Book of Dreams 2012
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Cole Odenweller, 15, enjoys the first ride on his new special needs bicycle outside his Woodland home December 13, 2012. Following him is his brother, Bryce and mother, Lori. The bike was purchased by Book of Dreams Readers. Despite not having ridden a bike in about a year Cole took off and rode faster than ever before. Donate now! -
FedEx driver, Mike Keach, unloads Cole Odenweller's new special needs bicycle outside his Woodland home December 13, 2012. The bike was purchased by Book of Dreams Readers. Donate now! -
Clean & Sober program member, David Twilling, kisses his 5-year-old daughter, LeeAnn Twilling, as he holds her and his other daughter, Jocelyn Twilling, 6, during a Christmas party at Fremont Presbyterian Church December 1, 2012. He said this was the first time he had seen them in two months. "It feels great," he said. The party was made possible through donations of Book of Dreams readers. Donate now! -
Sitting with her former Sutter Teen Program case management counselor, Diana Reveles, Catherine Odurokwarten opens the gift of a new laptop December 18, 2012. The laptops was purchased for her by Book of Dreams readers and will help her be successful in her future career. Reveles nominated her for the Book of Dreams. Donate now! -
Cesar Ruiz, 5, center, with his family in Woodland. From left are sisters, Maria, 15, Ashley, 14, his mother, Gariella Ruiz, holding him, sister, Carla, 10, and father, Jose Ruiz. Cesar was burned on a family camping trip when he stumbled backward onto a large pot of hot frying oil. Read the story. Donate now! -
James "Captain" Little, rides off his bicycles that was repaired by Cycles 4 Hope volunteer, Jeff Sloane, at left during a monthly Saturday homeless outreach event. Book of Dreams readers are asked to donate money to buy them a bigger trailer so that they can haul bicycles and equipment more efficiently. Read the story. Donate now! -
Founder for the non-profit Cycles 4 Hope, Shawn Holiday and his 13-year-old son, Luke, fix a bicycle for a person who is homeless during their Saturday outreach event. Book of Dreams readers are asked to donate money to buy them a bigger trailer so that they can haul bicycles and equipment more efficiently. Read the story. Donate now! -
Jillian Kulinski, 12, points out family members with her nephew, 2-year-old Cash Whedbe, in her Dixon home. Jillian has suffered a myriad of health problems starting with brain tumors when she was only two. She is currently wearing the same hearing aids that she got when she was five. She hears constant crackling noises with them but her family's insurance will not pay for new ones. Book of Dreams readers are asked to donate money to buy her new hearing aids that will make it easier for her to do well in school. Read the story. Donate now! -
Jillian Kulinski, 12, is shown with her parents, Robert and Julie in their Dixon home. Jillian has suffered a myriad of health problems starting with brain tumors when she was only two. She is currently wearing the same hearing aids that she got when she was five. She hears constant crackling noises with them but her family's insurance will not pay for new ones. Book of Dreams readers are asked to donate money to buy her new hearing aids that will make it easier for her to do well in school. Donate now! -
"Rebuilding Together Sacramento" volunteer, Joe Finey, right, shakes hands with home-owner, Becky Mero, after he helped weatherize her home Dec. 4. The band of three members did things like insulating a hot water pipe, caulked outside windows and weather stripping doorways. Book of Dreams readers are asked to donate money to buy the non-profit 10 wheelbarrows with extra wheels so that they can do their work of repairing and improving the homes of people who cannot afford the home repairs themselves. Read the story>. Donate now! -
"Rebuilding Together Sacramento" volunteer, Bob Agee, weatherizes the home of Becky and Rennie Mero, a husband and wife who are both disabled. The band of three did things like insulating a hot water pipe, caulked outside windows and weather stripping doorways. Read the story>. Donate now! -
Elijah Brown, 4, lies in isolation at UC Davis Medical Center in Sacramento. He and his mother, Regina Williams, have received support from the Keaton Raphael Memorial, which provides financial and moral support to families with children diagnosed with cancer. Elijah Brown was diagnosed in May with stage 4 Neuroblastoma, a cancer of the nervous system. He loves blankets, and his mother carries several for him. Book of Dreams readers are asked to donate money to provide more "snuggle blankets" to children in need. Read the story>. Donate now! -
Regina Williams shows the tubes delivering fluids to her son, Elijah Brown, 4, at UC Davis Medical Center in Sacramento. He and his mother, Regina Williams, have received support from the Keaton Raphael Memorial. Book of Dreams readers are asked to donate money to purchase fabric to make snuggle blankets for kids with cancer. Read the story>. Donate now! -
Iraq war veteran, Dirk Ellena, 30, decorates a Christmas tree with his wife, Courtney, in their Roseville home. He suffered post-traumatic stress after he returned home from war and his life fell apart. The Soldiers Project, a Sacramento non-profit which offers free counseling to returning military members, provided him with the counseling he needed to become stable and successful again. He is now married to a supportive wife and is working on a degree in nursing at American River College. The Soldiers project is in need of a quality copy machine so that they can market what they offer to returning veterans in need. Read the story>. Donate now! -
