Just in time for Thanksgiving, and with the holiday season around the corner, Riskin Partners would like to share a list of local philanthropies that are in need of additional support.
Foodbank of Santa Barbara County
Each year, Riskin Partners looks forward to making a generous donation to a local cause, and after all of the challenges that 2020 has brought upon us, we are humbled to announce our contribution to the Foodbank of Santa Barbara County. Serving as the leading food distribution and hunger-relief organization in the region since 1982, Foodbank distrubutes 10 million pounds of fresh produce and nutricious groceries each year. Its programs create sustainable pathways towards food security with the goal of empowering and transforming the health of the community.
“In response to the global outbreak of COVID-19 in March, the Foodbank aggressively escalated its emergency food distribution efforts, doubling its distribution capacity and providing emergency safety training to its countywide partner network.”
Generally, people think of Santa Barbara as a wealthy beachside community; they do not realize that our county has the third-highest food insecurity rate out of the 58 counties in California and the second-highest child poverty rate. The COVID-19 pandemic has demonstrated the absolute necessity of food access to protect public health.
“Since March, Foodbank has distributed 12.5 million pounds of food (almost twice the normal amount) to 229,200 unduplicated people, a 20% increase of clients from the previous year.”
UNITY SHOPPE SANTA BARBARA
Celebrating over 100 years of community service, Unity Shopped Santa Barbara aims at providing dignity, respect, and choice to those in need. What once started off as a holiday project, soon turned into a year-round full-service operation, making it possible for people to get the help needed to avoid welfare and homeless situations.
“Our Community has faced daunting problems since the onset of Covid-19: nearly 25,000 locals jobless on the brink of eviction and often hungry; families without a typical school day to count on; seniors unable to leave their homes without risk…” unity shoppe website
Save the date for the 34th Annual Holiday Telethon!
Saturday, December 12th
4:30-8:30pm
child abuse listening mediation: calm
On a mission to prevent childhood trauma, heal children and families, and build resilient communities, CALM has served Santa Barbara County for over 50 years.
“Untreated childhood trauma can have devastating life-long effects that impact a child’s ability to grow and learn, to trust others, to make healthy choices, and to feel worthy.” - CALM WEBSITE
CALM has led in developing trauma-informed, evidence-based services that effectively treat child abuse and promote healing, as well as programs successful in preventing childhood trauma through family strengthening and support.
THE PARTNERSHIP FOR RESILIENT COMMUNITIES
photos by Christy Gutzeit, Paul Wellman and others
Focused on the safety and resilience of the community following the Thomas Fire and subsequent Debris Flow, the Partnership for Resilient Communities has installed 6 nets in the hills above Montecito to ensure the protection of life and property for future rainy seasons.
“The resources and nimbleness of a public private partnership can expand what is possible for our local agencies to accomplish.” - The partnership for resilient communities website
The Partnership is made up of local residents who are action oriented and collaborative with the city in order to find the best solutions to our challenges and reduce future risk.
SANTA BARBARA BUCKET BRIGADE
The Santa Barbara Bucket Brigade was created to prepare for and respond to natural disasters and community crises through volunteer training, coordination, and deployment.
“With disaster relief services stretched to the limit and the need for assistance at an all-time high, five community members stepped up to organize a neighborhood relief response, aligning with public agencies to dig out homes damaged by the debris flow.” - SB Bucket Brigade Website
Formed as a result of the devastating debris flow in Montecito, the SB Bucket Brigade has led upward of 3,000 volunteers in digging mud and debris out of homes, helping families find lost belongings, cleaning up public open spaces, helping to restore local trails and walking paths, and rescuing endangered oak trees.
MONTECITO TRAILS FOUNDATION
Formed in 1964, the Montecito Trails Foundation works to preserve historic trails, acquire and develop new trails, and maintain and improve existing trails.
“Healing mountain trails is hard work and the Montecito Trails Foundation has quietly and faithfully labored to keep the pathways through the heart of our community open to everyone." - Abe Powell
Faced with unprecedented building costs following the Thomas Fire and Debris Flow, Montecito Trails Foundation is dedicated to continue making the incredible strides made possible through memberships, donations, and grants.
TEACHERS FUND
Teacher’s Fund was created in 2002, by Renee Grubb, the owner of our brokerage, Village Properties. The goal was to help Santa Barbara County teachers get the tools and materials they needed in their classrooms and for their students.
Over the years, Teacher’s Fund has granted over $1.6 million dollars to Santa Barbara County public and private kindergarten, Elementary, Middle and High School teachers.