2017 DEC PASO Magazine

ROUND TOWN
By Meagan Friberg
Bring hope to other during the 2017 holiday season
s we turn the final page of the 2017 calendar
and welcome the month of December,
we take time to reflect on the holiday season. For some,
holidays mean spending time with family and
friends both near and far. Many of us look forward
to traditional holiday celebrations – whatever those
traditions may be – and will perhaps start a new
tradition or two.
Why not make a new tradition this year by helping
those in need? Get the entire family involved – young
children love to help! There are countless ways to make
this holiday season a bit brighter for others in our community!
Below is a sampling of ideas:
DONATE TO RISE, JOIN GIVING TREE
The mission of RISE is one of hope – "to transform
the lives of sexual and intimate partner violence survivors,
their families and the community through services and education
that promote safety, healing, and empowerment."
You can help:
• Ask co-workers and friends to participate in the
Giving Tree program, then pool funds and purchase
gift cards from various merchants including grocery,
shoe, and department stores and gas stations. “We are
doing things a bit differently this year in regard to the
Giving Tree,” said RISE Development and Marketing
Manager Mariko Kriege. “Gift cards allow our families
to purchase the items they need and takes the guess
work out of holiday shopping for our Giving Tree volunteers.”
• Make a financial donation to help provide crisis
intervention and treatment services. Make checks
to RISE and mail to: P.O. Box 630, Paso Robles, CA
93447.
• Donate items to the Safe House such as: diapers,
towels, first-aid supplies, laundry detergent, new pillows,
twin sheet sets and comforters, pajamas, socks,
underwear and more for women and children. Call
226-5400, see riseslo.org, or stop by the RISE office at
1030 Vine St. in Paso Robles.
PASO’S LIGHTS OF HOPE
Paso's Lights of Hope benefits the Cancer Support
Community - California Central Coast by raising
funds and awareness for local cancer patients, survivors,
and their families while shining the light on the organization’s
mission: “so that no one faces cancer alone.” More
than 35,000 lights adorning 17 trees in the Paso Robles
downtown park were turned on at the annual Downtown
Tree Lighting Ceremony on Nov. 24 and will continue to
shine nightly through Valentine’s Weekend 2018.
Paso’s Lights of Hope is co-sponsored by the City
of Paso Robles and the Downtown Paso Robles Main
Street Association. To sponsor a bulb, a branch, or tree,
click on the Lights of Hope link at cscslo.org or stop by
the CSC office at 1051 Las Tablas Road in Templeton;
call 238-4411 for more info.
DAY OF GIVING
The 23rd Annual Day of Giving on Dec. 16 at the
Paso Robles Event Center will provide toys, coats, and
a holiday meal to local families with children from
Paso Robles, San Miguel, Bradley, Shandon, and Heritage
Ranch. The Toy Bank of Greater Paso Robles,
Coats for Kids, the Salvation Army, and community
members make this possible.
• Much has been donated, but more is needed. Place
new toys, art supplies, games and sports balls in Toy
Bank collection boxes around town; send monetary
donations to: Toy Bank of Greater Paso Robles, P.O.
Box 2801, Paso Robles, CA 93447.
• Take gently-used coats, sweatshirts, and sweaters
to: Plaza Cleaners in the Albertson’s Shopping Center
or Paso Robles Cleaners on 13th Street. Take new and
clean coats to: KPRL, Idler’s, Farm Supply, Strawberry
Blonde Salon, El Paso Mini Storage, The Blenders, or
North County Copy & Parcel.
• Send a check payable to the Toy Bank, with memo
“Coats for Kids” to the Toy Bank address listed above.
• Help the Salvation Army with monetary donations
to purchase gift and food cards by sending a
check with memo “Day of Giving” to P.O. Box 2654,
Paso Robles, CA 93447.
HELP OUT THE SALVATION ARMY
The Salvation Army’s holiday kettle campaign generates
funds to carry the organization through the
entire fiscal year.
• Volunteer to ring the bells and collect funds
through Dec. 23; call 975-5632 to schedule a time slot.
• Place monetary donations in the paper kettles at
checkout lines in Food 4 Less. Send monetary donations
to P.O. Box 2654, Paso Robles, 93447.
• For families NOT participating in the Day of
Giving, the Salvation Army offers three additional
toy-giving opportunities: Angel Tree, Toy Shop, and
Emergency Toy Giveaway.
• Those wishing to help with donations of toys, interested
in being an “angel,” or in need of assistance
are encouraged to call 238-9591 or stop by the Salvation
Army Center at 711 Paso Robles St. Tuesday or
Wednesday, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
28 PASO Magazine, December 2017