Growing a Healthy Community

2010-06-15T15:19:00.000-07:00

For the fourth year A-TCAA’s Camanche Lake and Upcountry Community Centers are sponsoring the Back-Pack 2 School Project. For the second year we are joined by the Generation Life Church. With their support we are able to expand the service area for the project to the entire county. This project provides backpacks filled with grade appropriate school supplies for children whose families are financially stressed. Without the generosity of local individuals, businesses, and community organizations, many families would struggle to provide these much needed supplies. Altogether, 312 children received a backpack and school supplies in 2009, 133 of these children live upcountry.

If you need assistance with school supplies for the 2010/11 school year you can find an application at the Upcountry Community Center 296-2785, Camanche Lake Community Center 763-2794, Ione Family Learning Center 274-4527, Generation Life Church 267-9198 or the Interfaith Food Bank 267-9006. To qualify to receive assistance from this project you must live in Amador County, your family must meet the income qualifications for the Free/Reduced School Lunch and be going into grade K-12.

What Does the UCC Have to Offer?

2009-11-12T15:36:00.001-08:00

There is so much that the UCC has to offer!
The mission of the Upcountry Community is to create a welcoming environment which offers access to programs and resources that strengthen the community and enhance the quality of life of upcountry residents.
Our vision is that Upcountry will be a community where everyone can feel connected and thrive by learning to care for themselves and one another.
We are a 501(c)(3) non-profit under the umbrella of the Amador-Tuolumne Community Action Agency (A-TCAA). We are funded through grants from First 5 Amador, S.H. Cowell Foundation, United Way, and Amador County Behavioral Health. We also depend on contributions from community members like you. Without community support we would not be able to continue providing the services that we do, nor would we be able to continue to expand services.
"So why is my community better because of the UCC?" Well, in 2000 a county wide needs assessmnt took place, and found that many services and activies happen in our county, but that they are concentrated in Jackson and Sutter Creek. The result? Two community centers were opened: the Upcounty Community Center and our sister-center the Camanche Lake Community Center (763-2785). We are here to help meet the social and recreational needs of our communities.
"So what do you do?" you ask.
We are open Monday - Friday from 9am to 5pm. During this time you may come in and enjoy good company, have a drink of hot coffee, use the computers, find resources, volunteer, enjoy a book from our Health and Wellness Library or our lending library.
We also have many differant groups who use the center either while we are open or after hours.
The Gold Country Woodworker's and Crafters meet the 2nd Wednesday of every month from 7pm to 8pm. For more information look them up on http://www.myamador.com/.

Alcoholics Anonymous meets Fridays (men's group) at 6pm and Sundays at 6pm.

Shamonic Drumming Circle meets the 1st and 3rd Sunday of every month from 1pm to 4pm. Call Phyllis at 223-4221 for more information.

Forward Bound - domestic violence prevention:
The women's class meets Tuesday's at 1:30pm
The men's class meets Thursday's at 6pm
Drug and Alcolhol Counciling for Teen's meets Tuesdays at 3:30pm.
Call Tonia Johns at 295-3400 for more information or to register.

Food Distribution is the second and fourth Wednesday from 11am to 4:30pm. We are a distribution site for the Inter Faith Food Bank and EFAP.

Every Tuesday we have a dinner and a guest speaker or topic. Monthly topics include a Date Night for couples and a Parent's Cafe. Previous topics included senior health, coping with depression, Eco-Friendly Child Care, and Banish the Bad Mood Mama. Future topics to cover budgeting, gang activity in Amador County, Children with Special Needs, Positive Discipline, and much more. Click on the link to our calendar to see the upcoming topics or give us a call!

He Loves Me, She Loves Me Not is a group for young adults to share past experiences and stregthen themselves while learning about healthy relationships.

Summer Time Fun is every Thursday 9:30am to 11am focusing on giving 0-5 age children and their parent/caretaker a chance to explore different activities. This group meets only during the school summer vacation.

Salt & Light Counseling Services:
Thursdays from noon to 6pm, call 256-0694 for an appointment.

Friday Fun Day is a time for elementary age children to come with their parent or caretaker 1pm to 3pm for games, crafts, snack and free play. A $2 donation is requested to help cover costs or come plan and run a craft.

At Pine Grove Town Hall we have
Yoga ($5 per person/session) meets Mondays and Thursdays from 9am to 10pm and 5:30pm to 6:30pm. Call Marie at 223-1521 for more information.

Weight Watchers meets Mondays at 10:30am, call Wanda at 296-1311 for more information.

Foothill Fitness meets Tuesdays and Fridays 9:30am to 10:30am. This is a wonderful excersise class for seniors.

