Celebrate Community spotlights local charities

The Santa Rosa Press Gazette is taking part in the GateHouse Media initiative, Celebrate Community for a 5 month look at citizens helping others through local charities. We will highlight hard work and play, fund raising and supporting those who need help the most. We’re looking at charities who don’t dominate the spotlight but work quietly while making a difference.

“This isn’t anything new for the us,” said Jim Fletcher, publisher of Santa Rosa Press Gazette.  “Our paper’s goal is highlighting the news and small town life. It’s what we do best,” he said.

 Over the last year, we’ve taken a closer look at many charities, such as Bridges out of Poverty, a 501c3 that helps those in need build resources with the goal to move out of poverty and into self-sufficiency and the Santa Rosa Kid’s House, who’s aim is to lesson the trauma and encourage prevention of child abuse for children and families. We want our readers to identify what services are available and know where their hard-earned dollar is going when it is donated.

With the Celebrate Community initiative, we will follow activities of our local charities even closer over the coming months, focusing on the joys of giving, working for the betterment of others and showcasing our community’s strengths and opportunities.

We, at the SRPG, believe we live in a neighborhood of caring people. Our local churches weekly provide food banks and clothing drives for people who are in need. We voluntarily give our physical strength by running in a 5K or cycling long distances to ensure a healthier future for the next generation. We build and repair homes with our bare hands for families who need a secure and sturdy place to lay their head.  We pull over to the side of the road when a funeral procession passes and we bake a casserole when someone feels down.

This is what happens in Santa Rosa County.

We care and we’re going to celebrate these actions. Celebrate with us.

This article originally appeared on Santa Rosa Press Gazette: Celebrate Community spotlights local charities