It is the season of giving here in Santa Barbara, and this year our community has more needs than ever. With Santa Barbara now entering yet another mandatory lockdown, we felt this was a good time to highlight 5 organizations that are making a difference in the lives of our most vulnerable residents. Each of these local Santa Barbara organizations bring a unique impact to our city! We encourage you to choose a giving program that best connects to your heart and consider giving back this Christmas.
Donate unused baby supplies to Santa Barbara mothers through Mothers’ Helpers
Mothers’ Helpers was created in recognition that there are moms who need basic items for their babies, like cribs, clothing, strollers, blankets, bouncers, etc, and parents who have these things in their garages and want to get rid of them. They decided to put these two groups together, and make it easy for parents to donate to moms who are in need. If you have any unused baby products hanging around, perhaps it’s time to donate them to mothers in need! Learn more about Mothers’ Helpers here. A big shout out to our Realtor Partner Kimberly Rockwell for introducing us to Mothers’ Helpers.
Provide basic needs to Santa Barbara families fighting childhood cancer through Teddy Bear Cancer Foundation
Teddy Bear Cancer Foundation
The holidays can be tough on families, especially this year during Covid, and it has been even harder for families in Santa Barbara who have a child facing cancer. The Teddy Bear Cancer Foundation has been providing services for families, including money for rent assistance, grocery gift cards, additional emotional support groups with licensed therapists, virtual and in-person tutoring, meals and care package delivery, and virtual family events to keep kids engaged.
This Christmas, Teddy Bear Cancer Foundation will be delivering Christmas gifts and trees to some 53 families and 110 kids through their Season of Hope Campaign. To bring hope and joy to families dealing with pediatric cancer this holiday season, donations can be on their website.
Help stop human trafficking in Santa Barbara through Hope Refuge
Hope Refuge is a nonprofit organization in Santa Barbara established in response to the growing awareness of the crisis in America involving children and young adults who are being trafficked in the commercial sex industry. Hope Refuge was founded to see exploited children ages 12 to 17 and young adults in America set free and move forward into a healthy, productive life.
Hope Refuge is one of the largest Short Term Residential Therapeutic programs specifically for 12 to 17 year-old girls who have been sex trafficked in the USA. They provide support for 24 survivors who, for six months or more, are part of a full-service, live-in center and are provided with counseling, therapeutic care, education, and a fun and loving environment. All of these will take place in their beautiful mountain facility located on 214 acres in the mountains of Santa Barbara filled with oak woodlands, rolling hills, and stunning ocean views. Donations to Hope Refuge can be made here.
Adopt a Santa Barbara family for Christmas through United Way
Adopt a Family Campaign
When a crisis happens right before the holidays, families struggle to make ends meet leaving Christmas to be the bottom of their priority list. It is our goal that these families can have a great holiday without some of the added costs that come with buying food and gifts. And maybe, just maybe, they can get caught up and be in a better place for the new year. Many of these families typically would never ask for help, so this program has been designed to encourage referrals from family members, co-workers, friends, neighbors, and employers. The program is flexible and allows the adopter to bring the gifts directly to the family they bless if both sides so choose. See how you can help a Santa Barbara family in need this Christmas though United Way SB.
Move our community from hunger to health through FoodBank of Santa Barbara
The Foodbank of Santa Barbara County takes a negative thing (hunger) and through their combined community efforts, they transform it into a positive thing (health). This is achieved with three ingredients, food, education and empowerment, which build food literacy. Developing food literacy combats not only hunger but also malnutrition and obesity. Learn more about their nationally recognized nutrition programs that provide pre-school to elder education for families, children, and seniors. Give the gift of health this Christmas!
Tis’ the season of giving
We are so grateful for these organizations who are making a difference in the lives of Santa Barbara’s most vulnerable residents. Here at Zia Group, we take pride in linking arms with these causes. Zia Group has commited 25% of our profits to vulnerable women and children in need here in Santa Barbara and abroad. To learn more about heart for impact, see our annual Impact Report here.