A Touch of Understanding’s mission is to encourage acceptance and respect for all individuals. ATOU's educational programs are designed to increase understanding of differences, thereby minimizing discrimination, bullying, and social isolation suffered by children and adults who are perceived as different for any reason, but especially those with disabilities.

ATOU's in-school workshop provides a potent, life-changing opportunity for students to meet people with disabilities and to experience for themselves what it may be like to have a disability. The workshop is broken up into two parts.

• Part 1: Speakers with disabilities talk about their life, their challenges, and how they achieve their goals. During the hour and a half session, students are encouraged to interact with these volunteers and ask questions.
• Part 2: Students visit activity stations where they: use a wheelchair and white cane, learn to write their names in Braille, perform a task using a mirror to simulate a learnin…

Be My Eyes provides free video support at a moment’s notice. Every day, sighted volunteers and professionals lend their eyes to solve tasks big and small to assist blind and low-vision people through a live video call.

How It Works

• Anyone 17 or older may sign up as a visually impaired user or volunteer.
• Calls are connected based on daytime timezone and language. The average wait time is about 15 seconds.
• When a call is answered, a live one-way video (two-way audio) is initiated, allowing volunteers or company representatives to see what’s in front of the user’s camera and provide verbal support. Note: Specialized Help availability varies by region and company opening hours.
  
  

Web pages

• Home - https://www.bemyeyes.com/

The KidZone Museum provides a children’s museum that works to inspire learning through creative play and discovery. Exhibits are optimal for children under age 7 and focus on building cognitive, physical, social, and creative skills through play. Camps and school programs are designed for children through elementary school. Teenagers can volunteer at the museum.

The museum includes:

• Indoor Play Structure
• Infant Area
• Art Studio
• Nature Play Area
• Science Lab
  
  

Web pages

• Home - https://kidzonemuseum.org/

This is a Ready to Grow (R2G) resource. Ready to Grow is a First 5 Nevada County program to connect children 0-5 with services and information that support their well-being. Organizations with programs that have this R2G tag may have additional programs of interest to families.

North San Juan Community Center is located just outside historic downtown, North San Juan. Serving the San Juan Ridge Community area for many years. Hosting the Annual Cheery Festival. Helping the community through shelters, affordable weekly meals, local farmers market, classes, meetings and many other services. Volunteer run and operated.

Web pages

• Home - https://www.nsjcommunitycenter.org/

Anew Day offers free lay counseling and low-cost professional therapy to individuals, couples, and families. Services address emotional, relational, and mental health needs for all ages.

Services include:

• Lay counseling and peer support for adults, teens, and children
• Professional therapy sessions at reduced rates
• Support for depression, anxiety, addiction, eating disorders, trauma, abuse, and social or relationship challenges
• Therapeutic art classes and group sessions for emotional expression and healing
• Communication skills training, boundary setting, and healthy coping strategies
• Volunteer training for lay counseling

Web pages

• Home - https://www.anew-day.com/
• Counseling - https://www.anew-day.com/counseling-services

Crisis Text Line provides free, 24/7 mental health support and crisis intervention through text messaging. 

Services are available in English and Spanish and are delivered by trained volunteer crisis counselors.

Services include:

• Offering immediate emotional support through text-based conversations
• Assisting with mental health concerns, including anxiety, depression, and suicidal thoughts
• Connecting people to local resources, when needed

Access methods:

• ENGLISH: Text HELLO to 741741 or message 443-SUPPORT on WhatsApp
• ESPAÑOL: Text HOLA to 741741 or message 442-AYUDAME on WhatsApp

Web pages

• Home - http://www.crisistextline.org/

The Defensible Space Advisory Visit program provides a one-on-one consultation and advice at your home for comprehensive education on compliance with Public Resource Code 4291 – the law that requires defensible space around structures. PRC 4291 was expanded in 2005 from 30 feet to 100 feet of clearance.

With increased promotion of defensible space, many people were confused and had difficulty understanding what needed to be accomplished. The council implemented a volunteer advisory program with formal training by CAL FIRE and local resources to provide an advisory visit that mirrored a compliance inspection without the threat of enforcement.

The County of Nevada Office of Emergency Services offers a Defensible Space Inspection that is more formal than the Fire Safe Council's Defensible Space Advisory Visit. The County program attends more to compliance and complaint issues.

Fire Safe Council asks that people please consider making the suggested tax-deductible donation of $25 (to cover co…

The American Bar Association provides legal assistance and resources for individuals and families affected by California wildfires.

Resources include:

• Disaster Legal Hotline: Free legal assistance for wildfire survivors.
  • Hotline Number: 415-575-3120
• Legal Aid Resources: Links to national and regional disaster legal aid organizations.
• FEMA Assistance Information: Guidance on applying for FEMA aid and locating Disaster Recovery Centers.
• Pro Bono Legal Support: Connection to volunteer attorneys through the ABA/Paladin National Disaster Pro Bono Portal.

Additional Information:

The hotline provides legal guidance on issues related to insurance claims, housing, employment, FEMA benefits, and more. 

Free legal help is available to people affected by declared disasters, regardless of income.

Web pages

• Home - https://www.americanbar.org/ 
• FEMA California Wildfires - https://www.fema.gov/disaster/4610
• FEMA Disaster Recovery Centers - https://egatew…

Angel Flight West delivers health and hope using donated flights to serve those with healthcare or other compelling human needs. In the air, Angel Flight West links volunteer pilots and commercial airlines with people whose non-emergency health needs require long-distance travel to access care. On the ground, volunteer drivers ferry passengers to and from their departure and destination airports.

If you have a scheduled medical appointment or are ready to travel for one of their other approved travel reasons, request your flight now.

Web pages

• Home - https://angelflightwest.org/
• Request Your Flight - https://afids.angelflightwest.org/flight-request?sc=need-a-flight

The Emergency Warming Center (EWC) in Truckee provides shelter when winter weather triggers opening.

Weather Triggers That Allow Opening:

• A temperature of 15 degrees F. or less with windchill
• One foot or more of snow predicted overnight
• Other severe or extreme weather condition/s as forecasted by the National Weather Service such as heavy rain or winds
• and sufficient staff and volunteer coverage
  
  

Guest Rules:

• No violence. Physical actions, sexual advances, threatening behavior, verbal harassment, or foul language.
• No possession or use of alcohol, drugs, medical marijuana, or weapons in or around the perimeter of the Warming Center.
• If you come into the EWC under the influence of drugs or alcohol, you must be able to take care of yourself and follow all of the guest rules. Or the hospital and police will be involved for safety.
• All personal belongings will be checked in and returned upon check out. Some items (personal care, change of clothing, paperwork can be kept in a provided clear pl…