Valentine’s Day in Santa Maria was oh-so-social! The town was awash with festive and romantic dinners and dances on Feb. 14. I looked for Cupid at the Good Samaritan Shelter’s annual fundraising dinner, “Hearts for the Homeless,” held at the Santa Maria Country Club.
More than 125 people bought $125 tickets ($214 per couple) to support the good works of Good Sam and dine on pork shank, potatoes, mixed vegetables, and chocolate cake. Of course, it all went down so nicely with local wine. I have to add that while I was looking for Cupid, the cute little cherub was not looking for me!
But all was not lost. I had a very good time talking to St. Joe’s former tennis coach, Meg Hoffman, and her husband Jeff. At my table were vivacious Santa Maria City Council-woman Hilda Zacharias, board member Larry Vernon with wife Kathy, and former county supe Tom Urbanske with his forever-Valentine, Barbara, a vision in red.
Good Sam’s CFO Jack Boysen and wife Kathy were on the event planning committee.
“We have been working on this for quite some time,” Kathy told me. “We wanted to do something different. It all came together.”
A mini-boutique provided opportunities to shop and buy on-the-spot Valentine’s Day gifts (purses, sunglasses, and jewelry). There was a silent auction, but no live auction, which left time and energy for romantic dancing to a DJ after dinner.
When female guests checked in, they received a memento of the occasion: an attractive red circular glass piece with an indented heart shape. It can be worn as a pendant or displayed as an ornament. A delighted Debbi Testa, accompanied by husband Martin, immediately hung hers on a chain, as did yours truly.
San Luis Obispo High School junior Andrew Gin was on hand to take photos. For $30, couples got a picture in their choice of frames decorated by children from the Good Samaritan Shelter.
There was lots of cocktail hour schmoozing with mellow background music provided by guitarist Ed Hite. Dr. Bob and Eileen Okerblom chatted with Larry Eiler, who was on the staff of the now-closed David Ryan Art Gallery. Oh my, how we will miss the gallery’s First Friday receptions.
Humane Society board members Bo Cudd and Pam Goble came out to support Good Sam. You couldn’t miss Executive Director Kelly White O’Neill, a walking Valentine in her red dress with a red (oo la la) satin trench coat.
Stu and Jan Bartleson, Mark and Dorothy Smith, and Sheriff Bill Brown were also celebrating Valentine’s Day on Good Sam’s behalf.
As mistress of ceremonies, the nuclear-powered board prez Robin Hayhurst commanded couples to experience a Valentine’s Day kiss. There was no hesitation anywhere on that delightful idea.
Good Sam’s executive director, Sylvia Barnard, presented some of the children served by the shelter.
Good Sam, the only homeless shelter provider in the Santa Maria Valley, served 6,000 unduplicated clients last year. And the group doesn’t just offer shelter; it makes life for the needy a tad easier with food, clothing, after-school tutoring, counseling for drug and alcohol addiction, a pre-natal treatment program, and employment-seeking assistance.
If you want to hobnob with Helen, you may contact her at helenthom232@yahoo.com.
This article appears in Feb 26 – Mar 5, 2009.