The Legacies of Hope dinner was an evening of storytelling and community, gathering many of People Helping People’s most dedicated supporters to the Inn at Mattei’s Tavern in Los Olivos.
Highlighting the evening recently was this year’s Luminary Awards for those who have supported the mission of People Helping People (PHP).
This year’s recipients are the Becky Barieau and Billy Wathen Family, Feed the Valley with Chef Daisy and Greg Ryan, and the Brady Family.
Local Chumash artist Beau Armenta created the one-of-a kind art pieces that were presented to the honorees. The copper sculptures were individualized to reflect the recipient’s contribution: a ceremonial knife for Barieau’s strong leadership; soup ladles for the founders of Feed the Valley; and a bowl to honor the generous nature of the Brady Family.
Barieau, PHP Board president, who’s been engaged with People Helping People for 16 years, was honored for her leadership and philanthropy.
“This is a great place where we live. But this great place needs care – the whole community needs care,” said Barieau.
She told the 130 attendees that this is a challenging time for PHP because of cuts in government funding, making personal gifts more important than ever to help vulnerable residents.
Daisy and Greg Ryan, proprietors of Bell’s Restaurant in Los Alamos, founded Feed the Valley during the pandemic, mobilizing other chefs, restaurants and neighbors to create delicious meals for those in need.
Chef Daisy Ryan said the effort began for her with the question “What am I doing for the greater good?”
Now five years later, the organization has served almost 50,000 meals to food-insecure people in the Santa Ynez Valley with the help of others in the food industry and People Helping People.
Greg Ryan said the effort has, “transcended everything we were hoping for.”
Mike Brady gives to PHP in simple ways like packing food for distribution, building an outdoor food pantry, and by giving generously in transformative ways. In his remarks, he referred to the three basic things we all need – food, shelter and dignity.
“Isn’t that what People Helping People is? Isn’t it that small boost that allows people to go from just wanting food and just needing to have a place to live, to having a sense of self-worth and dignity? If we can do that for people, we enrich their lives and they enrich ours,” Brady said.
This has been an eventful year for PHP as they paid off the mortgage on their building; dealt with a structural problem from water intrusion; helped move clients into new affordable housing at Polo Village; and changed the way they provide services to low-income people by becoming the Valley’s first MediCal provider, PHP said.