11-Point Membership
Benefit Program
Emergency & Supplemental Food
Nonperishable food items are available for members upon request to aid with immediate needs members have. Members can also enroll in a year-round budget savings program, which includes weekly fresh grocery distributions.
Preventive Medical Care
Volunteer doctors and other medical professionals donate their services for members. Other volunteers donate transportation, lab work and fill other needs for follow-up. Volunteer medical professionals also provide group presentations on health topics of interest to the members.
Non-emergency Dental Care
Volunteer dentists see members in their offices free-of-charge to provide non-emergency preventive and corrective care.
Clothing
Clothing of all sizes and seasonal needs is available at your local Benefit Office (call WSWA for hours).
Legal Benefit
“Know Your Law” sessions conducted by volunteer attorneys present information about legal topics of interest to low-income workers as requested by WSWA members. Legal Advice is provided to a requesting member privately with a volunteer attorney, accompanied by a volunteer lay advocate to assist with the next steps of the attorney’s advice.
These and other membership benefits are available through request. Call WSWA and speak to an organizer if you need help, or to learn about ways you can participate with, and help build the benefit program.
Annual Salmon Distribution to WSWA Members
For years, WSWA has received donations from local fish hatcheries of thousands of pounds of salmon, which WSWA volunteers and members then assist to process and prepare for distribution as part of WSWA’s membership benefit program. This high-protein donation makes a tremendous difference in the lives of low-income families hard-pressed to afford groceries as prices continue to rise.
Think Green!
Give your used but running car a new lease on life with WSWA! Hybrids and EVs needed!!
Call: (530) 244-0968
Disaster Relief Unit (DRU):
Carr and Mill Fires
WSWA’s ad hoc Disaster Relief Unit (DRU) fought for fire recovery funds for Carr Fire victims who could not afford to rebuild after the 2018 wildfire. As a result, $27 million was allocated for housing, infrastructure and individual unmet needs for Shasta County and $1.15 billion for unmet needs from the 2018 wildfires statewide. However, many homeowners have yet to receive compensation needed to rebuild.
A team of volunteers from WSWA was on site in Weed the first day of the Mill Fire to reach fire victims. Volunteers then organized weekly caravans of donated relief supplies including food, clothing, hygiene items, face masks and more. WSWA brought teams of volunteer advocates, seasoned from advocacy done for Carr Fire victims to make membership available, teach new volunteers and fire survivors how to demand responsible government agencies provide shelter, food, and compensation for immediate and long term recovery.
One member who WSWA advocated for had to pay out of pocket for a hotel and temporary living expenses when she and her two children were evacuated from the fire, and they had lost all their perishable food during the power outage. The woman also lost her job as a caregiver for two disabled adults who lost their homes in the fire and had to move out of town to find housing. Additionally, she did not receive her last paycheck for two weeks of work since the client's phone burned in the fire and that is how she logged her hours with IHSS, her employer. She soon faced eviction and was behind on several bills such as her car payment. The main assistance program for fire victims told her that they would not compensate lost wages. WSWA volunteer advocates accompanied her to the official assistance center to document her losses due to the fire. After four hours of advocacy, WSWA won $3,200 that the member received that same day, enabling her to pay her rent and other urgent expenses.
