Sharing Stories

Season of Sharing Fund provided some peace of mind to Jaime and Alejandra Ramirez after their daughter was born prematurely and Jaime's work dried up.

Their daughter had to stay in the hospital for over a year and during that time they depleted all of their savings. They were worried about how to pay rent and their landlord suggested they call 2-1-1. That's how they found out about Season of Sharing Fund, which was able to help with two months rent.

During those two months, Jaime was able to find a new job...and is now a donor to Season of Sharing. In this episode, Jaime shares his family's journey. If you want to hear more profiles of help and hope, or if you want to find out how you can help neighbors in crisis, go to SeasonofSharing.org/podcast.

Season of Sharing Fund provided some peace of mind to Olivia Alatorre, who worked hard to take care of her family for nearly 40 years and was then diagnosed with stomach cancer soon after she retired. Her medical bills piled up as she received treatment and she fell behind on her rent. Season of Sharing Fund helped pay her back rent, so she could stay in her home. In this episode, she shares her story and her cooking! If you want to hear more profiles of help and hope, or if you want to find out how you can help neighbors in crisis, go to SeasonofSharing.org/podcast.

If you want to hear more profiles of help and hope, or if you want to find out how you can help neighbors in crisis, go to SeasonofSharing.org/podcast.

Did you know that one in four people in the United States have less than $1000 in savings? What this means is that many of our neighbors are one crisis away — a car accident, a sick pet, a health emergency, you name it — from falling behind and having to choose between rent and necessities like food and medical care.

Thanks to our donors and partner agencies, since 1986, Season of Sharing Fund has been able to provide some peace of mind to more than 190,000 people in the Bay Area when they needed it most. And as food insecurity grows, we provide funding for more than 4 million meals each year in the nine counties of the Bay.

Together, we help our neighbors remain housed, cared for, and nourished — so they can get back on their feet.

Over the course of this season of episodes, you to got meet a few folks who've recently received one-time support from Season of Sharing Fund — and a couple who help make it happen.

As we wrap up this season, we thought it seemed only appropriate to end on a hopeful note. So I asked many of the people who were profiled: what would you do if you had a magic wand — with three wishes?

If you want to support Season of Sharing Fund's work, you can DONATE here.

If you want to hear more profiles of help and hope, LISTEN to the entire podcast.

Season of Sharing Fund gave some peace of mind — and dignity — to widower Michael Sharpe as he coped with the death of his wife. A couple of years after his wife Kimberly died, Michael Sharpe still keeps her clothes in the drawers and closets of his small Novato apartment.

When Kimberly was first got diagnosed with uterine cancer in 2020, she was still able to manage her small business. Her cancer went into remission, but over the next year, the business suffered, losing a significant client. By the time Kimberly died, in October 2022, Sharpe was behind on rent.

That's where social service agency Community Action Marin and the Chronicle Season of Sharing Fund came in.

If you want to hear more profiles of help and hope, or if you want to find out how you can help neighbors in crisis, go to SeasonofSharing.org/podcast.