The holiday season puts us all in a more giving mood, celebrating the season with gifts shared among family and friends in warm settings.
But we’re also reminded this time of year that there are those who don’t get any gifts, don’t have a tree, and may not even have a home, let alone a warm one. What about them?
Thankfully, the Central Coast is home to plenty of giving people.
Take a look at the broad group of Santa Maria Valley support organizations leading a candlelight vigil Dec. 21 at City Hall (see page 4). They know that a number of locals will heed the call and bring some warm clothes, blankets, and toiletries.
This is a dangerous time of year for anyone who is homeless, with all the cold, wet, and dark. The Longest Night vigil event is held nationally to recognize those who’ve died while homeless over the last year.
Homelessness is a problem that has grown in Santa Maria and across Santa Barbara County over the past few years. And according to a new federal report from the Department of Housing and Urban Development, it’s a problem that’s growing nationally as well. More people are sleeping out on the streets, or in cars, or wherever they are trying to survive. We’re talking about families, elderly, veterans, and children.
People end up homeless for so many reasons, from addiction to mental illness to financial burdens, and those misfortunes could happen to anyone. That’s why it’s on all of us–those enjoying a comfortable holiday season–to do what we can to help, without judgement. If the stocking was on the other foot, you’d hope for some.
And it’s not just people on the streets that need the help, but the organizations that support them, and others, too.
That’s why the Sun shared the needs of several local nonprofits in our Wish List (see page 10), to help tap deeper into our community’s collective giving spirit. You never know what skill or extra item you might have around the house that could help, so check it out!
We’ve also highlighted the need of one Santa Maria nonprofit in particular, Abilities for Kids Inc., in our Spotlight this week (see page 8). The nonprofit was the victim of several repeated break-ins, burglaries, and vandalism, and is in need of specialized equipment to help in its mission of providing therapeutic care to special needs kids in the area.
Just because it’s the holidays doesn’t mean life can’t still throw a curveball your way. People make mistakes, have accidents, or can be downright mean and nasty to each other.
And speaking of curveballs and mistakes, I’m sure the folks over at Adam Brothers Farming Inc. weren’t expecting a strain of E. coli bacteria linked to tainted romaine lettuce to be found on their property by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), but that’s what happened. The farming company–owned by Santa Barbara County‘s 4th District Supervisor Peter Adam and his brothers–also recalled lettuce and cauliflower “out of an abundance of caution.”
And out of an abundance of holiday generosity, I won’t rib Adam or the farm about it until after the new year. And besides, I would guess they’ve already spent a lot more on lawyers than Christmas gifts.
The Canary gives and gives. Share your thoughts at canary@santamariasun.com.
This article appears in Dec 20-27, 2018.