Holiday Program

Bringing Holiday Cheer to Over 400 Needy Davis Families

Holiday Program Volunteers Needed

Holidays are a time for good cheer, when problems of the day are temporarily suspended.

That’s the case for most us.

For Davis families living on poverty-level incomes, the daily struggle for survival doesn’t take a break for the holidays.

Every month, these residents face the challenge of paying the rent and utilities. They face difficult decisions over whether to pay for health care or for food for family members.

Each and every day, STEAC volunteers hear the stories of those seeking emergency assistance.

To qualify for assistance, income for the families or an individual must be below the federal poverty level. As example, a single person at the federal poverty level can earn no more than $9,800 per year. A family with two members can earn no more than $13,200 per year. A family of three, no more than $16,600. As a reference, an individual working a minimum wage job in Yolo County with no extra hours would earn $14,040 per year before taxes.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, nearly 15,000 individuals and just over 600 families in Davis are living on incomes at or below the poverty level. Some148 of them are homeless.

With that kind of income, there is simply not much left for many to buy extra food or gifts for the holidays. Many must simply endure, rather than celebrate the holidays.

Each year, hundreds of Davis residents and volunteers take part in the annual STEAC Adopt-A-Family Holiday Program, which last year provided food, clothes and gifts to over 450 families.

Residents sign up to provide food and gifts for individuals or families. They are matched with individuals or families, who provide them with a list of their needs. The “adopters” buy the items, which are delivered to the Holiday Program Headquarters at the First Baptist Church on Russell Boulevard in West Davis. On distribution day, the recipients pick up their holiday boxes at a party like event.

Using cash donations, STEAC provides each needy individual or family with a certificate, which is redeemable at an area grocery store for the fixings for a holiday meal. In addition, the program includes collecting coats, food, gifts and toys for distribution to participants and at various shelters.

Several years ago, an annual motorcycle toy drive became part of the program. Some 4,000 cycling enthusiasts donate toys in an annual Holiday Toy Run to the Cache Creek Casino. STEAC distributes the Davis portion of these toys to area shelters and other children’s programs.

Participants have said that taking part in the program brings a special meaning to the holiday season.

To make the program a success, STEAC must recruit nearly 100 volunteers to head and work on various committees.  Each year, the organizers create a large number of teams, so the jobs don’t get overwhelming. Some teams need only a few people, while others are larger.

STEAC is now actively seeking volunteers for all these jobs:

Program Chair works as the “delegator in chief” and coordinates the work of the committees. This volunteer is guided by a program manual and assisted by STEAC staff members who provide support in key areas.

Outreach to Recipients – Help is needed producing and delivering outreach material that is delivered to agencies, nonprofits and apartments in an effort to inform low-income residents of the program.

Box Collecting Team members collect boxes that are eventually filled with food and gifts for those are adopted.

Box Organizing Team members collect and arrange boxes at the program headquarters during distribution week.

Merchant Solicitation Team members solicit gift certificates and donations for the program from areas businesses.

Food and Toy Barrels Team help set up and collect items from barrels that are placed in businesses, schools and other facilities, such as at the Davis Fire Department main station.

Book Donation Team collects new and used children’s books that are given to participants on distribution day.

Coat Drive Team members collect coats for distribution on the day when participants pick up their holiday boxes.

School Drives Team members organize various food, gift and clothing drives at area schools.

Motorcycle Toys Drive Team members help collect toys at the drive in Sacramento and at the Cache Creek Casino, then sorts and distributes them to shelters and other programs.

Church Solicitation Team members solicit donations from area churches.

Office Team Members help answer phones, send FAXes, enter data, work with the volunteer e-mail network, assist with communications bia the Internet, assist with mailings and other work.

Gift Box Collection Team members work shifts accepting boxes at the program headquarters.

Gift Wrapping Team members sort and wrap gifts at the program headquarters.

Distribute Day Team members work shifts at the program headquarters distributing the gift boxes. Only adults may volunteer for this work.

Feeding the Volunteers Team members cook or arrange for food for volunteers at the program headquarters.

Cleanup Team members help with cleanup duties, turning the program headquarters back into a church.

Generally, some committee planning work occurs in late summer. Work intensified beginning in November and lasts until mid December.

To volunteer for the program, call Susan Simon at the STEAC office at 530-758-8435 or send an e-mail to ssimon@steac.org.