Welcome to the Short Term Emergency Aid Committee Website

A Letter from STEAC Board President Cass Sylvia

Dear Friends of STEAC,

I ran across this quote and it reminded me why I volunteer for STEAC:

"True compassion does not come from wanting to help those less fortunate than ourselves, but from realizing our kinship with all beings." - Pema Chodron

This letter may seem early, but STEAC volunteers are already working on our 2012 Holiday Program. It takes dozens of volunteers to make our Holiday Program work. We rely on them to pre-qualify families and individuals for eligibility to receive a "holiday basket" of food and a present of their choice such as a blanket or jacket or a toy for a child.

We also rely on donors like you to provide the food, clothing and assistance for over 400 low-income families, including over 800 children in need, all from Davis.

Donations continue to help even after the holidays are over. Last year, the funds raised during the Holiday Program provided emergency rent and utility payments, clothing, food, and other assistance to nearly 5,000 Yolo County residents.

The need here locally is greater now than ever. I write to you because you have given in the past. It's very simple to become part of the STEAC's Holiday Program. Just write a check to STEAC and put in the enclosed envelope. Your tax-deductible donation will be put to good use right here where you live.

Another way to participate is to adopt a family or individual. You can do this on your own or as part of a group, such as your office, club, or business. You or your group will be matched with a needy family and sent a list of food and other items specifically identified to help that family through the holiday season. You will also receive a copy of the family's own wish list. To adopt a family, just send back the pledge card in the enclosed envelope before December 4.

Please take a moment to return the enclosed form and help ensure that our neighbors have food and warm clothing in the months ahead. We at STEAC appreciate your continued support. Without you we could not fulfill our mission.

Many thanks for your consideration,

Cass Sylvia
STEAC Board President

What is STEAC?

Welcome to the Short Term Emergency Aid Committee, better known around Yolo County as STEAC. STEAC is one of the oldest nonprofit organizations in Yolo County, located some 15 miles from Sacramento in central California.

A volunteer-oriented organization, STEAC's purpose is to provide immediate, short-term emergency assistance with basic necessities to families and individuals whose incomes are at or below the federal poverty level.

Founded in 1967, STEAC provides rental and utility assistance, food and clothing to those in need in the county's cities of Davis, Woodland, West Sacramento, Winters and the rural areas of the county. Over the years, STEAC has come to be recognized as providing a critical safety net for those whose needs cannot be met by other charitable or government agencies.

STEAC's volunteers provide assistance to residents who are referred by public and nonprofit agencies. After a screening, the volunteers determine whether residents quality for assistance from any of these programs:

Eviction Prevention Program
Utility Assistance Program
First Month's Rent Program
Educational Assistance Program
Suit Up for Success Program
Free Food Program
Free Clothing Program
Holiday Adopt-A-Family Program
Community Volunteers Program

Please browse the page. Links to all the interior pages are at left. The latest STEAC news is on the Hot Topics links on the right. As always, we welcome e-mails at steac@steac.org or calls, especially from those interested in becoming a STEAC volunteer and making a charitable contribution to support our work.