Volunteers, CSWD staff throw party for homeless families
The cafeteria at the Migrant Shelter on Southside Road looked
more like Santa’s workshop than a homeless shelter facility Monday,
as staff members from Community Services and Workforce Development,
with help from volunteers, put on a Christmas party for 20 homeless
families enrolled in the Winter Shelter Program.
Volunteers, CSWD staff throw party for homeless families
The cafeteria at the Migrant Shelter on Southside Road looked more like Santa’s workshop than a homeless shelter facility Monday, as staff members from Community Services and Workforce Development, with help from volunteers, put on a Christmas party for 20 homeless families enrolled in the Winter Shelter Program.
Piles of presents lined three of the four walls in the cafeteria, with nine bicycles of various sizes adorned with red bows. Along the fourth wall, near the kitchen, volunteers served up spaghetti with meatballs, garlic bread, salad and hot dogs. Volunteers carried trays of cookies and cupcakes as the families finished lunch. At 12:45 p.m., Santa arrived with a hearty “Ho Ho Ho” to hand out gifts to the children.
Enrique Arreola, the deputy director of Community Services and Workforce Development, said the winter shelter program has been going on for at least 17 years. The program runs from December to March, with families paying a small amount in rent that is returned to them at the end of the program with the hope that they will be able to use the money to get their own permanent housing.
“We have 67 units here but we only utilize a fraction,” Arreola said, because there is not funding to take in more families. In past years, the number of families served has gone from 15 to up to 24, depending on what funding is available.
As long as the shelter has been running, the staff and volunteers have thrown a Christmas party for the families. Toys and gifts are donated by individuals, businesses and other agencies. Pacific Scientific donated at least 170 presents and Recology, formerly Integrated Waste Management donated some of the bicycles. Arreola said Pacific Scientific employees also wrapped the gifts they donated, cutting down on the time it takes CSWD staff members or volunteers to do the wrapping.
“I think not having this party is not providing the best services,” Arreola said. “These families are here because they are homeless.”
He mentioned one family that is staying because their house burned down. He said others had been living with extended family, without a real home of their own.
“Every year, we say, ‘What if we don’t get enough gifts or support?'” he said. “But every year it happens … I’m very grateful that we get calls from the community wanting to sponsor a family.”
Volunteers included members of the Community Action Board, employees from Pacific Scientific and others.
“It is definitely for them to feel at home,” Arreola said. “We provide gifts, but I hope they can spend the holiday with family members.”
Arreola said through his job he has seen more people applying for public assistance, who are in need of homes, jobs and food.
Fishes and Loaves, a local food pantry, donated bags of food to each family and a $50 gift certificate to Albertson’s.
“These people are going through tough times,” Arreola said. “We need to continue our tradition to make it a better experience.”
Debbie Ruiz, of Community Solutions, volunteered at the party since her agency sometimes refers people to CSWD. They donated gifts they had received from the Impala Car Club toy drive.
“This is my first time coming, but I think I will make it a tradition,” she said. “Just look at all the toys.”
She said she was trying to make the older kids feel comfortable at the party, offering them drinks and plates of food.
In addition to the Winter Shelter Program, CSWD received funding from First 5 San Benito County to give out 200 $100 vouchers for clothing for children at Target Dec. 21, at 6:30 p.m. Arreola said the vouchers came at a perfect time for families to get warm, winter clothing for their children. They also gave out 98 food vouchers for $75 each, and will be providing rental and utility assistance to qualifying families with children up to 5 years old, again with funding from First 5.
