What We’re Thankful For by Nick Masuda
CommUnify Embraces Urgent Needs of Santa Barbara County
Susan Rose, Patricia Keelean and Judi Weisbart
T
ea was served in copious amounts as CommUnify invited dozens to an outdoor event at the gorgeous Santa Barbara Club on December 2. Good thing, because one simple statement was quite sobering. Santa Barbara County is essentially tied for first in California for highest poverty rate. With the sale of countless multi-million-dollar homes in the area grabbing the attention of the world over the past 21 months, the statement brought about some dropped jaws and even a couple of sighs. Considering the United States’ eighth-richest zip code resides in the county — Montecito’s 93108 — there is good reason for people to be taken aback. But that’s why CommUnify is critical, and not just at the holidays or when the organization is looking for donations. The longtime nonprofit, formerly the Community Action Commission of Santa Barbara County, focuses on finding solutions to help county residents live healthy and financially secure lives — from youth to seniors.
“It’s clear that CommUnify lives and breathes the urgency of this problem every day through the wide array of services they provide to so many — from infants to seniors. I’m grateful for their behind-the-scenes support,” said Laura Capps, a board member with the Santa Barbara Unified School District and event attendee. The nonprofit is built upon four pillars: community, stability, service, and education. In order to serve in each of these capacities, CommUnify employs nearly 400 staff members and operates more than 17 programs and services in the community, which include: Head Start/Early Start programs, energy assistance, home weatherization services, financial literacy and family self-sufficiency supportive services, a variety of prevention and intervention services for youth, and the 2-1-1 information and referral helpline. “What makes CommUnify a uniquely valuable community resource is the breadth and scope of its services,” said Gregg Hart, Santa Barbara County’s
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Christmas in Narnia
EL M ONTECITO PRESBYTERI AN CHURCH
Dec. 11th, 10am-2pm rsvp: elmopres.org SLEIG H RI DES WI TH FATHER CHRISTM AS CRAFTS WITH THE PEVENSIE CHI LDREN STORY TI M E WI TH THE PROFESSOR G AM ES WITH M R. TUM NUS & HI G H TEA WITH M R. & M RS. BEAVER
18 MONTECITO JOURNAL
“If you cannot get rid of the family skeleton, you may as well make it dance.” — George Bernard Shaw
9 – 16 December 2021
