Making Time for Others

These are unsettling times and COVID-19 is clearly impacting our personal and professional lives, and those that we love. We wanted to wish you, your loved ones and fellow colleagues safe passage through this difficult period. Please take care, stay positive and find sometime for having fun and smiling. It is challenging operating under the current restrictions; however, we are confident we will get through this, together.

When the pandemic stay-at-home orders started, The Easter Team recognized  the pending economic crisis and started planning how to best respond and support our community. We most recently donated to the following groups and have included links if you would like to donate in any way.

Santa Barbara Zoo: Even though the Zoo is closed to the public due to COVID-19 concerns, they stated that 97% of their annual budget relies on earned revenues from operations, closing their doors created challenges greater than any they have experienced in their 57-year history, and the loss of revenue will not be recovered. As a nonprofit organization, the Zoo is currently relying on cash reserves and critical donor and member support to continue to operate. To make a donation, click here: : SB Zoo

The Santa Barbara Botanic Garden: In a community that reveres its cultural and architectural heritage, preserving the Santa Barbara Botanic Garden’s rich legacy is of great importance. Formal recognition began several years ago when the Garden’s Mission Dam was named a State Historic Landmark. To further this preservation effort, the Garden initiated a request for the dam to be designated a Santa Barbara County Landmark, which was granted in 1983. In 2003, a remarkable partnership between the Garden, the community, and the County of Santa Barbara Historic Landmarks Advisory Commission resulted in the adoption of a resolution granting County Historic Landmark status to 23 of the Garden’s 78 acres, the Aqueduct, Indian Steps, Entry Steps, the Information Kiosk, the Caretaker’s Cottage, the Blaksley Library, and the Campbell Bridge. To make a donation, click here: SBBG

Teddy Bear Cancer Foundation: This foundation supports families living in Santa Barbara, Ventura, and San Luis Obispo counties that have a child with cancer by providing financial, educational, and emotional support. Their programs allow parents to focus on what matters most, their child’s well-being, during one of the most difficult times of their child’s young life. The foundation supports the entire family when their child has cancer. To make a donation, click here: Teddy Bear Cancer Foundation

​Unity Shoppe: These words are straight from the Unity Shoppe – “We’ve been helping our friends and neighbors manage the fallout from the CoronaVirus. Many in our community not only have legitimate health concerns, but are also feeling the tremendous economic impact of this pandemic on their lives. Most businesses and schools are closed until further notice. There is a scary new reality for the low-income in our community who are concerned about where to get groceries. If they do not work, they do not get paid, and getting food becomes the number one priority for their families. The Unity Shoppe is already seeing an increase in food requests, with many new people coming in.  We do not know how long this will go on; we have to purchase more food and supplies to be prepared. At times like these, we all must pull together and help those who need it most. Won’t you donate now? ” To make a donation, click here: Unity Shoppe

Feeding America/Food Bank: The Food Bank of Santa Barbara County’s mission is to end hunger and transform the health of Santa Barbara County through good nutrition.  Getting from hunger to health requires understanding the difference between eating enough calories and choosing healthy foods. The Food Bank is pushing beyond the traditional scope of a food bank by providing more than just food.  With nutrition education, disaster preparedness, environmental sustainability and community resilience at the forefront of their mission, they work to solve the underlying causes of hunger in Santa Barbara County. To make a donation, click here: Feeding America Food Bank