The Save Mart Companies CARES Foundation presents a check to Cathi Schmidt of Make It Happen for Yolo County to provide kitchen kits for former foster youth in the UC Davis Guardian Scholars Program. Photo courtesy of Kristin Thebaud Communications

DAVIS, CA (MPG) - The Save Mart Companies CARES Foundation recently awarded a $2,500 grant to local nonprofit Make It Happen for Yolo County to ensure former foster youth studying at UC Davis have kitchen supplies available when cooking healthy meals. Make it Happen, which is celebrating its 10th anniversary this year, works to ensure under-resourced transition age youth in Yolo County have furniture, appliances and other essential household items needed to establish a first home. 

“We are grateful to the CARES Foundation for recognizing this important project that will allow students to cook nutritious and budget-conscious meals as they work toward achieving their academic and career goals,” said Cathi Schmidt, executive director, Make It Happen for Yolo County.

“The admirable youth we serve have risen from very challenging circumstances, including foster care, and are now studying and working while living independently in their own homes. They deserve all the support they can get.”

Through the grant, Make It Happen for Yolo County will provide kitchen kits to students in the UC Davis Guardian Scholars Program for former foster youth. Kits include small kitchen appliances, cooking tools, dinnerware, glasses, grocery gift cards and tips for cooking nutritious meals on a budget.

“The CARES Foundation focuses on building stronger communities through access to fresh foods and supporting organizations and programs that provide resources and educational experiences in their communities,” said Joan Dobias-Davis, chairperson, board of directors, The Save Mart Companies CARES Foundation.

“These kitchen kits will go a long way in providing home essentials for students in the Guardian Scholars Program so they can focus on their educational goals. We wish them every success.”              

Celebrating its 10th anniversary this year, Make It Happen for Yolo County provides local transition age youth ages 18 to 24, many of whom have been in foster care or experienced homelessness, with furniture, appliances and household items needed to move into their first apartments. The nonprofit receives furniture donations from the community and purchases new appliances and household items to help youth involved with the Yolo County child welfare, mental health and probation divisions, as well as the UC Davis Guardian Scholars program and other local nonprofits. Since its founding in 2014, Make It Happen for Yolo County has helped more than 250 transition age youth. To make a financial or furniture donation: www.MIHYolo.org.

The Save Mart Companies operate 194 Save Mart, Lucky and FoodMaxx stores in neighborhoods throughout California and Western Nevada. Proud to be California’s largest regional, full-service grocery chain, the company and its more than 12,000 associates take extra care to provide customers with the freshest foods for their families at affordable prices. The Save Mart Companies’ philanthropic nonprofit organization, The CARES Foundation, provides vital resources for children and families and has donated more than $5 million to local communities. For more information: www.TheSaveMartCompanies.com.