Holiday Joy Across the UpValley This holiday season, our upvalley community came together in powerful and heartwarming ways - creating joy, strengthening connections, and supporting neighbors near and far. Our Gingerbread House events were a joyful highlight of the season. In Calistoga, 363 community members (179 adults and 184 children) joined us to decorate 120 gingerbread houses. Thanks to our partners at the Brannan Center, Calistoga Parks & Recreation, and the Calistoga Chamber of Commerce, families gathered to create memories that will last far beyond the holidays. In St. Helena, the celebration welcomed 890 attendees (430 adults and 410 children) who decorated 400 gingerbread houses. With pizza provided by the St. Helena Firefighters Association, warm cider, Santa visits, and free professional photos, the event felt like a true community celebration. We are deeply grateful to St. Helena Parks & Recreation, Dory Culver & Walter Nirenberg, Paula Key & John Murphy, and the St. Helena Firefighters Association for helping make the day so special. The spirit of connection extended across generations as youth in our programs created holiday cards for older adults, sharing messages of kindness and care. In both Calistoga and St. Helena, families also gathered for Posadas, enjoying traditional foods while learning about community resources and participating in our custom Prevention Lotería, which promotes mental health awareness, stigma reduction, and healthy coping skills. Through our Holiday Assistance Program, we were able to support hundreds of families during a time of increased need. This year, assistance reached 151 families in Calistoga, 121 families in St. Helena, Angwin, and Pope Valley, and an additional 50 families through our Adopt-a-Family program in partnership with Grace Episcopal Church. Families received toys for children, grocery gift cards, gifts for teens and seniors, and essential pantry items. None of this would be possible without the incredible generosity of our community partners, volunteers, and donors, including Federated Women of Upper Napa Valley, First Presbyterian Church of St. Helena, St. Vincent de Paul St. Helena Catholic Church, Grace Episcopal Church, Calistoga Community Chest, St. Helena Fire Department, CHP Napa, Upper Valley Disposal–Waste Connections, Indian Springs Calistoga, Pochini Family Farm, Salvation Army, Toys for Tots, The Model Bakery, Calistoga Roastery and many individual donors. |
| | Help Us Carry This Spirit Into the New Year As the year comes to a close, many in our community are looking toward the year ahead with a mix of hope and uncertainty. Your support ensures care and connection continue into 2026. While we can’t predict the future, we know an increasing number of our neighbors will struggle because food, healthcare, childcare, and housing programs have been cut back or are at risk. To meet these challenges, we must begin the new year with a strong, confident foundation — one that assures families that UpValley Family Centers will continue to be their trusted place for guidance, connection, and hope. A gift now will give us the reassurance and stability we need as we work to raise the remainder of our budget and continue being a safe place for families to turn. Flexible, unrestricted support allows us to respond in real time and to stand with our neighbors no matter what the months ahead may bring. If you haven’t yet, please consider making an end-of-year donation to help us start the new year strong and ready to serve. Together, we can continue to uplift, connect, and care for our community - every season of the year. |
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Make and End-of-Year Donation Give directly to UpValley Family Centers - Make a gift that provides immediate, flexible support where it’s needed most. Donate online or mail a check to UpValley Family Centers at 1440 Spring Street, St. Helena, CA 94574. Increase your impact! An anonymous donor has issued a Multi-Year Pledge Challenge to help build our long-term sustainability. The challenger will match new multi-year donors’ gifts up to $5,000 per donor, matching dollar-for-dollar the first year of their multi-year pledge of three years or more. To start a new pledge, please email Cambria Kirby, Development Director, at ckirby@upvalleyfamilycenters.org. |
| | Donate to UpValley Family Centers through Napa Valley CanDo's Give!Guide - Join a community of givers and double your donation: Redwood Credit Union will match the next $5,000 contributed to the UpValley Family Centers through the Give!Guide until December 31st! |
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| | New Board and Staff Members |
|  | Kyrsta Scully Board Member Kyrsta is the CFO and junior partner at Carbonneau Williams, bringing deep financial expertise along with decades of leadership experience. A longtime Calistoga resident, she and her husband graduated from Calistoga High School and raised their family here. |
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 | Tania Solis Senior Services Case Manager Tania supports a sustainable network of care for upvalley older adults by connecting them to resources and social services that support their wellbeing. She also supports educational programming that fosters social interaction, continued learning, and wellness. |
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 | Julian Garcia Castillo Youth Program Coordinator Julian leads CLARO youth mentoring groups for boys at Calistoga Junior-Senior High School, developing programs focused on mental health, conflict resolution, and social-emotional learning. He builds meaningful rapport that fosters trust and open communication with students. |
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| | Volunteers needed! Do you enjoy working with people, learning new things, and have a few hours a week to give? Become a VITA volunteer and make a real difference for local families this upcoming tax season! The Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) Program provides free income tax preparation services to qualifying individuals and households. No tax experience needed — we provide free training, materials, and ongoing support. Volunteers commit to at least one 4-5 hour shift per week from late January through mid-April during our free tax clinics: - Calistoga: Tuesdays & Wednesdays, 5–9 PM (Jan 27–Apr 15)
- St. Helena: Thursdays & Fridays, 5–9 PM (Jan 29–Apr 10)
- Both Locations: Saturdays, 9 AM–2 PM (Jan 31–Apr 11)
Help neighbors access the refunds and credits they deserve — and gain valuable skills along the way! Approximately 24 hours of training are required, including IRS certification, before working with clients. If you are interested in becoming a VITA Volunteer, please fill out the volunteer interest form on our website: upvalleyfamilycenters.org/volunteer. If you have questions, please email Cambria Kirby at ckirby@upvalleyfamilycenters.org. |
| | | Holiday Office Closure The UpValley Family Centers will be closed for the holidays from 12/24/25 - 1/1/26. We will resume normal business hours on Friday, January 2, 2026. In case of urgent requests for assistance, we will be monitoring our voicemail and taking appointments on an as-needed basis.Call (707) 965-5010 and please be sure to leave a message with your name and phone number so we can return your call. |
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