Dateline–Petaluma CA March 12, 2012
The Petaluma Regional Library respectfully requests visitors or patrons NOT to engage in certain activities…
Petaluma Library © Frank Simpson
On the other hand…
"OK to sleep on library grounds...just not under the drop box" © Frank Simpson
Poor and out of work in Petaluma…
McDowell & Washington Square February 24, 2012 © Frank Simpson
What is increasingly visible on the streets of Petaluma is, of course, part of the larger “picture” of the economy in the United States.
The BBC World Service documentary, America’s Poor, “…explores America’s underworld of poverty where people live in storm drains and tented camps and where children go hungry.” BBC World Service
Related Link: Photos…Homeless in Petaluma (Updated!)
I fully intended that last year’s post on this subject (Click Here) would be my last.
However, while riding through Lucchesi this Christmas Eve morning, I noted someone sleeping next to the Community Center…
This scene persuaded me to break my vow and to check out the now (in)famous Homeless Christmas Carol location on Lynch Creek Trail. As I approached the bridge, I noticed that the tree was once again decorated, although not as gaily as in past years. In fact, it was a fairly sad looking tree…
One ornament was particularly poignant…
In A Petaluma Christmas Carol…2009 (December 6, 2009) I reported as follows:
In 2007, the day after Christmas, I posted “A Petaluma Christmas Carol” on Petaluma 360. That article was based on a homeless camp that included Christmas decorations and a Christmas Tree.
I visited the location in December 2008 and there was no camp. Therefore, I reposted the article in its original form.
As part of the review process for this year, I returned to the site on December 3. A homeless camp similar to the one in 2007 had once again been established. This time it included a household pet with feeding dishes…
At the time I published the 2009 Christmas Carol, there was no Christmas Tree. However….
I happened to be passing by the location early on December 19, 2009 and noticed that the camp was still in place. This time, however, I also noted that the Christmas tree has once again been established. While not as elaborate as the 2007 tree, it is still a testament to our times and evidence that people will honor the season in even the most difficult of circumstances…
FOREWORD
In 2007, the day after Christmas, I posted “A Petaluma Christmas Carol” on Petaluma 360. That article was based on a homeless camp that included Christmas decorations and a Christmas Tree.
I visited the location in December 2008 and there was no camp. Therefore, I reposted the article in its original form.
As part of the review process for this year, I returned to the site on December 3. A homeless camp similar to the one in 2007 had once again been established. This time it included a household pet with feeding dishes…
Not trusting myself to not go off the rails if I were to comment on this scene, I will simply allow it to speak for itself and to serve as preamble to…
******
A Petaluma Christmas Carol 2007-2009
In Sleepless & Homeless In Petaluma (Also see Alternative Link) I suggested that none of us were immune from the possibility of ending up without a home…
…seeking assistance or shelter from the cold…
…or living outside under a Petaluma bridge…
I did not plan to revisit this subject, but events often override intentions…
December 23, 2007
As I was traveling over the bridge that was the subject of Sleepless & Homeless, I noticed that the scene had been decorated for Christmas–a Christmas Tree, Christmas Wreaths, and objects at the base of the tree. One of the objects was a copy of Better Homes & Gardens–intentional or not, the irony was glaring.
In spite of the circumstance of their situation, the creators of this Outdoor Christmas managed to demonstrate their Christmas Spirit.
I thought of Dickens…and how little has changed since he wrote the now iconic A Christmas Carol in 1843.
___________________
‘Every idiot who goes about with Merry Christmas on his lips, should be boiled with his own pudding, and buried with a stake of holly through his heart. He should!’…
‘At this festive season of the year, Mr. Scrooge,’ said the gentleman, taking up a pen, ‘it is more than usually desirable that we should make some slight provision for the Poor and Destitute, who suffer greatly at the present time.’
‘Many thousands are in want of common necessaries; hundreds of thousands are in want of common comforts, sir.’
‘At this time of the rolling year,’ the spectre said ‘I suffer most. Why did I walk through crowds of fellow-beings with my eyes down…’
‘If these shadows remain unaltered by the Future…’
‘A Merry Christmas to us all, my dears. God bless us.’
‘God bless us every one.’ said Tiny Tim, the last of all.’
******
It has almost become a seasonal ritual or cliche to encourage people to make year-end charitable donations.
Petaluma’s COTS is a remarkable organization dedicated to helping homeless individuals and families. For additional background, see Petaluma’s Homeless Neighbors
A COTS donation in any amount will be appreciated and will be put to good use.
1. You can donate online at http://www.cots-homeless.org/
or
2. You can send a check to
COTS
P.O. Box 2744
Petaluma, CA 94953
Thanksgiving was a busy day in household kitchens around Petaluma. Given the overwhelming public response to the plea for Turkey donations (See Petaluma Fills The COTS Turkey Gap!), I decided to slip out early to visit the staff and volunteers at the Petaluma Kitchen to see how they were doing.
At 8:30 a.m. they were more than busy–preparing to serve 180 complete turkey dinners with all the trimmings, plus pie. COTS Food Service Coordinator, Don Louvier advised that the Mary Isaak Center was also preparing to serve 100 turkey dinners.
I managed to squeeze in and get a few photos without disturbing (I hope) their efforts…
SOME (BUT BY NO MEANS ALL) OF THE STAFF & VOLUNTEERS
This is the time of the year when I go into “Holiday Mode” and more or less tune everything out. The world, however, has its own schedule.
On November 18, I checked e-mail around 10:00 p.m. and found a message from Meloni Courtway (A Mouse in the Pantry) alerting recipients to the fact that Petaluma’s COTS (Committee on the Shelterless) was in dire need of turkey donations to fill their food boxes on Saturday, November 21.
Meloni’s e-mail moved like a tsunami through the Internet in Petaluma. Facebook pages lit up. Petalumans were preparing to take action.
On November 19, Frances Rivetti posted an article on her site– Trot over to the Petaluma Kitchen with a Turkey Donation Today
And trot they did!
But the best news came at 2:22 pm Saturday in an e-mail from Elizabeth Hale…
Whew! What an amazing day! We were able to supply turkeys for all 230 food boxes and send 35 turkeys to low income seniors at Vintage Chateau.
And I just heard from my manager, Judy Hess, that Sunrise Rotary has delivered another 50 turkeys with a stated goal of another 50!
We emptied our freezer this morning and it’s filling up again! This means not only will we have plenty of turkey to serve for our Thanksgiving meals at the Kitchen and the Mary Isaak Center, we will have enough for all the families who pick up their boxes during the week.
Many, many thanks to all who took their time, money, and energy to purchase and deliver turkeys to the Kitchen for those less fortunate. You are the heart of what makes Petaluma a special place to live.
Happy Thanksgiving,
Elizabeth elizabethh@cots-homeless.org
