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First District Supervisor Das Williams — Giving Thanks

by Community Contributor • November 27, 2024 • Comments Off

Giving Thanks

Happy Thanksgiving, from my family to yours!

This year, I hope we can all reflect on why we celebrate this holiday. It’s the celebration of the first harvest in the New World by the Pilgrims. The Pilgrims settled in America to escape religious persecution and seek opportunity. The story of Native Americans welcoming them with open arms is a vital part of our history that we should not forget. Understandably, given the Navajo half of my family, what happened next also leaves us with many mixed feelings. But the symbol of Thanksgiving nevertheless defines who we strive to be.

Just as America has been the destination of people all over the world who seek refuge from danger and to build a better life, intolerance towards those people has also always been a part of American history. We have to remember that no American unless you are purely Native, belongs here more than any other one. At our best, we are the country where people go to escape persecution, not the country that persecutes people for originating somewhere else. May our arms stay open, as the Pilgrims encountered some 400 years ago.

New Kitchen for Girls Inc. of Carpinteria

It was a joy to join Girls Inc. of Carpinteria to celebrate Thanksgiving and the grand opening of their newly remodeled commercial kitchen! The County secured a $335,000 grant to fund the remodel to increase the capacity of the Girls Inc. Community Food Pantry, a 24/7 resource for local families. I am especially thankful for organizations like Girls Inc. this holiday season for all they do to bring our community together.

Sleeping Bags and Winter wear donations needed

It is shaping up to be a very cold winter this year. More than 2,100 people are experiencing homelessness across the County. To help them stay warm this winter, the Santa Barbara County Public Defender’s Office is accepting gently used donations of sleeping bags, gloves, jackets, shoes, hygiene products, thermal underwear, scarves, and backpacks. New socks and underwear are also welcomed. While we know the only solution to homelessness is building more rental housing, this is a great chance to help those in need get through an especially difficult time of the year.

For more information, contact the County Public Defender’s office; in Santa Barbara, call (805) 568-3470; in Santa Maria, call (805) 346-7500; in Lompoc, call (805) 737-7770.

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