Creative Alternatives, Inc.

03/05/2026

We love having former kiddo's stop by! Today we got to see the grown up version of CJ Hernandez. It's so great to hear the success stories from our past youth. Sure makes us all feel very old.

11/14/2025

Play Poker? Tonight is the first event for Turlock Poker Rooms November Series. This event is a fundraiser for Creative Alternatives a local agency serving foster youth since 1976. $20 of your $120 buy-in goes directly to the youth we serve Don't play poker? Come make a donation and enjoy watching while enjoying a beverage. This even counts towards the series point total! Thank you to all that come out and play and/or contribute!

10/29/2025

The Stanislaus County Community Services Agency (CSA) has notified that CalFresh benefits will not be issued beginning November 1, 2025, as the Federal Government shutdown continues. CalFresh is California’s version of the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), which provides monthly electronic benefits to help eligible low-income individuals and families purchase groceries.

What’s Changing:
CalFresh benefits will cease beginning November 1, 2025, and will remain paused until the Federal Government shutdown is resolved.
Not all recipients will be impacted at once. Changes will roll out gradually over the coming weeks based on each individual’s benefit issuance date.
Other assistance programs, including CalWORKs (cash aid for families), General Assistance (cash aid for adults without children), and Medi-Cal, are not impacted at this time.

Community Food Resources:
CSA has asked that County departments and contracted providers, help refer community members to the following resources as applicable:

English 2025 – Food Resource Guide
Spanish 2025 – Food Resource Guide
Find Food – California Association of Food Banks
211 Stanislaus County
Health Services Agency Family Resource Directory

We hope this helps those in need during this difficult time.

09/24/2025

Save the date for another fun and exciting poker tournament presented by Turlock Poker Room & Casino! Event #1 of their November poker series is a fundraiser dedicated to help the youth and young adults in our programs. Get you friends and family together November 14, 2025 at 5pm and have a chance to win and give back at the same time. Thank you TPR for your generosity and support for local foster youth.

09/15/2025

Friday was an amazing day! Alexis Borba (front row left), one of our Resource parents (since 2024) and the training specialist at the Gallo Winery site in Livingston, California organized a comfort kit drive with the 600 employees at Gallo winery. These kind folks generously donated 50 comfort backpack kits full of necessities such as pajamas, shoes, school supplies and plush stuffed toys for new children entering our foster homes. In addition, they raised and donated $1000 to further support the children.

All of us at Creative Alternatives would like to thank Alexis and her colleagues for their generosity. These comfort kits will make a huge difference in the disrupted life of these kiddos. Thank you!

07/02/2025

Another former client thriving!

Jun 9, 2025, 6:47 AM
Mac Anthony Contrereas

From Foster Care to Guardian Long Range: A Full-Circle Moment
I hope this message finds you well. My name is Michael Contreras, though most know me as Mac—and I wanted to take a moment to reach out and say thank you. I grew up in the Creative Alternatives system out in Hughson, and the foundation you provided made a lasting impact on my life.

Recently, I wrote an article that touches on my experience in foster care and how it's come full circle through a program called Guardian Long Range—a community in the precision shooting world that supports foster youth across the country.

If you’d be willing to share the article within your network or on social media, I’d be truly grateful. I believe it highlights a story of growth, community, and the power of support systems like the one you all provide.

Here’s the link:
https://www.blackplagueprecision.com/post/from-foster-care-to-guardian-long-range-a-full-circle-moment

Thank you again for everything you do—and for the role you played in my life.

Warmly,
Michael (Mac) Contreras

I grew up in non-profit. I spent a large portion of my early career working in that world, and today I’m still deeply involved—whether it’s through board service, memberships, or just staying engaged in causes that matter. So, the idea of blending purpose with passion has always made sense to ...

07/02/2025

it's always heart warming when former clients post messages about their time with us.

"Tell Joy that I have a post I'd like to share with her. I can screen shot it. Arturo Enrique Cota. I also want to tell everyone there, even new staff, "Thank You!" and to those who raised me "I love you, more than words can express. and it's excitingly awesome to know Joy is at the helm. so many mothers, but her especially too. Everything she did, said, shared, it mattered, matters."

07/02/2025

Hello Friends, Happy 4th of July!
We hope you will enjoy celebrating the spirit of freedom this Independence Day. In observation of the holiday, our offices will be closed on Friday, July 4th.