The Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office has teamed up with Good Samaritan Shelter to bring holiday cheer to clients at the Hedges House of Hope. Custody staff from the Quality of Work Life Committee initiated a project with the goal of filling stockings with essential items and fun gifts for each client at the Hedges House of Hope.
The Quality of Work life committee is comprised of custody staff members who are dedicated to improving the communication and camaraderie of custody relations by offering a supportive atmosphere to create and maintain a positive culture in their challenging career field.
Hedges House of Hope is a 50-bed shelter in Isla Vista that serves homeless single adults from the Isla Vista and Goleta areas. The program is named in honor of the late Father Jon Hedges, who was a homeless advocate with a passion for serving the homeless.
Deputies at the Isla Vista Foot Patrol Station received the internal email about the project headed by the Quality of Work Life committee and decided this would be an opportunity to honor their late friend and colleague, Fr. Hedges.
In the spirit of his legacy, deputies pooled their money to buy 50 hygiene kits that include a toothbrush, toothpaste, comb, and deodorant. The items will be included in stockings filled other gifts like a manicure set, holiday mug, hot chocolate, and snacks that were donated by custody staff from the Main Jail.
Anyone interested in donating to Hedges House of Hope is welcome to drop off items at the Father Virgil Cardona Center, 4020 Calle Real, Santa Barbara. The center is open 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Monday-Friday.