An Inspired Gift

Jake West, the nine-year-old son of HomeAid Board Vice-Chair, Kerrin West, is an articulate boy who has a passion for those less fortunate. Kerrin brought Jake along with her when the HomeAid Board of Directors served a meal to the clients at the Volunteers of America Winter Shelter. HomeAid with Standard Pacific Homes, as builder captain, built the Winter Shelter in 2006. This shelter serves men, women, and children who are homeless and have no place to go on our regions coldest nights. The shelter is open November through March and sleeps 154. Volunteers of America serve a hot meal in the evening and a breakfast the next morning.

During the meal service Jake would interact with the men and women he was serving, always with a smile, and always with a story to share. Kerrin and Jake have returned on several occasions to serve dinner at the shelter.

Moved by serving meals and talking with the clients Jake wanted to do more to help. Jake turned nine in March and in lieu of birthday presents at his party he asked his friends to join him in contributing to Volunteers of America's Winter Shelter program. Through this effort, Jake raised $250 dollars and quite a bit of awareness. Jake made a speech and check presentation in front of the Volunteers of America Board of Directors on April 1, 2009. We are all very proud of Jake and look forward to great things from this young boy.

Jake West and Leo McFarland, President/CEO of Volunteers of America Greater Sacramento and Reno