United Way of Santa Barbara County has celebrated the successful completion of its annual Holiday Gift Drive by fulfilling the wishes of hundreds of local students.
The volunteer opportunity connects community members with wish lists from children and families in the organization’s network of school districts and nonprofit partners.
Now in its fifth year, the gift drive celebrated a record-breaking service year in 2024, supporting some 300 students throughout the region, from Carpinteria to Guadalupe.
“This cherished tradition brings our team together for a festive gift-wrapping party, complete with holiday sweaters, music and refreshments,” said Alyssa Shapiro, assistant vice president at American Riviera Bank.
“This year, we wrapped over 80 gifts, transforming our boardroom into Santa’s workshop. The event not only brightens the holidays for local children but also strengthens our team’s morale and workplace satisfaction.
“It is heartwarming how our connections can be positively reinforced through fun and giving back,” she said. “We’re thankful for United Way’s year-round community efforts, especially during the holiday season, as it aligns perfectly with our commitment to True Community Banking.”
United Way annually invites its school district and service agency partners to identify and refer participants to the gift drive program, with families submitting a customized wish list of wants and needs for the holidays.
Parents and caregivers share wish lists with United Way’s Community Impact team, which connects each list to volunteers who purchase a selection of gifts based on the child’s interests and needs.
This year, hundreds of community members participated in the drive, with teams from local businesses as well as individual donors connected to a record number of wish lists. Volunteers delivered more than 1,400 gifts to the United Way office, which were prepared for participating families to collect ahead of the holidays to share with their children.
The Holiday Gift Drive falls under United Way’s Academic Achievement initiative, designed to provide a layer of support for school district partners who work with United Way throughout the year.
“It has been a true pleasure to collaborate with our school district partners and local volunteers for the Holiday Gift Drive this year,” said Allegra Rouss, United Way’s Community Impact Program manager.
“Together, we were able to gather a wonderful array of customized gifts for children in our community who might not have received any other presents this holiday season,” Rouss said.
This year, the gift drive continued its partnership with UCSB’s Arts & Lectures, raising funds and collecting toys at its annual holiday performance on Dec. 5 at the Arlington Theater.
Funds collected at the event were used to buy gift cards to local grocery outlets and retailers to provide an additional layer of support for families participating in the drive.
To learn more about the gift drive or to get involved in supporting United Way’s Academic Achievement initiative, visit www.unitedwaysb.org.