In Placer County, a story of struggle and hope is unfolding through families like Julia Toro’s, showing us the urgent need for community support in these challenging times. For 35 years, KidsFirst has been providing vital services to more than 100,000 children and families facing mental health crises, domestic violence and trauma.

Meals on Wheels in Sacramento has undergone a significant transformation, aligning itself with the national Meals on Wheels organization while expanding its services to meet the evolving needs of local seniors.

“We create life-changing wishes for children with critical illnesses and our vision is to grant the wish of every eligible child,” says Julie Hirota, president and CEO of Make-A-Wish Northeastern & Central California. “A wish can be anything from a she-shed to an accessible play structure to meeting a celebrity or sports star.

Shriners Children’s Northern California is the Sacramento region’s only freestanding children’s hospital providing highly specialized care for patients requiring treatment for acute burns, traumatic injuries including spinal cord injuries, cleft lip, complex colorectal disorders, chest wall anomalies and a broad range of orthopedic and neuro-musculosk

FUTURE Foundation of Sacramento transforms lives by empowering students to attend and graduate from college. This nonprofit provides scholarships to high-achieving students from at-risk backgrounds who are first-in-family to attend college.

Saint John’s Program for Real Change provides a safe space for women and children to heal and develop the skills necessary to transform their lives. With the vision of ending the generational cycle of trauma and homelessness, Saint John’s has adapted and expanded services since its inception in 1985.  

Established in 2002, Yolo County Children’s Alliance (YCCA) believes in ensuring everyone in Yolo County has access to the resources they need to build meaningful ties to their communities.

The Rancho Cordova Food Locker is transforming into something unprecedented in the region: the Rancho Cordova Community Food Hub. This revolutionary approach aims to address the growing food insecurity crisis in Sacramento, where one in four residents are affected.

For nearly 50 years, Child Action, Inc. has been the primary conduit for subsidized child care in Sacramento County, providing families access to essential services and early childhood development programs. As the organization looks to 2025 and beyond, its mission to ensure accessible, affordable and high-quality child care remains critical.

Feeding the Foothills (FTF) provides hunger relief across the communities and rural reaches of El Dorado, Nevada and Placer counties. Founded in 1970, the organization — formerly known as Placer Food Bank — updated its name in September 2024 to reflect the breadth of its service area.