Construction teams at SHELTER Solano have made exciting strides in the building of a new dining hall and kitchen on the grounds. The new facility remains set to open in mid-2022, and it is literally beginning to take shape.
“SHELTER, Inc. is delighted to be enhancing the SHELTER Solano campus with this dining hall and kitchen so that we can deliver greatly needed services in Fairfield, and for all of Solano County, as a comprehensive navigation center,” said Senior Program Director Brandon Wirth.
Concrete was delivered to SHELTER Solano in November. Walls are beginning to go up around the side of the new building, and the framing process will continue into the new year.
Ground was broken at SHELTER Solano back in April, and the facility will serve several purposes after its grand opening. In addition to providing a large gathering space for residents, the dining hall and kitchen will provide a venue for a new culinary arts program, one that will teach program participants valuable skills that can be used as they regain self-sufficiency.
This new facility would not be possible without the support of our friends and neighbors. Recently, SHELTER, Inc. received a $150,000 gift from the William G. Irwin Foundation, as well as a $50,000 gift from Valero’s Benicia Refinery. This money has gone directly to construction costs, which in turn ensures construction stays on schedule ahead of the mid-2022 opening.
“SHELTER Solano is a vitally important program for families in Solano County – a place to turn when folks are at the point of deepest need. Our philanthropic community cares deeply about the welfare of our most vulnerable neighbors,” said Director of Development Julie Clemens.
The William G. Irwin Foundation makes capital grants in California and Hawaii, and primarily focuses on projects that strive for the physical improvement of humanity. Valero’s Benicia Refinery, meanwhile, granted a total of $500,000 to nine organizations in the Bay Area. The organization’s Benefit for Children at the Texas Open golf tournament raised $16 million for charities nationwide earlier this year.
Keep visiting our website for updates on the construction of our new dining hall and kitchen. This includes on-site photos and videos of the crew as they built the facility, plus news and notes ahead of its opening to shelter residents.
