Every year at this time, we magically reflect on the months behind us and the celebrations ahead of
us. We will undoubtedly hear, “I can’t believe how the year flew by!”

Uncertain what each year will hold, Gatepath is certain of one thing – the generosity, dedication and
passion of our wonderful Hillsborough Auxiliary. Each year for the past 65 years, your generous
giving and selfless dedication has impacted thousands of lives, created countless smiles, and provided
memories that last a lifetime.

And so another year flies by….a year filled with change, celebration, and above all, thanks, not for
just a day, but all year long.

FROM THE AGENCY by Jeanne Berube

Feeling gratitude and not expressing it is like wrapping a present and not
giving it – William Arthur Ward.

Thanksgiving is around the corner and I am grateful to be a member of
this Auxiliary whose primary goal is to support Community Gatepath
and its Participants.

Holiday fun and gift giving will be the order of the day for the Participant Holiday
Party on December 1st at St Paul’s. Sara and Susan will have games with prizes;
lunch; the elves and clowns; holiday music, dancing, and singing; and Santa and
Mrs. Claus giving special gifts to all the Participants. Hope to see everyone there in
their green aprons helping with the festivities. We are grateful for everyone’s help in
making this a special day. Remember to bring a friend who may want to be a
Provisional next year.

Thank you for taking all the ornaments on the Giving Tree. Please bring your
wrapped gift with the name tag for the Participant, and add your name inside the
tag.

Our final meeting for 2015 will be held on the day after the Participant Holiday
Party, on December 2nd at Jeanne Pope’s home. One of our agenda items will be to
vote on the 2016 Slate of Officers. We do not have a General Meeting in January,
but there will be a Joint Board Meeting for the current Board Members to work
with the New Board. The Annual Meeting will be Wednesday, February 3rd, 2016
at Green Hills Country Club in Millbrae. I hope to see you all at these meetings
and events.

Even though the year is winding down, there are still meetings scheduled to plan
our 2016 fundraising event as well as discussions and research around a possible
future Resale Shop. As plans are considered I will continue to
keep you informed. I am grateful for your patience in this year
of change and transition as well as everyone’s input and ideas.
I am thankful for everyone’s support this year.

Wishing you all a Happy Thanksgiving and Joyful Holiday Season!

– Vicky

The Resale Shop is now permenenetly Closed

Fall is in the air, and the season brings many changes – the days are shorter, the evenings
cooler, the leaves are turning. The seasonal changes remind us that things are always
evolving, and offer a reason to reflect as well as look to the future.

We have changes ahead with the move of the Learning Employment Campus from Rollins
Road to Stanton Road. The move not only signifies a change for our adult participants,
but also a change for the Auxiliary, one that can be considered the “end of an era” as Marie and Louise step down as Resale Shop managers after years of service and countless volunteer hours. Marie and Louise are truly a dynamic duo. Not only did they manage the shop, they searched estate sales and filled the infamous “little red truck” with only the best items, they decorated the shop for every holiday, always relying on their remarkable merchandising abilities! Marie and Louise poured their hearts and souls into their volunteer work over the years; their commitment to the Resale Shop, the Auxiliary and Gatepath is truly admirable.

I will miss popping into the shop to enhance my wardrobe and find treasures for my house. Marie, Louise and the little red truck will be getting a well-deserved rest.

Heartfelt thanks, Marie and Louise, for your years of
dedication.

 

If you have any questions, please contact us at info@gatepath.com.

Location: NOW CLOSED.
Days of Operation: NOW CLOSED.
Hours of Operation: NOW CLOSED.

Cooperation is the thorough conviction that nobody can get there unless everybody gets there. – Virginia Burden

The “Power of Possibility” luncheon was a very inspiring event once again. Many of you attended the film screening of “Where Hope Grows” the evening prior to the luncheon, and heard first hand from the co-star David DeSanctis about his personal journey of living with Down syndrome. His positive attitude was infectious for all who were able to hear his story. The story of Holly Robinson Peete’s son with Autism Spectrum Disorder was equally inspiring.

The Provisionals have started the planning for the Member Party. Be sure to save the date – January 23rd.

Thank you to Sandra Tilch for coordinating the Book Drive for Learning Links classrooms. We will be presenting your books, along with a $200 Amazon gift card so the teachers can order additional books that will fit into their curriculum.

I met with Marie, Louise, and Jeanne at the Resale Shop to discuss the packing, storing or donating of items from the shop. Although it was sad to see the final stages of the shop in this location, I was also happy to see how empty the shop was. What an amazing job they have done this past month to advertise (thank you, Diana Linden) and sell most of the inventory. Thank you for a job well done Marie and Louise and rotating managers for your time and extra efforts. We look forward to welcoming Bryan Neider as the CEO of Community Gatepath as of November 2. Bryan will address our General Meeting outlining the first steps of his new leadership for the agency.

– Vicky

Several years ago Gatepath launched Community Access, a program that
provides opportunities for participants to be out and about in the
community every day building life skills, seeking ongoing education,
volunteering, and participating in a variety of recreational programs.

Today, Community Access serves about 100 participants and the program
continues to grow! A core component of the program is to provide travel
training to participants, so they can increase their independence and engage
in the community. Thanks to generous funding from the Auxiliary, Clipper
Cards have provided participants access to greater opportunities and a
variety of activities they wouldn’t otherwise be able to experience, such as
exercising at Fitness 19, volunteering at Samaritan House, participating in
cultural activities at San Francisco Yerba Buena Center, and engaging in
social opportunities.

The participants are able to “get around town” as
they are learning how to read schedules and
maps, and recognize bus stops and landmarks.
From SamTrans and CalTrain, to BART and the
Ferry, travel training is empowering our
participants by teaching an invaluable life skill –
both inside and outside of program hours.

Every Community Access group uses public
transportation several days a week, and will
provide our participants with over 2,000 outings
this year! We are grateful to the Hillsborough
Auxiliary for the ongoing support to provide our
participants with endless possibilities!

FROM THE AGENCY by Jeanne Berube