New Beginnings

Everyone Deserves a New Beginning…

New Beginnings Counseling Center held its annual fundraiser in a new way with an evening of theatre at the New Vic. It was a stage reading production with award winning professional actors including a wonderful nine-year-old girl, Hope Dekkers, and Stephanie Edwards, who co-hosted the Tournament of Roses Parade with Bob Eubanks for 35 years. The play Food and Shelter was written by Emmy award winner Jane Anderson and directed by Jenny Sullivan. Did you ever wonder what it would be like to go to Disneyland if you were homeless? That is the play’s theme.

Jane wrote it in 1992 thinking that the homeless situation would improve. It seems to have only gotten worse. As New Beginnings executive director Kristine Schwarz said, “This isn’t a depressing preachy lecture about what people need to be doing.” She believes people relate to others through shared history, belief, experience and understanding.

After the two-act play, fundraiser guests had a reception in the courtyard. This whole event was arranged by coordinator Judi Weisbart and development manager Michael Berton. Diane Pannkuk heads up the board of directors.

New Beginnings was established in 1968 to provide psychological counseling and supportive services to homeless, veterans, and low income families. In 2018 they served an amazing 1,733 people in Santa Barbara.

One of New Beginnings’ popular programs is the safe parking at night for folks living in their cars. What surprised me is that 40% of those who live in their cars have full-time employment and 95% are locals as opposed to someone just driving through town. It has been operating since 2004 cooperating with churches, governmental and non-profit agencies as well as businesses. They connect the chronically homeless to shelters and services that will get them off the streets and into safer environments. They also distribute more than 450 pounds of food each month and offer a rapid re-housing component that helps them transition into permanent housing and employment. New Beginnings offers job tutoring and resume preparation. Life changing assistance is offered.

Other services are a life skills parenting education program and more. Their motto: “Changing Lives One Person at a Time.” Contact them at 805.963.7777.