Leading up to the holidays, we’re happy to share how some of our incredible staff here at Hope Solutions are planning on celebrating this year!
Sandibel, Volunteer and Donations Coordinator:
“One of my favorite traditions is our ornaments. In 2015, my husband and I got our first ornament, it said “Our First Christmas Together.” Since then, each year we have added an ornament to our tree that symbolizes something special from that year. From Best Day Ever ornament to baby’s first Christmas, each year we have added a special ornament.
For the last few years, our kids have picked out an ornament during the holidays as well. When you look at our Christmas tree from far away, it looks like a normal tree, but as you get closer, you notice all the random ornaments; Buzz and Woody, Groot, Hello Kitty, Wall-E, and Mac and Cheese – and that’s my favorite part, because it’s us. For the past 10 years we have collected mismatching ornaments, and I can’t wait to see what we will collect in the next 10 years.”
Gessika, Director of Properties and Support Services:
“I go to Twin Peaks and marvel at the nutcracker collection and bask in community connections. Twin Peaks Tavern, known as the “Gateway to the Castro,” has long stood as a symbol of courage and visibility in queer and trans history. A queer woman couple bought the bar in 1971 and turned it into a gay bar. Twin Peaks became more than just a bar; it was a meeting place for activists, a refuge for people who had nowhere else to go, and a light in a city that was learning to see its queer and trans community as its backbone.
For queer and trans people who’ve been ousted by family of origin or just want to spend the holiday surrounded by community and chosen family, Twin Peaks brings warmth and belonging. What started as a radical act of visibility has become a holiday tradition: part celebration, part remembrance, part homecoming.”
Ronald, Senior Housing Specialist:
“In our family, the holidays are filled with laughter, storytelling, and heartfelt moments that remind us of the joy of being together. There’s never a dull moment! The room is alive with laughter as we share old memories, tell stories, and create new ones. More than anything, we treasure the company of loved ones – both family and friends who join us in the celebration. At the heart of it all, we pause to give thanks to God for His blessings, recognizing that gratitude is the true spirit of the holidays.”
Jessica, Youth Enrichment Coordinator:
“Our Holiday tradition is gathering at my grandma’s house to make tamales. We will set up an assembly line where everyone have a job: make the masa, clean the corn husks, cook the filling, make the salsa, and assemble the tamales of course.
Each year everyone’s job changes depending on your age and experience, and at the end we all sit together around the table to eat our favorite tamalitos!”