Becca Bettis, program manager for The Soldiers Project/Sacramento says goodbye to Dirk Ellena, a Iraq War Veteran while volunteer, Becci Angell hugs Ellena's wife, Courtney, goodbye at the program's office. The Soldiers Project offers free counseling to military members who return from war who's mental health is not being addressed adequately by the VA. Read the story>. Donate now! -
Gary Carty of Sacramento, opens a heavy door with one hand while pushing his walker with the other at Stanford Senior Center November 15, 2012. At the Stanford Settlement Senior Center seniors can socialize, play games such as pool or bingo, get exercise, have lunch and more. As their population gets older and more frail the center has realized that they are in need of an automatic door opener so that the seniors can more easily come and go. Book of Dreams readers are asked to donate money for this cause. Read the story>. Donate now! -
Blanch Shakir, 72, right, hugs a friend at the Stanford Settlement Senior Center. She likes to socialize and help the other seniors by doing things such as serving lunch at the center. At the Stanford Settlement Senior Center seniors can socialize, play games such as pool or bingo, get exercise, have lunch and more. As their population gets older and more frail the center has realized that they are in need of an automatic door opener so that the seniors can more easily come and go. Book of Dreams readers are asked to donate money for this cause. Read the story. Donate now! -
Mary Dignon, right, works on a mosaic with Art Director Carol Mathew-Rogers, assisting her with lighting. Dignon creates gorgeous artwork despite her limited vision. Spirit in the Arts is a free arts program for community members of all ages and abilities. They average 500 visits a month in their North Sacramento studio. Book of Dreams readers are asked to donate money to provide ergonomic task chairs, desks and lighting for the participants, which would make it more friendly for those with physical challenges to participate in the program. Read the story. Donate now! -
The sub-standard chairs and tables at Spirit in the Arts need to be replaced to better accommodate their participants. The free arts program that is open to everyone runs on donations. Read the story. Donate now! -
Catherine Odurokwarten, 20, gets her 19-month-old daughter, Kylie-Marie Gonzalez, ready for bed. Afterwards she will work on studying her flash cards, memorizing the generic and brand-names for hundreds of pharmaceutical medications. Book of Dreams readers are asked to donate money to buy Odurokwarten a computer that will help her with her studies with the pharmacy technician program at Charles A. Jones Career and Education Center. Read the story. Donate now! -
Catherine Odurokwarten, right, pauses for an emotional moment after receiving goodbye gifts from her case management counselor, Diana Reveles, during their last meeting at Odurkwarten's home Nov. 20. Reveles, who works for Sutter Medical Center's Sutter Teen Program, has been guiding her through the challenges of being a young mother and helping her set goals for her education and future. Book of Dreams readers are asked to donate money to buy Odurokwarten a computer that will help her with her studies with the pharmacy technician program at Charles A. Jones Career and Education Center. Read the story. Donate now! -
From left, Christian Shomar, 10, Omar Alvarez, 10, and Julian Navarro, 10, practice running at Charles Mack Elementary School as part of the Runnin' for Rhett fitness program. Book of Dreams readers are asked to donate money to provide race entry fees for children living in low income areas that participate in the program. Read the story here
Donate now! -
Emily Espinosa practices running at Charles Mack Elementary School as part of the Runnin' for Rhett fitness program. Book of Dreams readers are asked to donate money to provide race entry fees for children living in low income areas that participate in the program. Read the story here
Donate now! -
Gerica Coad, right, gives a shot to her 5-year-old daughter, Macy, who has juvenile arthritis. This shot, which she takes every other week stings very badly. At left, is her sister, Chloe, holding her hand, and the hands of her father Alex Coad, right, are ready with a Barbie band-aid to put over her wound. Book of Dreams readers are asked to donate money to buy backpacks that the local Arthritis Foundation will give to children afflicted with juvenile arthritis. The backpacks contain educational material and special thermal bears which are stuffed animals that heat up in the microwave and help ease the pain for children. Read the story. Donate now! -
Macy Coad hugs her thermal bear, which she has named "Princess Plums." She is 5-years-old and has juvenile arthritis. She must take a large amount of daily medication and also receive weekly shots to the condition it under control. Book of Dreams readers are asked to donate money to buy backpacks that the local Arthritis Foundation will give to children afflicted with juvenile arthritis. The backpacks contain educational material and special thermal bears which are stuffed animals that heat up in the microwave and help ease the pain for children. Read the story. Donate now! -
Kneisha Dosty, second from right, breaks down after expressing her fear that she would use drugs again during the holidays at a meeting where residents of the Clean & Sober program discussed their game plan for staying safe on Thanksgiving. Holidays can be a particularly difficult time to maintain sobriety due to traditions revolving around substance use and family issues that can come to the surface. Her friends promised to help support her from left, Jesse Rojas, Colleen Sullivan and Cheryl Tranbarger. Book of Dreams readers are asked to donate money for a clean and sober Christmas party for this group of people and their families.
