Thumbs up: In honor of those who are giving back

There’s not enough space here to recognize all of those who deserve credit for the service they’re providing this holiday. This includes those who are preparing and delivering meals, visiting shut-ins and buying or wrapping gifts for the Volunteer Center’s Secret Santa program - and many other worthy gift programs. But today we call special attention to those who showed up at the Palms Inn in Santa Rosa on Sunday to help with offering everything from handing out food and clothing to giving haircuts.

It’s also a reminder of what a gift Palms Inn has been to the community as a whole. Earlier this year, the motel was transformed into housing for the chronically homeless. The complex is now home to 118 people, almost half of whom are veterans.

“You are just one paycheck away from being homeless,” one resident, Judy Vargas, told Staff Writer Bill Swindell. To many, just getting a haircut “is an important thing in life that a lot of people take for granted.”

Catholic Charities and the Veterans Administration both provide support services at Palms Inn. Thumbs up to them as well.