‘Peace of Mind: 10,000 Steps in the Right Direction’ Fundraising Walk Expands Events

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. (KEYT) - For the seventh year, Alma Rosa Winery is hosting a fundraising walk to raise money for the Mental Health Center in Santa Barbara.

The beloved event is expected to draw over 200 people Sunday, May 31st, at 9:00 a.m. and registrations are still being accepted.

The “Peace of Mind: 10,000 Steps in the Right Direction” fundraising walk will give all proceeds directly to support essential mental health programs and services for adults and their families, mental health education for youth, and safe, affordable housing for those living with mental illness. 

The center in Santa Barbara also provides fellowship time daily, a clothing room with donations, medical checks and food.

This year there will also be  a full wellness weekend  beginning on  Saturday, May 30, with One Shining Night, a fundraising celebration hosted at Alma Rosa Estate by Mental Wellness Center – celebrating nearly 80 years of the organization’s service to Santa Barbara County. 

Sunday morning, the 10,000-step – or approximately 4.5-mile walk – will begin at the entrance of Alma Rosa’s 628-acre estate property off Santa Rosa Rd. near Buellton. It goes into areas with views that are not normally open to the public. 

Alma Rosa Proprietors Bob and Barb Zorich support mental health community services, as well as fund research on the causes, treatment and potential cures for anxiety and depression. Over the last six years, the winery has raised over $1.2 million.   

The Zorichs will be matching individual donations dollar-for-dollar, up to $50,000 to each organization —Mental Wellness Center in Santa Barbara and One Mind. The Zorich’s support of the walk is a part of their ongoing efforts to support mental health research nationally and mental health care services in Santa Barbara. 

The Mental Wellness Center CEO Annmarie Cameron said, "it's quite a hike and it is not a stroll and it is beautiful, at the end you feel so good. " You have done something good for yourself and you have done something good for the Mental Wellness center."

Cameron and many in the community are wearing a green ribbon this month. "The reason we wear green  is green is the color of hope and the power of connection is really the essence of what mental health is all about. If you are connected to others you will have a far better chance at having better mental health."

The Mental Wellness center in the 600 block of Garden Street in downtown Santa Barbara, near Cota Street.

Programs include fellowship, computer rooms, meals, housing assistance and a clothing room with donations.

Sippy Moreno is in recovery and has benefited from the programs. He is helping to distribute the clothing with a system that allows three items a day. "It's great. I give back to my community ya know and it is a good place to come to.  I love doing this.   It's awesome."

He has support at the center and around town where he has many contacts over the years.

"It's a small town here so everyone knows everyone and they say 'hey Sippy what's up I hear you are doing really good' so I am a changed person and a changed man."

He has overcome alcohol addiction and "I snapped out of it. I  come here and  they picked me up and dusted me off  gimme some clothing,  something to eat,  resources, and I have housing and as long as I am sober and have the Lord backing me up.  I got this and it is a great feeling to be sober."

The clothing room is popular and they need donations to fill the need.

Around the county Santa Barbara is a leader nationwide by lighting up buildings and homes with the color green. .There are 200 nationwide and "of the 200 buildings, 150 of them are in Santa Barbara county," said Cameron. "Across the country  we have the most and it really says to me we have a heart for other people and for mental health."

 In Santa Barbara I'm Newschanel reporter John Palminteri

For more information go to: Alma Rosa Winery Peace of Mind Walk or the Mental Wellness Center of Santa Barbara.

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