The ‘Snake Lady’ serves free Christmas Lunch and more to lift community spirits

Monday, December 21, 2020

Lake County’s Woman of the Year 2020 Yvonne ‘The Snake Lady’ Cox partners with Sunrise Special Services Foundation, NCO EPIC, and Listos California with goals to provide 200 hot meals and resources to Lake County residents.

LUCERNE — Woman of the Year 2020 in Lake County, Yvonne Cox, also known as "The Snake Lady," is working with Sunrise Special Services Foundation (SSSF) in partnership
with NCO EPIC, and Listos California to host a free Christmas bag lunch on December 25th, 2020 from 12pm to 4pm. Bag lunches will be distributed at 6278 E. Highway 20, Lucerne, CA.

Cox is the owner of The Snake Lady’s Motorcycle Thrift Store, the founder of the "Dignity Diner” project. She is widely known in the community for upholding a 21-year tradition of
donating food in honor of her mother — a waitress of 25 years who also provided free meals in her community. Local organizations SSSF, NCO EPIC, and Listos California are partnering with Cox in a combined effort to address the emergency preparedness and resource needs of unhoused community members in Lake County for the Christmas Holiday. Cox is anticipating up to 200 visitors on a first come-first-serve basis this Christmas.

"This helps me survive," disclosed a 28 year old member who is on disability for what he described as “mental problems” and lives in a tent.

These events aim to assist not just individuals, but also families who are experiencing hardships this holiday season. Another regular resident includes a 57-year-old man who is on disability from a back injury caused by a construction job from 20 years ago. As part of a family of four, including the mother of his two children ages 10 and 12, in a trailer, he admits "It's hard and cold these days. I'm grateful for the food and the thrift store."

“Making sure that everyone in our community has access to proper resources for any potential emergency is our number one goal,” says Tammy Alakszay, Coordinator at NCO
EPIC, an emergency preparedness group that serves Lake and Mendocino Counties. “It’s really important to make resources like these available for Lake County,” adds Annie
Barnes, Director of SSSF. “After the wave of hardships our County has faced, we want to give back in a thoughtful, socially distanced manner, hot meals."

The Snake Lady and Sunrise Special Services Foundation are accepting sign-ups for volunteer services, clean and warm coats for adults, as well as monetary donations. For inquiries regarding the Christmas Bag Lunch and other services please contact Sofia at sssf@pacific.net or make a donation at The Snake Lady's website.