SONOMA NEWS After spending much of her youth growing up in six foster homes, Monica Contreras faced a host of challenges as she set out on her own to attend college.

“One of my biggest challenges was the emotional turbulence and general trauma I felt,” said Contreras, who grew up in Santa Rosa and Windsor. “A lot of my problems could have been avoided if I had known how to process my emotions.”

NORTHBAY BIZ There are nearly 437,000 children in the foster care system in the United States, and 60,000 of those reside in California. On any given day in Sonoma County, there are 50 to 75 abandoned, neglected, or abused children and teens in need of a safe place to live.

SONOMA INDEX TRIBUNE Tammy Linn was just a young child when her father tried to hang her. He later hung himself in jail. A drug addicted mother and an abusive step-father came next.

SONOMA COUNTY HUMAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT   On July 29, 2019, 47 current and former foster youth will be given a leg up toward achieving their potential and building better futures when The Valley of the Moon Children’s Foundation awards more than $150,500 in college or trade school scholarships to Sonoma County youth who once faced abuse, neglect and abandonment at home. 

THE PRESS DEMOCRAT At age 16, Elizabeth Quiroz sold drugs on the street while being watched and menaced by a man who controlled her like he owned her. Elizabeth is 33 now and doing vastly better.

THE PRESS DEMOCRAT Organize a clothing drive. Ring a bell. Serve a meal. Buy a gift, or wrap some presents. Adopt a household or gather necessities for children who must leave home in a hurry.

THE PRESS DEMOCRAT Just before she entered the foster-care system, Jessica Zambrano was living in a shelter with her family, working three janitorial jobs, cleaning local department stores, the Apple Store at the Santa Rosa Plaza and several stores at Napa Premium Outlets.

THE PRESS DEMOCRAT Three weeks before they expected to wrap up their financial campaign for the Dream Center, Social Advocates for Youth officials received a donation that pushed them over their $9.5 million goal. Valley of the Moon Children's Home Foundation board members approved Thursday the nearly $100,000 donation after an anonymous donor offered in August to match contributions up to $500,000.

THE PRESS DEMOCRAT Food, shelter and clothing are life’s basic necessities, but too many Sonoma County residents lack access to them. At a time when we gather to give thanks for our blessings, leaders of local nonprofits share their missions and ways we can help them provide hot meals, warm blankets, indoor beds and a helping hand when people most need one.