[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 147 (Monday, October 1, 2007)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2032]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  SALUTE TO NOVATO HUMAN NEEDS CENTER

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. LYNN C. WOOLSEY

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Monday, October 1, 2007

  Ms. WOOLSEY. Madam Speaker, I rise today to ask you to share with me 
in saluting the Novato Human Needs Center on its 35th anniversary of 
serving the low-income people of Novato and helping them move towards 
self-sufficiency.
  The Novato Human Needs Center began in 1972 when three people--Gene 
Quinones, a Catholic priest, Bob Stockwell, a Protestant businessman, 
and Mary Banks, a black welfare mom--came together that Thanksgiving 
season with the desire to help those in need. With $50 and a heart full 
of good intentions, they gave birth to the Holiday Share program, 
allowing those who have to give what they can to those in need. Since 
then, the nonprofit has helped thousands of residents, has increased 
its services to provide year-round assistance, and has grown to operate 
on a budget of more than $1.4 million.
  Such is the power of the organization's philosophy that those who 
come for help--seniors, immigrants, the disabled, those in unexpected 
crisis--are often those who years later become the helpers. One 
anonymous donor, once a poor immigrant and now a wealthy resident, 
subsidizes the center's rental assistance program which allows someone 
experiencing a temporary and unexpected crisis, such as a medical 
emergency or job loss, to get one-time help with rent or mortgage 
payments. Among those whom this program saved was an elderly woman left 
without an income when her husband died. Because of the donor's 
generosity, Novato Human Needs Center was able to cover the widow's 
rent until social security checks arrived in her name.
  ``It really is neighbor helping neighbor,'' notes Susan Markavage, a 
Novato resident who works at the center.
  In addition to rental assistance, the center has instituted programs 
for such wide-ranging services as providing emergency food, job 
training and financial, as well as continuing the traditional Holiday 
Share.
  In fact, the center--which operates out of facilities underwritten by 
the City of Novato--even provides showers for the homeless, many of 
whom work but simply can't afford housing in Marin County, one of the 
Nation's most expensive places to live.
  ``One of them,'' Markavage explains, ``cleans our parking lot 
thoroughly every morning before coming in.''
  Although Novato Human Needs Center is unique in that it provides 
comprehensive services to those in need, it also is ``a wonderful place 
for the community to come together and connect,'' says executive 
director Deanna Euritt.
  Novato has a very strong sense of community, she explains, and it is 
because of the community's support that the center exists and continues 
to operate. ``We're very grateful to the City of Novato and all the 
residents who live here who have been very generous not only with their 
financial contributions, but with their time.''
  As one donor said, ``God's been really good to me and I feel this 
need to be good to someone else who might be in dire circumstances.''
  And that, Madam Speaker, is what makes the center a valuable member 
of the Novato community--neighbors helping neighbors. Congratulations 
to the Novato Human Needs Center on its 35th anniversary, and to the 
people of Novato for supporting such a worthy organization.

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