Frozen blueberries, peanut butter, dry cherries, canned salmon, canned mixed fruit, canned green beans, canned diced tomato, elbow macaroni and grapefruit juice were distributed to help 41 families / 173 individuals during the Free Food Distribution held on July 19, 2014 at St. Stephen’s Church in Valley Center, California.  Bless the hearts of the magnificent staff of Serving & Sharing Foundation Inc. for their dedication and utmost support to our Food For The Needy Program.  A potluck was held by the staff after doing the Free Food Distribution .  (Please see the Gallery for more pictures).

Our first “FREE” food distribution held at St. Stephen’s Catholic Church in Valley Center, CA on June 21, 2014 went really well because of the wonderful presence of S&S Foundation staff and gracious assistance of Ms. Lourdes Brannan, San Diego Food Bank Senior Coordinator.  We had a very good start with Father Elmer of St. Stephen’s Church who initiated a prayer prior to free food distribution.  Frozen chicken leg quarters, rice, cereal, vegetable oil, peanut butter, spaghetti sauce, canned sliced potatoes and mixed fruits were distributed to help 30 families / 127 individuals.  There was the full support from the staff and their time and dedication to our “Food For the Needy Program” were truly appreciated.  Our partnership with Society of St. Vincent de Paul Conference with Mr. Chuck Clayton as the President, is so great that everyone seemed to enjoy what they’re doing. (Please see the Gallery for more pictures).

…………………..2014 VITA Appreciation Day………………………..

Each VITA Volunteer received a recognition and a Certificate of Appreciation from IRS.

CONGRATULATIONS ON A JOB WELL DONE!  It is very pleasing to announce that our Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) Program for tax season 2014 was a huge success because of ALL of you.  On the Announcement Section on this website you will see the final report in which it shows a grand total of 817 federal and state tax returns were prepared for tax season 2014.  What a remarkable year for the mighty VITA Volunteers of Serving & Sharing Foundation!  KUDOS to all the VITA Volunteers for your OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE!  The mighty VITA Team of S&S Foundation namely Lorraine Vales – VITA Program Manager; Robert Arigo – VITA Administrator and Quality Reviewer; Grace Arigo, Aida Bautista, Moana Merlan, Ruben Ravelo, Asnor Santonil and Jackie Szitta -Tax Preparers; Faye Santonil, Jessie Merlan, Shirley Samonte, Julie Ravelo and Emma Angud – Screeners/Interviewers.  Indeed, Serving & Sharing Foundation Inc. had a great and impressive start as an IRS VITA site last year (tax season 2013) with a grand total of 641 tax returns prepared, and for this tax season 2014 it continues to excel by means of the greatest efforts of the VITA Volunteers.

Thank you so much for your unwavering support to our VITA Program.  I truly appreciate all your hard work and dedication to make a difference to the community.

I would like to take this opportunity also to extend our sincerest appreciation and with very special mention to Greater Victory Church key personnel namely Pastor G. A. Williams, Andre & Angelina Anderson, and Christine Forney for allowing us again this year to conduct our “FREE” tax preparation services at the Greater Victory Church located at 1045 South 29th St, San Diego, CA 92113.

Once again, I sincerely express my gratitude to all of you for the time, effort and in-kind donations you have contributed during tax season 2014.

MORE POWER TO GREATER VICTORY CHURCH and SERVING & SHARING FOUNDATION!

MORE POWER TO S&S FOUNDATION VITA TEAM!

…This message is from Lorraine T. Vales, President / VITA Program Manager

   Mr. Ruben Ravelo, President of the Kawit High School / Emilio Tria Tirona Memorial National High School (KHS / ETTMNHS) Alumni Organization, donated the profit of the KHS / ETTMNHS Grand Reunion 2012 San Diego CA event as he handed out a check to Ms. Lorraine Toledo Vales, President of Serving & Sharing Foundation Inc., the amount of $3,761.95 in utmost support to the Scholarship Program of S&S Foundation.  This occurrence was witnessed during an Executive Board Meeting held on October 1, 2012.  On behalf of Serving & Sharing Foundation Inc., our sincerest appreciation to Mr. Ruben Ravelo, his Staff and the KHS / ETTMNHS Alumni.

  Bringing out the good news in the start of year 2013 by presenting our first full scholarship grant recipient in 2006, Mr. Allen Jeffrey Saraza who graduated in 2010 and was awarded an academic distinction of CUM LAUDE with a BS Degree in Psychology and he is also a Recipient of Psychological Society Leadership and Service Award being the top 4 recipient of the Leadership Award in the entire university of Philippine Normal University.  CONGRATULATIONS!  Mr. Allen Jeffrey Saraza is truly a perfect role model for the other scholars and his great achievements are highly commendable.

  Ms. Angeli S. Dela Cruz is our current scholar and she is a second year student taking up Bachelor of Science in Entrepreneural Management at Technological University of the Philippines and her projected year of graduation is in 2015.  Angeli is on the Dean’s List for the last two semesters.

Serving & Sharing Foundation Inc. currently have two full scholarship grant recipients namely Angeli S. Dela Cruz and Matthew Pato.

   2012 Christmas Caroling was successful in spite of the short notice and lack of preparation.  On its last day, we went caroling to five home care facilities thus providing great joy and Christmas spirit to the elderly.  On behalf of Serving & Sharing Foundation Inc., we express our sincere appreciation to Mr. & Mrs. Jim Cate, Mr. & Mrs. Rollie Torres, Ms. Rachel Victa, Mr. & Mrs. Ed Merlan, Mr. & Mrs. Ruben Ravelo, Mr. & Mrs. Roberto Arigo and “Class ’68” for their very kind and generous donations to the foundation.