Third annual stroller drive to benefit the Living Room

Valued by parents from all walks of life, the stroller is a
stellar invention. Whether at the mall or on a walk, these
contraptions make getting from one place to the next faster and
easier, but not every parent has one.
The Living Room, Santa Rosa’s day center for women and their
children who are homeless, is short on strollers and Community
First Credit Union, located only a block away from the center,
wanted to do something to help so they are once again gathering
strollers donations during the month of December. It was Branch
Manager, Pat Duncan who initially went knocking on The Living Room
door and learned of the stroller shortage. That was three years
ago.
“The 3rd Annual Stroller Drive is very helpful to the mothers at
The Living Room who are at-risk of or currently homeless. Since
these women are often on foot, this allows them to not only
transport their young infants and children, but to also help carry
their packages and in some cases, their belongings,” said Terra
Freedman, Executive Assistant at The Living Room Center.
This year, Community First is looking to double or triple the
amount of strollers that are donated to the Living Room which was
formerly an “in house,” endeavor advertised only within their
branches, said David Williams of Community First Credit Union. Last
year 28 strollers were donated and when employees delivering
strollers saw the impact of the program they wanted to do
more.
Williams and other employees who loaded a pick up truck with
donated strollers and made the delivery to the Living Room last
year said it was a moving experience. “When we arrived at the
Living Room with the strollers there was a woman who was given
first choice of the stroller that she wanted, and it was like she
won the lottery,” said Williams.
“She was in tears, and the stroller that she picked was brand new
and still in the box. It was even the color that she wanted,” said
Williams who added, “We’re going to do this as long as we can.”
Most of the strollers donated are used, however, and maybe have
been stored in the attic or garage for sometime as parents or
grandparents wait for the opportunity to pass the treasure along to
someone in need.
The Living Room is the only daytime drop-in center in Sonoma County
that serves homeless and at-risk women and their children. It fills
a special need in conjunction with other community agencies,
providing clients with a place to be during the day when shelters
are closed. The Living Room is also a critical first stop for women
who are on the verge of becoming homeless, the first
place that at-risk or newly homeless turn to for relief and
referral guidance and strollers aren’t the only thing that the
center needs. There are other ways to help and simple donations of
bus tickets, an umbrella or a grocery gift card can make a big
difference.
But if one does have a stroller and drops it off in good working
order, Community First will donate $10 to The Living Room and
deposit an additional $10 into the account of each donating member.
Rewards for donated strollers will continue through December.
Strollers can be dropped off directly to The Living Room, 636
Cherry St., Santa Rosa, CA 95404, Monday through Friday, between 9
a.m. and 1 p.m. Well-conditioned strollers also can be dropped off
at either of Community First’s branches in Santa Rosa (501 College
Ave. @ Mendocino Ave., and 70A Stony Point Rd., just south of the
Finley Aquatic Center), Monday through Friday, between 1 p.m. and 5
p.m.