ECHO fundraiser raises nearly $90,000 for family center
Family Resource Center is scheduled to open this fall
– Nearly $90,000 was raised for local families experiencing homelessness during El Camino Homeless Organization’s third annual Vines That ECHO Winemaker Dinner, held June 5 at Copia Vineyards & Winery in Paso Robles.
According to the organization, the event raised a record amount and nearly doubled the total raised at last year’s dinner. Funds will support the Building Hope & Home Campaign and the construction of a new Family Resource Center.
More than 300 individuals and families are currently on the organization’s shelter waitlist. The planned 7,200-square-foot Family Resource Center will add 30 beds for families with children.
The center is scheduled to open in early fall and will include private family rooms, case management services, workforce development opportunities, children’s spaces, and other support services intended to help families achieve long-term housing stability.
“This project represents hope for families who simply need an opportunity to get back on their feet,” said Wendy Lewis. “Every dollar raised moves us closer to opening the doors of this building and welcoming families into a space designed specifically to help them heal, grow, and thrive.”
The event featured a four-course dinner prepared by Chef Rachel Ponce of Pair With and wine pairings from Copia Vineyards & Winery, Ciento Cellars, and The Royal Nonesuch Farm. A specialty beer pairing was provided by Cellar Fermentation.
The live auction and Fund-a-Need portion of the event raised money for specific elements of the Family Resource Center, including family sleeping rooms, workforce development computer stations, furnishings, and other resources for the facility.
During the event, Lynn and Stephen Knutson sponsored and named a room in the new family wing in honor of Stephen’s father, David Lee Knutson.
“We named this room after David Lee Knutson because his story deserves to be told,” they shared. “David grew up with very little in Patterson, California. At age 12, a neighboring family let him live in their spare room due to his family’s limited means. Through determination and hard work, he earned a scholarship to UC Berkeley, became the first in his family to attend college, and built a successful life in the seed industry.
“For years, David quietly left items outside his Los Angeles office for a man who slept nearby each night. They never exchanged a word, but there was a deep, unspoken friendship between them built on respect and consistency. That was who David was.
“He survived pancreatic cancer for 14 years. He was loved by everyone. Every one of our son’s friends called him ‘Grandpa Dave.’ He taught us to give back more to the world than you take.
“When we learned about ECHO’s Building Hope & Home campaign and what this building will mean for families, we thought of David immediately. This felt like exactly the right place to honor him.”
According to the organization, El Camino Homeless Organization has operated in San Luis Obispo County since 2001 and provides food, shelter, and supportive services. The organization operates shelters in Atascadero and Paso Robles with a combined capacity of 130 beds and also provides community dinner and shower programs.
For more information about the organization or the Building Hope & Home Campaign, visit ECHO Shelter.
