Our Mission:

Petaluma People Services Center is dedicated to improving the social and economic health of our community by providing programs that strengthen the dignity and self-sufficiency of the individual.

At Petaluma People Services Center (PPSC) our goal is to reduce poverty, physical and mental abuse, chemical dependence, violence, ignorance, isolation and mental illness, among children, adults, families and seniors.

PPSC is much more than a collection of 34 human services programs based on best practice research with measurable outcomes. We are a community of caregivers existing within the larger community whose sole purpose is to help make people’s lives better. We strive to do this one child, one adult, and one senior at a time. Last year we served over 7,000 people through our programs. The hands-on, face-to-face support that individuals receive from PPSC is wide ranging; counseling, job placement, gang prevention, daily hot meals, rides to the doctor, case management, financial assistance for homeless prevention, informational and referrals….People Helping People. PPSC has five significant core service areas:

PPSC in the News

Helping the needy at Thanksgiving

Local nonprofit groups will provide families with a holiday meal next week

Argus-Courier, Nov. 17, 2011
By Yovanna Bieberich, ARGUS-COURIER STAFF

...Petaluma People Services Center is also asking the community for help as it gears up to provide Thanksgiving meals to the many low-income senior citizens in the Petaluma community.

Specifically, PPSC is in need of monetary donations so that it can purchase food items at a lower cost through food banks and buying in bulk.

“It’s wonderful that people want to buy and donate items, but what helps us the most is dollars,” said Elece Hempel, executive director of PPSC. “We can just provide much more service through dollars.”

In addition to donating money, another way residents can help PPSC this Thanksgiving is by donating a frozen turkey to the Petaluma Kiwanis Club, which will be holding a turkey drive outside of Safeway in the Washington Square Shopping Center...

2012 Programs

We have high goals for 2012...

Senior Services will provide:

• Over 250 seniors with Case Management services

• Over 9,000 telephone callers with information and referral services

• 35 seniors with Alzheimer’s respite care through our Senior Day Care program

• Over 40,000 meals for seniors in need of nutritional services through our Meals on Wheels Program and our Senior Café

Counseling and Prevention Services will provide:

• 300 at-risk or substance abuse involved youth group counseling

• Over 100 hours of parenting education and support classes to homeless parents

• 195 low-income individuals, families, and children with at least 2,700 therapy sessions.

Homeless Prevention and Fair Housing will provide:

• Over 150 consultations/ mediations for fair housing tenant/landlord clients

• 125 low-income families or individuals with rental assistance to prevent homelessness

• 50 seniors with monthly rental assistance.

Employment and
Training Department will help to provide:

• 60 youth with School-to-Career activities through PPSC Learn-to-Earn

• 250  adult clients with employment and job placement training services

Petaluma Paratransit will help provide:

• Over 26,000 rides to seniors and physically and/or mentally challenged individuals

PPSC Board of Directors

Abbie Walther, President
Katie Kerns, Vice President
Augie Acuña, Treasurer
Dr. George Wagner, Secretary
David Short
Linda Morgan
Bruce Blinn
Mark Ferguson
Mary Celestre
Andrea Pierotti

PPSC Advisory Board Members

Lynn Imm
David King
Thom Knudson
Barbara Madick
Sara Malone
Gina Benedetti-Petnic
J.T. Wick
Don O’Brien
Carol Kneis
Mark Albertson
Dan Leetz

Exec. Director

Elece Hempel

Main Center

Main Center:
1500A Petaluma Bl S
Petaluma, CA 94952

Ph. (707) 765-8488
Fx. (707) 765-8482

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