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Hello!
October at Santa Maria is full of fall fun, smiling faces, and the kind of joy that comes from coming together as a community. We’re counting down to our sold-out Passport to Success: UNITY fundraiser after wrapping up a colorful Fall Festival for our families, where little ones enjoyed games, crafts, and plenty of treats.
The fun’s not over yet! Our Toy Team 9 Toy Drive is kicking off soon to help brighten the holidays for local children, and we’re already looking forward to the return of Cookies with Santa, one of our favorite family traditions.
At the same time, we’re also shining a light on something more serious: the barriers many families face in accessing mental health care. As we help families in Price Hill move toward complete well-being, emotional wellness is just as essential as housing, education, and employment.
Whether you’re attending, donating, or cheering us on from afar, you’re part of what makes this season so meaningful. Thanks for helping make October extra sweet!🎃❤️
| | Passport to Success: UNITY SOLD OUT! | | |
We are thrilled to share that Passport to Success: Unity, our annual fundraiser, has officially sold out! On Saturday, October 25, friends and supporters will gather at the Western Hills Country Club for a midday brunch to celebrate connection, community, and the families of Price Hill.
While tickets are no longer available, there are still ways to be part of this special celebration. You can support by becoming a sponsor or by making a donation, helping ensure that families in Price Hill continue to have the tools and resources they need to thrive.
We are deeply grateful for the overwhelming support that made this event a sellout. Every ticket purchased, every sponsorship, and every gift goes directly toward helping families in our community achieve their educational, financial, and health goals. Together, we are building a stronger, more united Price Hill.
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Autumn Festivities at
Santa Maria
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This season, Santa Maria Community Services was delighted to host a Fall Festival at Delhi Park for families in our programs. The day was filled with laughter, smiles, and the kind of simple joys that bring people together.
Families enjoyed fall-themed activities, games, crafts, and plenty of seasonal treats. Children got to play, explore, and celebrate, while parents connected with one another and with Santa Maria staff in a relaxed, welcoming space. For many of our program participants, events like this provide a rare opportunity to pause from daily challenges and enjoy time as a family surrounded by support.
We are so grateful to our staff, volunteers, and community partners who made this gathering possible. By working together, we created a safe and fun event where families could feel celebrated and cared for. Moments like these remind us of the importance of community connection and the joy of simply being together.
Special thanks to our team member, Kelsie Wilkens, for taking these awesome photos!
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October Awareness:
Mental Health
in Our Community
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In communities like Price Hill, mental health needs are often high, but access to care is painfully low. Economic hardship, housing instability, and exposure to trauma all contribute to increased rates of anxiety, depression, and emotional distress. Yet when families reach a point where they’re ready to ask for help, the systems meant to support them frequently fall short.
Across the country, nearly 30% of adults who reported needing mental health care said their insurance didn’t cover it or didn’t cover enough to make treatment affordable. Even those with coverage often face long waitlists and a shortage of available providers. The Association of American Medical Colleges reports that more than 150 million people in the U.S. live in areas with too few mental health professionals to meet the need.
In Ohio, nearly one in four adults reports needing treatment but not receiving it. Nineteen percent say they’re unable to access counseling or therapy at all. For working parents, transportation and childcare can be additional hurdles. For others, stigma or past experiences of discrimination may discourage them from seeking help.
These are not just statistics. They reflect the daily experiences of many families in Price Hill. That’s why we work toward empowering families to improve health, stability, and well-being, not just through housing or education, but by recognizing that mental health is the foundation for all of it.
To build a thriving, self-sustaining community, we must continue to speak honestly about mental health, confront the barriers that prevent access, and advocate for care that meets people where they are.
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Though it's hard to believe, the holiday season is just around the corner, and we’re excited to share two annual events that bring joy to families in Price Hill!
First up is the Toy Team 9 Toy Drive. Thanks to the generosity of WCPO's Toy Team 9 and our donors, children in our community will receive brand-new toys this season. For families working hard to make ends meet, this brings relief and a reminder that their community cares.
We’ll also host our beloved Cookies with Santa event, where our families can enjoy treats, festive activities, and time with Santa to share their holiday wishes.
Stay tuned next month to find out how you can get involved in these special holiday events!
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| | Thank you to our 2025 Passport to Success Sponsors: | | Have a piece of Price Hill Community news to contribute to Santa Maria's Monthly E-News? Let us know here! | | About Santa Maria: Santa Maria Community Services provides essential support to families, offering programs in early childhood development, education advancement, employment assistance, financial stability, youth development, and health and wellness, as well as other supportive services. We empower families to achieve their goals and break the cycles of generational poverty through tailored coaching, resources, and advocacy. Our mission is to be a catalyst and advocate for Greater Price Hill families to attain their educational, financial, and health goals. Our vision is for Greater Price Hill to be a vibrant, thriving, and self-sustaining community. | | | | |
