Community in Action: February at Friends Supporting Families Los Barriles
- Betsy Fox
- Mar 12
- 3 min read
February was a busy and inspiring month for Friends Supporting Families. From supporting the Baja Shakespeare Festival with homemade treats to celebrating volunteer leadership, our community continues to come together to help local families in need.
What an exciting month at Friends Supporting Families Los Barriles!
In addition to our ongoing craft work and Saturday Community Market sales, we were honored to be the sole provider of food and treats at the Baja Shakespeare Festival. Our incredible FSF volunteers baked cookies and other homemade goodies for every performance — filling the venue with the sweet smell of generosity and community spirit.
What an amazing show! The Little Baja Mermaid showcased the remarkable talents of local performers while delighting audiences throughout its recent run. The cast and crew at Baja Shakespeare once again brought creativity, heart, and professionalism to the stage, delivering another year of outstanding theater.
Friends Supporting Families is deeply grateful for the opportunity to partner with such a dedicated and talented organization. Together, we are strengthening community — one performance, one cookie, and one act of kindness at a time.
Volunteer/Supporter Spotlight:
Robin Neal, retired Vice President of Student Services at American River College in Sacramento, California, never expected her next chapter to focus on addressing food insecurity in her new hometown. After more than 20 years in community college leadership, she and her husband, Paul, relocated to Los Barriles seeking a new adventure.
It didn’t take long for Robin and a circle of friends to see a need. Local families were struggling to consistently access basic food essentials, and they chose to respond — committed to creating a meaningful, respectful way to help.
A natural leader, Robin opens her home every Monday for women who craft products for the Saturday Community Market. Her living space becomes a lively workshop, and she and Paul are now building a dedicated classroom to expand the effort. With her buoyant “can-do” spirit, Robin sets clear goals, trusts others to lead alongside her, and builds a joyful team where everyone feels valued and essential.
A Community Effort That Keeps Growing
What began as a small group of friends gathering around a table with beads and simple supplies has grown into something much larger than anyone first imagined. Each week, volunteers come together to craft handmade items that are later sold at the Saturday Community Market. These creations — bracelets, necklaces, ornaments, and other small treasures — carry a much bigger purpose. Every sale helps fund food purchases for families in our community who need consistent support.
The gatherings themselves have become something special. Volunteers share stories, laughter, and encouragement while they work. New friendships form, ideas grow, and the sense of purpose is unmistakable. What might look like a craft circle from the outside is actually a dedicated group of neighbors working together to strengthen the safety net for families in Los Barriles.
Events like the Baja Shakespeare Festival remind us just how powerful collaboration can be.
When organizations come together — artists, volunteers, local businesses, and supporters — the results reach far beyond a single evening or event. Community partnerships create opportunities to raise awareness, bring people together, and expand the impact of the work being done.
Friends Supporting Families exists because many hands are willing to help. Volunteers who craft items, supporters who purchase them at the market, donors who contribute funds, and local partners who offer opportunities like the Shakespeare Festival all play a role in making this effort possible.
And the impact is real. The funds raised through these efforts help support monthly food assistance for families in Los Barriles through the local DIF program. For the families who receive this support, knowing that food will be available each month provides stability and peace of mind.
February Impact Snapshot
Volunteers crafting every Monday
Handmade goods sold weekly at the Saturday Community Market
Community partnership with the Baja Shakespeare Festival
Ongoing food assistance support for 24 local families
For those involved with FSF, the reward is just as meaningful. The work reminds us that small actions — baking cookies, stringing beads, selling handmade items, or attending a community event — can combine to create lasting change.
Friends Supporting Families Los Barriles continues to grow because of people like Robin and the many volunteers who show up week after week with generous hearts and a shared commitment to their community.
Together, we are building something lasting in Los Barriles — one handmade item, one event, and one act of kindness at a time.
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