The Sheriff’s Office Programs Unit, Chaplain program and Santa Barbara-based nonprofit Impact Ministry are working together to celebrate the holiday season with the joy of giving.

Volunteers help to assemble gift bags for staff and inmates at county jails.
Volunteers help to assemble gift bags for staff and inmates at county jails. Credit: Courtesy photo

Over the weekend, 28 volunteers assembled items into 850 gift bags that will be distributed to both inmates and staff members at the Main Jail and the Northern Branch Jail.

Donors from faith-based organizations, as well as community members throughout the county contributed funds to Impact Ministry for the purchase of snack chips, cookies, energy bars, chocolates, ramen, shampoo, and other items to include in the gift bags.

This is the sixth year that Impact Ministry has brought holiday joy to the inmates and staff of the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office.