‘Tis the season for giving

The holiday season is a wonderful thing - a time of joy, peace and giving. There is a warm spirit that brings smiles to the faces of young and old, a feeling that inspires residents to deck out their homes with lights and decorations. This weekend, many Petaluma residents will gather in a warm space with delicious food and loved ones to celebrate the Christmas holiday.

But for thousands of others here, the holidays will be a much different experience. Despite an economic recovery that continues to gain steam, many of our neighbors are still without a job, a place to live or enough money to put food on the table.

Traditionally, Petaluma’s leading nonprofit organizations have been there to help.

But these days, due to an unprecedented loss of government funding, agencies like Committee on the Shelterless, Petaluma People Services Center and others are lacking the necessary resources to help everyone in need.

As a result, they have been forced to adapt by developing new and innovative practices and programs to maximize shrinking resources in hopes of preserving the critical services for those in need. And in the winter, those services are even more critical. Last week, during the deluge that hit Sonoma County, COTS’ Mary Isaak Center was welcoming those seeking shelter from the storm.

“We’ll keep our friends warm and fed,” said COTS CEO Mike Johnson. “Most importantly, COTS will offer them the opportunity to get back on their feet by staying on with us once the sun shines again.”

In Petaluma, a traditional spirit of giving has sustained such organizations. People have consistently donated to or volunteered at local charities and nonprofits to help bring comfort and joy into the lives of others. A single donation can make the difference between a happy Christmas and a joyless holiday.

After Dec. 25, when the presents have been put away and the decorations have come down, the holiday spirit usually fades away. We return to work and soon it is as if Christmas Day never happened. That warm, generous feeling vanishes for most of us until the next holiday season.

Wouldn’t it be nice if we could somehow preserve that feeling and keep it around throughout the year? Wishful thinking, perhaps. But there are lots of “Santas” who give generously throughout the year through their volunteerism and monetary donations to local charities and nonprofit groups.

Petaluma - and the world - would be a much better place if we all made an effort to keep that holiday spirit alive and spread it around at other times of the year. Petaluma’s well-documented generosity and compassion for helping neighbors in need is one of this community’s key virtues. Time and again, local residents donate, volunteer and pitch in to help those less fortunate. It’s a longstanding tradition, and we all enjoy a stronger community as a result.

Disadvantaged Petaluma residents and the agencies they serve them need your help right now. Please consider making a donation to or volunteering with one of the organizations listed below.

Committee on the Shelterless, 765-6530, cots-homeless.org

Petaluma People Services Center, 765-8490, petalumapeople.org

Rebuilding Together Petaluma, 765-3944, rtpetaluma.org

Mentor Me, 778-4798, wearementorme.org

Petaluma Educational Foundation, 778-4632, pefinfo.com

PEP Housing, 762-2336, pephousing.org

Boys and Girls Club, 415-767-2035, petaluma-marinbgc.org