Even in temperate San Francisco, where traditional seasons tend to lose their distinction, there is no denying that the winter holidays are rapidly approaching. If Halloween decorations and costume parties weren’t enough of a clue, certainly the jarring early evening darkness brought on by the end of Daylight Savings Time sends the message loud and clear: the holidays are upon us.
At Maitri, we tend to celebrate all holidays with flair, simply because doing so helps to mark the passage of time in a fun way that everyone seems to enjoy. But the fall/winter holidays are particularly special in that they help bring residents, volunteers and staff together for shared activities. This starts with our traditional Halloween party, as residents choose their favorite disguise from boxes of donated costumes and accessories, to the fabulous family-style Thanksgiving dinner to the traditional tree lighting/trimming accompanied by festive Christmas/Hanukkah/seasonal music from visiting members of the Gay Men’s Chorus.
Some of our residents have told us that what they enjoy most about the holidays here is the sense of togetherness and positive spirit, celebrating seasonal traditions at Maitri just like they have done at home for their entire lives.
In this spirit, we invite you, our cherished supporter, to join us for our December 14th Holiday Open House to experience for yourself the joy of the season in classic Maitri style. Of course, we also hope that you will remember Maitri in your year-end charitable giving. As always, thank you so much for your generous support of Maitri’s programs benefiting our residents who struggle every day with advanced AIDS and have nowhere else to turn.
Special thanks to the generosity of A. Silvestri Co. we were given two new Zen-like planters for use in our entryway. These large concrete planters are four feet in diameter and serve to fill both sides of the large entryway to our residences. If you are planning on any landscaping or home gardening projects, please visit the A. Silvestri Co. showroom in San Francisco and be sure to thank them for their generosity toward Maitri.