Look for the Helpers: Diddy and Direct Relief, teacher makes cards, party planners make birthdays special
As our area is faced with ongoing changes due to a growing pandemic, we are bringing stories of people doing good in the community during a time of uncertainty.
Look for the helpers.
Mister Rogers
Diddy Helps Direct Relief
Local medical aid organization Direct Relief is on the frontlines during COVID-19 and this weekend the organization got a big boost of star power.
Music mogul Diddy held the "Team Love" Dance-A-Thon event live on Instagram on Sunday.
He invited a bunch of his famous friends to raise awareness and money for the organization based in Santa Barbara. Those friends included Justin Bieber, LeBron James, and some of the Kardashian's.
Diddy said he wants to provide support to health care workers in under served communities and trusts Direct Relief to deliver personal protective equipment to those who need it most.
At last check, Diddy raised more than $4.5 million for Direct Relief with big donations coming in from Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey and Oprah Winfrey.
Party in a Box
Party and event planners found a creative way to help kids celebrate their birthdays while social distancing in Ventura County.
The owners of Studio 11 Eleven Events and Design said parents had to cancel their children's parties.
So they came up with the concept "Party in a Box," and gave away 8 boxes filled with themed decorations and cakes to local families.
The boxes were dropped off on doorsteps.
The company owners said they understand as parents that little ones look forward to their birthday parties and they were happy to see all the smiles on the kid's faces.
You've Got Mail
An Orcutt teacher is going the extra mile to reach out to her students while school is closed.
Julie Saleen teaches fifth grade at Patterson Road Elementary School.
Classes were cancelled abruptly because of the coronavirus and Saleen wasn't able to say a proper goodbye to her students.
So she hand-painted cards for each one and mailed them to their homes.
For many of her students, this might be the first piece of mail they've ever received.
Saleen said she just wanted her students to know how special they are in her life.
