More than 100 people gathered at Leadbetter Beach recently for The Starfish Connection, an event to support community members in need of crisis funding.
While conceived of as a polar plunge into the ocean, The Starfish Connection pivoted the plunge event to a land based-dance party due to the recent sewage spill at Goleta Beach.
The Starfish Connection provides no-strings-attached support for basic needs by paying for things such as transportation, food, clothing, rent, past due utilities bills, and car payments.
The nonprofit provides crisis funding to individuals and families with emergent financial needs that cannot be met by other organizations or government funding.
Founded by Virginia Benson Wigle, The Starfish Connection identifies people in need by partnering with other nonprofits that serve people in the community.
Participants created a dance column and danced down the line while being showered with bubbles, squirted with water, cheered for, and celebrated for their support of the nonprofit’s work.
The event raised awareness about the The Starfish Connection, as well as funds for helping alleviate some of the stress caused by falling behind on financial obligations during times of extreme distress.