Unity Shoppe to Reopen Next Week
Source: Unity Shoppe
Unity Shoppe, Inc. will reopen its doors to the Santa Barbara community on Tuesday, November 12, 2019 as planned, and greet thousands of local residents in need of food, clothing, toys and critical services at no cost and in time for the holiday season.
All fifteen full-time management and staff, temporarily laid off on September 16th 2019, will be working with a battalion of volunteers to carry out eight different support programs in its service locations: 1401 Chapala Street (Grocery Store and Clothing Center) and 1207-09 State Street (Thrift Store, Senior Resource Center, Job Prep Program and Disaster Recovery Services).
“Having to temporarily close our doors and dismiss our employees for the first time in over 103 years of operation, was devastating for everyone,” says Pat Hitchcock, Unity Shoppe Programs Director. “The experience taught us firsthand what an unanticipated economic downturn or personal crisis can mean for many of our clients and their families,” she added.
The financial support of long-standing donors large and small, many of whom insisted on anonymity when making their matching donations, and the community at large, resulted in Unity raising enough funds for the reopening.
“All of us at Unity feel tremendous gratitude for our friends and supporters who believe in our mission and the role we serve to so many in our Community,” says Tom Reed, Unity’s Executive Director. “Our plan is to build on this momentum throughout our fall-winter fundraising efforts and to cap it off with our 33rd annual KEYT- televised Telethon: A Time to Rejoice, Reflect and Renew hosted by longtime volunteer and friend, Kenny Loggins on December 14th.”
A faithful donor family has extended an additional Matching Challenge Grant through Telethon Day, December 14th, of $100,000. The community has been so gracious to help Unity during this critical time, and we are nearing our goal. The Matching Grant could help immensely.
Related Articles
October 1, 2019: Unity Shoppe Temporarily Closes Free Store Due to Financial Woes
14 Comments
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Nov 06, 2019 08:20 AMI think Unity focuses on working families and elderly. I doubt they serve the encampment (unworking) people. Anyone know? I think Unity provides clothing for job interviews, too.
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Nov 07, 2019 07:56 AMYes they help families, elderly, handicapped, poor folks...I'm poor by the way and considered a bum by many but that's ok these idiots have never walked in my shoes had they, they would have given up long,long ago.
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Nov 06, 2019 07:48 AMWhat a harsh group this is! Unity fills a need - you may not need/want/like but it fills a need in the community and has for years. The Hutton Foundation has helped them with some real estate purchases (1219 State)- I don't know about the house you mentioned and can't find that info.
Don't like their mission - don't donate to them. Easy peasy.
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Nov 08, 2019 09:04 AM"Cons" Are about it..
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Nov 06, 2019 08:41 AMBunch of neocons that never met a social program or charity that they liked. Ignore their drivel. Unlikely that any of them are actually volunteering in a program that helps society in any way.
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Nov 06, 2019 07:37 AMUnity Shoppe seems like an outdated form of charity. You can literally use EBT almost everywhere - including the farmers market - and buying "necessities" like clothing has never been cheaper. It is cheaper now to buy new clothing at many of the chains on State St. than it is to shop at any of our overpriced "thrift" stores whose alleged mission is to help the community. Ok, so Unity gives stuff out completely for free, I get it - that's different than having to pay a few dollars for some new threads. But where are mechanisms to prevent abuse? It just seems sketchy to me. How about you have to "enroll" and show true need? Seems like just any opportunist could walk in and make out like a bandit. I'd rather give my money to charities where I know exactly who it's going to.
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Nov 05, 2019 06:13 PMI'd rather donate to local nonprofits that don't buy downtown corner real estate in a market bubble then lay off all of their employees. That's a clear indication there is something wrong with Unity's leadership. Unity Shoppe was a great cause but they have been mismanaged to the point of ruin.
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Nov 06, 2019 07:38 AMCan you please provide more information on this? Is it the grey complex of buildings that was under renovation for years?
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Nov 05, 2019 09:33 PMI think Chillingrillin is referring to the mansion they bought and renovated on the corner of East Valerio and Santa Barbara Streets. Not even sure what they use it for...but they sure put $3 or $4 Million into it....
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Nov 05, 2019 08:20 PMI totally agree that Unity does not need "million-dollar" storefront. Why not off on a side street or even get a donated space, but this?!
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Nov 05, 2019 07:31 PMHow many others mis judged that?
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Nov 05, 2019 12:02 PMSeems like a good cause, I plan to chip in.
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Nov 05, 2019 11:39 AMCarpinteria Garden Park, 4855 Fifth Street . Looks like they’ll show you how to protect and provide for butterflies! You can attend from Goleta or Santa Barbara, all are welcomed! Their Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/category/Community-Garden/Carpinteria-Garden-Park-1653336141364754/
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Nov 05, 2019 11:25 AMGrow food for Unity Shoppe, learn from the bottom up: "Very exciting soil biology class at the Carpinteria Community garden on Saturday November 9th from 2 to 3:30 p.m. Join Bill Palmisano, organic farmer and soil biology and compost expert for an in-depth exploration of how to build and maintain healthy, regenerative soil in your garden. Bill ran an organic farm on the campus of Carp High, and is a wealth of information on soil biology and composting--for those of you who have struggled to maintain a healthy year-round garden, building rich garden soil is the answer, and this class is for you! Garden soil is alive and teeming with billions of microorganisms essential to growing healthy fruits and vegetables; learn the basics of developing this abundance, including how to use compost and compost tea. Developing healthy soil makes organic gardening easy, since soil biota prevents many common diseases and deters insect pests. $10 suggested donation, or FREE if you can't afford the $10. Grow food for Unity and Food Bank and help solve food scarcity. "