By Becky Heard and Heather Jeppeson

Every week, the Yolo Crisis Nursery supports families whose lives change as a result of services. Often, staff members receive letters of thanks from clients.

As Friends of the Nursery, a recent letter came to our attention, and we are proud to share excerpts with you:

“I have written … this letter time and time again … yet it never seems to convey the level of my gratitude …

“I wanted to let you all know how grateful my kids and I are to have discovered such an establishment as yours. Your methods of treating an acute need, then maintaining it, and creating wellness and self-sufficiency for the family as a whole is so empowering and inspiring …

“I am thankful for the times you have taken my youngest son when my other child and I had family counseling at SADVC (Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence Center), or when my oldest son was in the hospital …

“I am thankful for the knowledge and support I have received from Heather Vasquez pertaining to advocating and locating services for my older special needs child. Ms. Vasquez also was the first to identify a possible developmental disability in my youngest son and put out a referral to Alta, which I would have overlooked …

“… The Davis Crisis Nursery has become extended family for my child. The staff has treated him with such respect, love, care even when his social inabilities have made it difficult …

“… The staff has always acknowledged my presence and/or my oldest son if he is present in a kind manner. Many places make you feel insignificant if your child does not fit into a specific social or academic parameter or if you are not the politically correct nuclear family. I do not feel ashamed to be a low-income single mother when I walk through (your) doors.

“Finally, I would like to conclude by thanking the family who sponsored my kids and me over the holidays. … My children have never seen so many gifts probably combining all past holidays together as they saw that morning.

“To have received brand-new linens, blankets, undergarments and other items many take for granted was such a luxury for us. I can’t complain about our old items we most always attained already used, but there is something to be said about the feeling of putting something on for the first time and know you are the first person to possess the item and wear it out.

“I can’t tell you what a delight it was to take a nap with my youngest son wrapped in our new blankets, or to get out of the shower and dry off with a bright white clean towel. … It is almost like you don’t want to use the item to preserve the newness, but in the end can’t help yourself.

“My oldest son is able to ride his new scooter to the park with us as a family instead of wanting to stay home and avoid the walk. Now he is happy to join us. We now have an indoor basketball hoop that keeps the boys busy when I am trying to cook or it is too cold or wet for them to play outside.

“We are still enjoying the family pass to the local zoo. To me, this was the best part of the gift. I am able to take my kids somewhere … instead of wondering how I am going to afford it. I love that my kids are able to experience some of what other families are able to do …

“I just wanted to take this small moment of your time to share an overdue thank you with all of you and to let you know what an empowering and inspirational program you have established.

Thank you,

(Jane Doe)

mother of two great boys …”

— Becky Heard and Heather Jeppeson are co-presidents of Friends of the Yolo Crisis Nursery; this column is published monthly. For more information, call (530) 758-6680.

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