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Donate now! -
Residential program manager, George Kohrummel hugs Carol Carlile, after telling her that he had put her on the list to get into transitional housing at Mather. She had been homeless living along the river for years before coming here and is looking forward to having a place of her own. Holidays can be a particularly difficult time to maintain sobriety due to traditions revolving around substance use and family issues that can come to the surface. Book of Dreams readers are asked to donate money for a clean and sober Christmas party for this group of people and their families.
Read Story
Donate now! -
Sylvia Guajardo clears dishes as she works as a server at Plates Cafe and Catering, an employment training program for homeless mothers offered by St. John's Shelter. Book of Dreams readers are asked to donate money to buy the women who work her matching uniforms and good shoes. They are asked to wear black and they piece together what they can.
Read the story here.
Donate now. -
Guadalupe Solis prepares a sandwich while working as a line cook at Plates Cafe and Catering, an employment training program for homeless mothers offered by St. John's Shelter. Book of Dreams readers are asked to donate money to buy the women who work her matching uniforms and good shoes. They are asked to wear black and they piece together what they can.
Read the story here.
Donate now. -
Cole Odenweller, being supported by his mother, Lori, and 11-year-old brother, Bryce, enjoys music at Woodland Bible Church. Cole, 15, has an undiagnosed neurological condition which makes it so that he cannot walk on his own. Book of Dreams readers are asked to donate money to buy him an adaptive bicycle that will allow him to exercise his legs and improve his chances of someday walking.
Read the story here.
Donate now. -
Cole Odenweller, being supported by his mother, Lori, and 11-year-old brother, Bryce, enjoys music at Woodland Bible Church. Cole, 15, has an undiagnosed neurological condition which makes it so that he cannot walk on his own. Book of Dreams readers are asked to donate money to buy him an adaptive bicycle that will allow him to exercise his legs and improve his chances of someday walking.
Read the story here.
Donate now. -
Abby Franklin, 18, rides an adaptive bicycle outside her home with her respite care provider, Rinda Thoke. She has severe cerebral palsy quadriplegia. The bike helps her stay mobile, however, it over a decade old. They use duct tape to hold it together, tape her feet to the pedals and it has a flat tire. Book of Dreams readers are asked to donate money to buy Franklin a new bike.
Read the story here.
Donate now. -
Abby Franklin, 18, rides an adaptive bicycle outside her home with her respite care provider, Rinda Thoke. She has severe cerebral palsy quadriplegia. The bike helps her stay mobile, however, it over a decade old. They use duct tape to hold it together, tape her feet to the pedals and it has a flat tire. Book of Dreams readers are asked to donate money to buy Franklin a new bike.
Read the story here.
Donate now. -
Chris Clark kisses his 19-month-old son, Chris Wayne Clark, before changing his diaper at their Rosemont home. Clark is a graduate of the Sacramento Food Bank & Family Services new 13 week Fathers I.N.C. parenting class. SFBFS has changed the name of their Mother-Baby program to the Parent Education program with the goal of including more fathers in their classes. Book of Dreams readers are asked to donate money to buy the program "daddy's tool bags" which would include toiletries, baby supplies and educational materials.
Read the story here.
Donate now. -
Chris Clark plays with his 19-month-old son, Chris Wayne Clark at home. Clark is a graduate of the Sacramento Food Bank & Family Services new 13 week Fathers INC parenting class. SFBFS has changed the name of their Mother-Baby program to the Parent Education program with the goal of including more fathers in their classes. Book of Dreams readers are asked to donate money to buy the program "daddy's tool bags" which would include toiletries, baby supplies and educational materials. Donate now.
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