Santa Cruz, an Adopt-a-Family

As I sit in front of my computer thinking of what I will be working on today, I can’t help but be thankful. In the past two hours the temperature has risen two degrees to a balmy 39 degrees. I am thankful I am inside and have shelter overhead. Today I will be working on getting things for our Adopt-a-Family. The Adopt-a-Family family is a program that our office at David Lyng Real Estate supports. I am the office representative to assist 4 families. What this program does it provide a way for a number of families to receive gifts and presents during the holidays. In a society bloated with excess, these members do not have material excess. So I am, with the help of many fine agents in my office, to bring some basic needed items and hopefully some cheer and solace, to their holidays.

Some people relish being on a short list. This would be a long list as you need to qualify in a bad way to get on it. The long part of the list is the number of people that could actually qualify in my area. It is almost a paradox in the real estate business I am in.

With people needing high incomes to qualify for homes on one hand, and to qualify for this list, low incomes. Both part of the same relationship, at different ends. These are people whose incomes are even below the level designated locally as “low income” needed for Measure J and Measure O, a local housing assistance to purchase program. More about housing assistance in another blog though.

So I ponder about the people, of whom I have a thumbnail sketch of. Who are they, and I wonder of their life and circumstances? I have had low parts of my life as many have; holidays can be a difficult time. I do enjoy helping people buy homes, because as a realtor, that is one aspect of my job. It is the “home” aspect that we all like; the place to call ours, to do what we want. Just having a home is a challenge, financially now for many. These folks though do not have that problem, theirs is often far more basic, where can I live on my meager income in this high cost area? Theirs is a more basic one as in  “we need clothes for our children, for ourselves, dishes and the like”. They are not asking for the X box or I pods, but shoes and socks, jackets to ward off the cold.

Many of us have excess of material things and a dearth of spiritual things like compassion, giving or caring for others. It is a time of year we are reminded by going to the store and hearing and seeing the Salvation Army reminding us there is a need for donations large and small.

So I ask of you to look inside your soul, closet, and clean out unused, unneeded things. Another charity I support is the Second Harvest Food Bank, and they can use items you have in your pantry you won’t be using. Please open your hearts and wallets and closets and help those without. The true spirit of Christmas is not the getting as I used to think as a kid, but the giving. If you would like to participate, send me an e-mail. I hope your holidays are spent with reflection and compassion and appreciation. Life is a big family.

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