And let's not forget our Pine Grove Library! The library is in the back of Pine Grove Town hall and is open Tuesdays and Thursdays from noon to 5pm and Wednesdays from 1pm to 5pm. Call Jim at 296-3111 for more information.

Remember that the community centers rely on community support to survive. There are so many ways to help out. Come to our events! Our advertising budget is limited, so watch our website for updates, check our on-line calendar, subscribe to our emails, watch for fliers and come in and ask!
Also, we recycle used ink cartridges and cell phones. We use these to help purchase craft supplies.
Add iGiveiSearch as your search engine or toolbar on your computer and register the Upcountry Community Center as your prefered charity and each search will earn the UCC $.02, and each on-line purchase that you make using iGiveiSearch's prefered stores will earn the UCC a percentage of your total purchase. Money earned through this goes into our Facility Fund.
Or make cash donations. Remember that all donations made to the UCC are tax-deductible to the fullest extent of the law. You can donate by simply clicking on the PayPals icon at the top right of our website and donations will go to our Facility Fund. Or you can come in or mail us a check to 19999 Hwy 88, Pine Grove, CA 95665. Donations recieved this way will go to help defray on-going costs.
Thank you.

Upcoming Events

2009-10-30T16:23:00.000-07:00

We are very excited about the speakers and topics that we have lined up for Tuesday evenings at 5:30! Our Find Your Balance workshops feature dinner at 5pm and free childcare.
July 6th - Introduction to Infant Massage with Brandy Astwood
July 13th - Let's talk about cutting and suicide and how to seek help. With guest speaker Eugene Alliende, MFT.
July 20th - Taking your health into your own hands, with guest speaker Dr. Chris Sienes.
July 27th - Nutrition Education Night - Fruits and Veggies with Colleen Dolan from WIC.
and many more!
Free childcare for children 12 and under, please RSVP 296-2785

Friday Fun Day!!!

2009-09-04T15:19:00.000-07:00

Come and join us at our Friday Fun Day, after school from 2-4:00. Donations appreciated, free play, games, and crafts.

Your Input is Needed!

2009-08-18T15:22:00.000-07:00

A collaboration of community organizations that work to support parents, families, and children is seeking feedback on interest in establishing groups to support people raising children. The general idea is that a group would be started with a trained “staff” person leading the group, and that the group would then take over and continue on their own.

We are asking your assistance in distributing this “Interest Survey” to parents and care givers in Amador County. The survey is attached as a PDF file or may be taken online by following the link below.

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=6jCARuNCmqf_2fmwHHjKY8pg_3d_3d

Daddy and Me Boat Race, 2009

2009-06-16T15:48:00.000-07:00

On Monday, August 15th, we held our first Daddy and Me Boat Race! We provided various materials that the dad's and children were required to use to build the best boat possible. They weren't allowed to use anything else, which made it quite challenging! Some boats immediately sunk as they hit the water, and others glided on the water with no problem! While the boat building was so much fun, the quality time that the children got to spend with their dad was most important.

Congratulations to Cassidy and her father, Dave, for creating the fastest boat! We hope to see more dad's and children next year!

Daddy and Me Boat Race Slideshow

2009-06-16T15:45:00.000-07:00

Find Your Balance Workshops

2009-06-02T19:23:00.000-07:00

A series of free workshops exploring ways to balance all aspects of your life
Family - Career - Financial - Physical - Emotional - Spiritual.
Find Your Balance will be held:
Tuesdays at the A-TCAA Upcountry Community Center
Wednesdays at the A-TCAA Camanche Lake Community Center
and Thursdays at the Ione Family Learning Center.
Please view our Calendar under "Important Links" to see our upcoming topics and presenters.
Free childcare is provided for all children 0-12 years of age.
Call to reserve your seat today at: 296-2785

A Big "Thank You" to:

2009-06-02T19:17:00.000-07:00

We would like to thank the Up Country Rotary, the Upcountry 88 Lions Club, and Sierra Yard Supply for donating the wood chips for our front yard. Our kids now are a little less muddy when they come in from their good clean outdoor fun.

Goodsearch

2009-05-26T17:52:00.000-07:00

Using GoodSearch is an easy, free way to help raise money for the community centers. Each time you use GoodSearch as your preferred search engine, GoodSearch will will donate 1 cent to the centers. Also, every purchase made through GoodSearch using their "preferred businesses" earns the centers the donation of a percentage of your purchase. When just 200 people use GoodSearch and make a minimum of 10 searches each week, $20.00 per week is generated for the centers. Simply click our link on the right hand side labled " GoodSearch" and type in "Amador Tuolumne Community Resources (Sonora)" as your preferred charity! Thanks!