Courtesy photo.
SANTA BARBARA — United Way of Santa Barbara County (UWSBC) and Cottage Health employees teamed up to ensure 30 elementary age students all had gifts to unwrap for the holidays.
Cottage Health employees contacted UWSBC in the fall to arrange an Adopt a Family collection for the holiday season. UWSBC worked with the schools to identify families and their wish lists. Cottage’s generous employees collected and donated gifts for 20 students, split evenly among Harding and Franklin elementary schools in Santa Barbara. UWSBC donated gifts for another 10 students at Franklin.
Excited students and grateful parents picked up the gifts – bicycles, clothes, toys and more – on the campuses Dec. 18 and 21, 2018.
“The reaction and joy in the faces of these students was truly heartwarming,” Melinda Cabrera, Director of Strategic Partnerships for United Way of Satna Barbara County. “The Cottage team really did an amazing job bringing some cheer to these families, and we’re so thankful for their generosity.”
For information on participating in the Adopt a Family program, contact Cabrera at mcabrera@unitedwaysb.org 805-965-8591.
About United Way of Santa Barbara County: United Way of Santa Barbara County (UWSBC) has the unique and positive vision that “in our community, everyone has a hopeful future.” Since 1923, UWSBC has served Santa Barbara County community through funding, volunteer development, and by utilizing its own unique initiatives that involve dozens of local non-profit and public sector agencies. UWSBC’s local community driven Power of Partnership™ priorities help children, families & seniors with a focus on Education, Income and Health.