Giving and Sharing Locally This Holiday Season

With Thankgiving leftovers comfortably packed away in our freezers — or bellies — thoughts naturally turn this time of year to the next big holidays coming our way: Hanukkah and Christmas.

It's the time of year we start making lists: who to give to, what to give, and when we'll get it all done.

By now, local has gone mainstream, and more people than ever before are conscious about how to spend their dollars to provide the greatest impact around us — whether it be donating food or items to families who could use a helping hand, supporting our local farmers, businesses, craftspeople and artists, or donating our time or money to a nonprofit dedicated to what we believe in.

Here on the Half Moon Bay Coastside from Montara to Pescadero, residents don't have to leave the area to get what they need for a happy holiday season.

Consider the following suggestions as just the beginning of the options available to you as you decide how to spend your time, money and resources over the next month:

*Who to give to

• Cabrillo Education Foundation: With a , public school students in the Half Moon Bay area are in need more than ever for a quality education. The Foundation's endowment is a self-sustaining resource for local schools to benefit from. Endowment funds are allocated as interest from the principal becomes available. The principal is maintained throughout the life of the endowment.

• Coastside Hope: Provider of safety net services and emergency food, clothing, shelter since 1976. Every year, the nonprofit organization launches its Adopt a Family program, where hundreds of volunteers and residents donate their time and money to give a boost to 350 local families and seniors in need. Gifts for families are accepted at its warehouse at 214 Harvard Ave in Princeton.

• Puente: The South Coast organization has compiled wish lists for living in the rural and isolated areas of La Honda, Loma Mar, Pescadero and San Gregorio. View the wish list for children's stocking stuffers here or items of need for farm and nursery workers here. The organization has also suggested KMart gift cards for families in $25 or $50 denominations be donated as well.

*What to give

• : Support by gifting a kayak trip, surfing lessons, horseback riding lessons, a yoga class, pilates class, dance classes, or a membership to a local gym — even ice skating at Harbor Village in Princeton. Not so athletically inclined? Relax on the water in Half Moon Bay during a harbor tour on a 1925 restored fishing vessel, season tickets to the or a subscription to a from a local farm will give back to the recipient and the community all year round.
• Gift certificates: Try local restaurants, bookstores, cafes and hotels. One way to leverage the power of gift giving both locally and internationally is to buy from Not For Sale, an international organization headquartered in Princeton that is fighting to end slavery and human trafficking. The organization sells items both online and offline at their store at Harbor Village.
• Local products: Check out local wares at special holiday events below and specialty food shops and producers including Harley Farms, , Half Moon Bay Salt Water Taffy Co., Arcangeli Grocery Co. and the Don't forget to support our local fishermen at Pillar Point Harbor, where you can .
• Go local online: Feeling too tired to leave the house? Try Etsy, where you can search by zip code to explore local artists' creations. 243 items are available for sale right now from Half Moon Bay alone.
• Recycled wrapping: Make pretty packages using recycled materials — get some inspiration .

*When and where to get it done

Take advantage of these upcoming holiday events designed to support our local economy and create community:

Friday, Dec. 2

, Main St., Half Moon Bay, 6 p.m. - 9 p.m. Enjoy the special atmosphere of a winter village with a , holiday carolers, chestnuts roasting on an open fire, music, photos with Santa, and shops which will stay open until 9 p.m. The event begins at 6 p.m. with the Christmas tree lighting at at Kelly and Main St.

Saturday, Dec. 3

1st Annual Holiday Gift Fair, Harbor Village, 12 p.m. -  8 p.m. Enjoy craft vendors, live music, food and drink, and a visit from Santa. The event is organized by , a youth and community arts organization. 270 Capistrano Rd, Princeton.

31st Annual Holiday Bazaar at , 9 a.m. - 2 p.m. Buy handmade items from local artists. Kids have a shopping hour from 9 a.m. - 10 a.m. with 4th and 5th grade elves pitching in as assistants. Food and drink will also abound, along with a children's gingerbread house craft area, games, face painting, and live entertainment. Santa will also be there as well. The event is also a fundraiser for the school. 1100 LeConte & Kanoff, Montara.

Saturday, Dec. 10 and Sunday, Dec. 11

Hayloft Holiday at Harley Farms, 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Visit the goats and climb the stairs to the upper level of the barn and take in a wide variety of gifts for sale from local artists, including hand carved and painted folk art ornaments, pottery, photography, embroidery, sea glass jewelry, homemade peppermint bark, jams, chutneys and more. Sample a variety of their cheese and peruse their bath products – all for sale. 205 North Street, Pescadero.

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