Making Holidays Bright

As our days grow shorter, many of us shift our thoughts to gratitude for all that we have and the joy of the holiday season.  However, many San Francisco families with young children struggle to meet their basic needs and may go without enough food and warm clothing, let alone toys or other holiday gifts.  

For the past 5 years, Recess has hosted a monthly playgroup for clients of the Nurse Family Partnership program. These meet-ups are designed to support first time, at-risk, mothers find their community. Some are in shelters, some have recently moved into permanent housing, and some of the mamas have children with special needs. These monthly playgroups have changed lives. Mothers, who typically see their nurses 1:1, actually get to meet one another and build community.

These are some of the families we’ll be supporting through the holiday giving program. We couldn’t be more thrilled to pool our resources to brighten their lives for the holidays! Thank you for joining us.

This year, sfsmiles and Recess are joining forces to support 30 or more families

With your help we can make the holiday brighter for families struggling with poverty or economic strain. This holiday program will benefit 30+ families in need. Each family has been referred and screened by our partner organizations, Nurse Family Partnership & Sunset Youth Services to ensure that your gift is reaching those most in need.

By donating any dollar amount, you will play a key role in providing each family a holiday package tailored to their needs. Each will include some combination of holiday meals, developmentally appropriate toys for each child, a year of play & community at Recess, and household items like blankets, towels, or sheets, depending on their wishlist.   

Each family’s holiday package will be approximately $350 in value.  Below, you may choose the dollar amount you’re able to contribute.  If you'd like to support families year round, please choose a monthly or quarterly installment option.

All donors will be invited to come wrap gifts for the kids and write cards.  Gifts will be distributed at a group playdate for the families in mid-December.  

Wishes to you and yours for a warm holiday season.

Donate

Gratitude. Recess Collective turns ONE - and Recess as an organization turns 12!

We have tremendous gratitude for everyone who has made the space we've created a true community. Sending love to all of our Potrero Hill members. Those who have come with us to the Sunset. And all of our new Sunset Recess Collective members too!

Recess started in December of 2007 with a soft open... and here we are, 13 years later, still operating as a place for families to come together, share firsts, make long lasting connections, and navigate the sometimes messy journey of parenthood.

We had to pivot to stay alive. After 11 years in Potrero Hill, Recess moved to the Sunset and converted to a nonprofit. And Recess Collective, our new organization, turns one today ☝️.

It's been a busy year...I had a baby a couple weeks after the new location opened, and we had to get through various challenges with the city. But the process of establishing another Recess has solidified my vision that every neighborhood can and should have a space like this. That's our goal. We need funding to make it a reality and hope that our nonprofit status, collaborations with the city and philanthropic giving will help us get there in the next year or two. Please share this with anyone who may be interested in playing a key role in creating neighborhood hubs for families with young children. Together, we have an opportunity to truly change lives by creating community and supporting child development.

We could not have gotten through it without our incredible staff, volunteers, partners, and families. Thank you for making Recess what it is ❤️

And if you've been meaning to come by, but haven't made it in yet, please join us for our open house on December 3.  Tuesday 12/3 is GivingTuesday and we're hosting an open house from 5:30-6:30.  Please come in to say hello, make a donation, or take part in some "after hours" play.  

With Thanks,
Lisa
and the Recess team

World Children's Day

What is World Children’s Day?

By resolution 836(IX) of 14 December 1954, the United Nations General Assembly recommended that all countries institute a Universal Children's Day, to be observed as a day of worldwide fraternity and understanding between children. It recommended that the Day was to be observed also as a day of activity devoted to promoting the ideals and objectives of the Charter and the welfare of the children of the world. The Assembly suggested to governments that the Day be observed on the date and in the way which each considers appropriate. The date 20 November marks the day on which the Assembly adopted the Declaration of the Rights of the Child, in 1959, and the Convention on the Rights of the Child, in 1989.

The Convention, which is the most widely ratified international human rights treaty, sets out a number of children’s rights including the right to life, to health, to education and to play, as well as the right to family life, to be protected from violence, to not be discriminated, and to have their views heard. 

On the basis of the Convention and joint effort by all the countries and regions, let us promote and celebrate children’s right on the Universal Children's Day, and continuously build up a friendly environment for children in the world through dialogue and actions.

When a baby is born, So is a parent

Mobile offering: New Parent Groups

Being a new parent is an exciting, exhausting, and magical time. Only you truly know the emotional and physical toll a new baby brings, and what a unique and personal experience it is.  

Our New Parent Groups are geared towards preparing and supporting new parents in this journey.  Whether you're pregnant or have a new baby, you'll likely have questions about a variety of topics.  

Carve out a little special time each week, for you, to connect with other new parents, commiserate, and feel a little less isolated.  

Some weeks, we have an expert in the field joining us to share relevant information -- on topics ranging from pelvic wellness to breastfeeding to baby sign language to child development…and other weeks we simply gather to chat, field questions and share resources.

We invite you to hang out and get to know other new parents, recharge in a laid back environment, and venture to a nearby park or cafe afterwards, if you'd like. 

• Bring a beverage, get settled, and enjoy the infant toys available

• Meet other new parents

• Stay for Q & A and connect

Join Us

We run the groups in 5 week chunks so that we can build community. These meet-ups are a suggested donation of $95 for the four-week series, and no one will be turned away for lack of funds. Simply pay what you can. At the moment, our offerings are limited. Please reach out if you have a group of new parents interested in connecting in a supportive environment and we can come to you.

• BYO baby blankets, food/drink, anything to keep you hydrated & your babe happy.

• Open to newborns, through crawling infants.  

• Don't worry if you need to take a break to feed, change a diaper, or step away to get some fresh air.  

• We all get it and are happy to have you in whatever form that takes (babies are unpredictable!).

Would you like to bring a new parent group to your neighborhood? Reach out! When we have 5 interested families, we can mobilize.