parents that have exhausted their savings and all other resources now need financial aid for their most basic of needs like rent, utilities, food and other necessities.  For many it is for the first time ever.

They ask themselves, “How will we pay the bills?”, “Will we become homeless if we can’t pay the rent?”, and “How will we keep up with the increased consumption of food and supplies while our kids remain home from school?”  There are many concerns keeping parents awake at night worrying about the safety and wellness of their families during this pandemic.  Dixon Family Services is doing all we can to assist and connect people to basic needs resources they desperately need at this time.

With grants and donations Dixon Family Services created a program specific to Covid-19 that allows us to pay for a household’s rent and/or utility bills.  DFS is providing many households with supplemental groceries and linking people with other resources of food and supplies at churches, schools, clinics and other locations.  The WIC Program, co-located in the DFS building is serving pregnant moms and families with children through age 5 to purchase nutritious food.  Also, the Food Bank still arrives in our parking lot each first and third Wednesday to distribute fresh produce and non-perishables to anyone who needs it.  Our CalWORKs representative signs people up for Food Stamps and other County benefits, virtually at this time.

We are currently “open” Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays.  We are in the building but the doors are closed.  People must call or email us in advance.  We no longer have the option to serve “drop-in” clients.   In-person interactions have been cut back to situations such as a needed signature on a form, dropping off necessary documentation for an application, or picking up food, gas cards or other supplies. 

We are doing assessments and providing resource referrals by phone.  We stress that people can call or email us to start the helping process.  We also emphasize leaving a message with a good number to call back.  We will return calls ASAP.  Messages left when we are closed will be retuned on our next open business day.

There are some guidelines and limits to funds we can access for paying bills resulting from Covid-19.  If you know someone struggling please encourage them to call us and we will explain all details and start the helping process from there.  Thank you.

Though we are in a very serious health and economic crisis, DFS staff morale remains positive.  We are motivated by our ability to make a positive difference in people’s lives.  So far no one in the DFS “family” has come down with the virus and we’re taking all precautions to keep ourselves and the public well and safe.   We are following social distancing guidelines and wear masks during personal interactions.

We will remain open and helping at-risk families with our Basic Needs Program for as long as funding allows us the privilege to do so.  We seek financial support from those who want to partner with us to help people who are struggling to bear this critical time of extreme uncertainty and anxiety.  We need the support of our community now more than ever.  We foresee the need for our support to extend at least into the fall and winter and very probably, much longer.

Dixon Family Services acknowledges that we would not be able to do what we are doing at this critical time in history if it were not for some large contributors like Travis Credit Union, Genentech, United Way Bay Area, FEMA and The Solano Community Foundation.  Individuals, local businesses and service organizations that donate are also very important to sustaining our good work.  The DFS Food Pantry is supported by community donations of food and money that allow us to purchase staples from the Food Bank of CCS at reasonable prices.

Currently donations to Dixon Family Services can be matched by Travis Credit Union Foundation through September 2020.  If you’d like to see your contribution doubled you just have to go to TCUfund.org, click on Donate Now and choose Donation Amount.  At “I would like to support” there is a drop down list – click on Dixon Family Services.  Please let us know if you donate through tcufund.org so we can add you to our list of 2020 donors and send you our thanks and a receipt for your tax purposes.  We appreciate you and Travis Credit Union Foundation for this great opportunity.  

We want to thank everyone who has donated and we encourage anyone that is able to donate to do so now while the needs are very high for many people.  It takes many partners to make a positive difference in our community.   Please consider joining us.

Please stay safe and well.  We will get through this together!!