Reality television shows in America continue dominating the airways.
Viewers seem to love taking an intimate look inside the lives of others; going behind closed doors into real-life homes and workplaces.
Americans reportedly spend an average of four to five hours a day watching reality television, viewing people in endless situations that include appearing in talent shows, receiving home makeovers, and even sharing personal family issues.
It seems the entire world has been bitten by the reality television bug.
For example, Norway’s viewers like to watch Slow TV, translated from Sajte-TV, a Norwegian term, referring to a genre of natural, slow-moving, live marathon television coverage featuring long episodes of ordinary events as they are presented, from beginning to end.
A recent Washington Post article described one Slow TV show that featured a five-day boat ride shown in its entirety; another show featured someone knitting for 12-hours. It is estimated that half the Norwegian population tuned in to watch the boat show.
As people in our county are home watching their favorite reality shows on television, I can’t wondering if they know the magnitude of real-life dramas occurring outside their doors in the lives of family, friends, neighbors and coworkers — right here in Santa Rosa.
On one hand, Santa Rosa is an amazing and geographically diverse county that features forests, beaches, lakes, rivers, streams, national parks, military bases, rural countryside, farmland, suburban bedroom communities, and historical towns.
Yes, this is certainly a unique and beautiful place to live.
On the other hand, our United Way of Santa Rosa County office provides assistance and information to many people dealing with their own brand of real-life dramas, struggles, and challenges.
At times, it does feel like we are participating in a ‘reality show.’
Individuals, families, single parents, couples, grandparents caring for grandchildren, veterans, handicapped, working folks, retirees, military personnel and students of all ages walk through our front door or call our confidential First Call for Help crisis intervention hotline, seeking assistance.
Sadly, the Santa Rosa ‘reality show,’ as seen from our vantage, contains real-life, heart-breaking cliffhangers.
For example, if three families come in to our UWSRC office seeking shelter on the same day, if we are lucky, some days there are temporary funding resources available to assist one family for a few nights.
As we say goodbye to the families we are not able to help, their bewildered and desperate words are left ringing in our ears and tugging at our hearts, “We have nowhere to go . . . we’ve never been homeless before; I’ve never asked for help . . . we’re scared . . . if it was just me I wouldn’t mind, but I don’t want my children to be homeless or taken away . . .”
We do our best to instruct the families we are not able to help about how to add their names to shelter and housing waiting lists.
We also offer information on additional resources they may need, like food or medical assistance.
Then we offer a few toiletries and, sometimes, small toys for the children, hoping to distract and calm them for a moment while their parents try to cope with the situation of being homeless.
Aside from homelessness, many in our county face challenges that include obtaining food, medical, dental, medication, utility, transportation, home repairs, and financial assistance.
People also need counseling, disaster relief, legal services, school supplies, employment, childcare, and/or options for escaping a life of domestic violence.
Now for the good news! Santa Rosa’s generosity helps support many happy endings for our county’s ‘reality show.’
We are extremely hopeful and grateful that our work continues to be supported and funded by the generous people of Santa Rosa.
To accomplish more in 2017 for Santa Rosa, at a future date, we will announce an increased thermometer goal for the 2016 United Way workplace campaign.
Payroll deductions and other contributions help; operate our First Call for Help hotline, offer community services to clients, and administer funding to support 14 crucial non-profit health- , education- , and income-related agencies that serve Santa Rosa.
Call Debra Baez at 623-4507 to arrange a workplace campaign, donate or volunteer.
This article originally appeared on Santa Rosa Press Gazette: BAEZ: Helping Santa Rosa get through some tough realities