HumanLight / Winter Solstice Party

HumanLight / Winter Solstice Party

The HumanLight / Winter Solstice party is coming-up! At a time of year when there are many religious holidays, Humanlight (http://humanlight.org/) provides an opportunity for freethinkers to have their own time to be festive and celebrate reason, common values, and friendship. The Humanist Association of the Greater Sacramento Area (HAGSA) (http://hagsa.org) and Atheists and Other Freethinkers (AOF) (http://aofonline.org) have joined together to hold this year's HumanLight / Winter Solstice Party. The party will be held on Sunday, December 22nd from 11:30am to 3:30pm, in Curtis Hall at the Sierra 2 Center, located at 2791 24th Street (24thStreet and 4th Avenue), Sacramento.

The party will include a potluck, entertainment, fund raising raffle, and people and pet food charity drive. There is no charge to attend this event. Even parking is free! Just bring something to share for the potluck, your appetite, and a smile. Be prepared for some secular fun and entertainment!

Got kids? Please let us know how many kids you are bringing and their ages so that we can have some special activities for them.

Potluck: This event is a potluck, so whip-up (or buy) your favorite dish to share. Please bring your food already prepared and ready to serve. The kitchen at the hall has a microwave oven for warming-up food, but no oven or stove. A sink and refrigerator are also available. Plates, bowls, utensils, napkins, and cups will all be provided. Please bring some beverages to share too. We will start eating at approximately noon.

Entertainment: Be prepared to be entertained! The Mockingbirds will be performing some new secular songs. Professional dancers, Roger Zabkie and Pam Rivera, will show-off some smooth dance moves. New this year, we will do a sign-along of some popular seasonal tunes. We will also be playing a secular trivia game in teams. We've been having fun collecting trivia questions all year long to use for this event! Trivia questions will cover science, current events, popular entertainment, and significant moments in the secular world. The winning team will receive a special prize.

Raffle: The raffle helps pay for the rental of the hall so that we can make attending the event free. Raffle prizes so far include two tickets to the 2014 Oregon Shakespeare Festival (valued at $100), a gift card to Hoppy Brewing Company restaurant, freethought books, and other fun prizes. If you have something that you'd like to donate to the raffle, please contact the event organizers.

People and Pet Food Charity Drive: The charity food drives have been so successful, that we are doing it again! We will be collecting food and basic supply items for two local charities, the River City Food Bank (http://www.rivercityfoodbank.org/) and the Sacramento Pet Food Bank (called "Titanic's Pantry") (http://www.sacpetfoodbank.org/). So either dig through your pantry or consider purchasing something at the store to donate. We will also have donation jars available for cash/check donations for both charities. This is a wonderful opportunity for the freethought community to come together and show their compassion and kindness for others in need in our local community. Donations for human and pet food and supplies are encouraged, but not required.

There are many local food banks, and we found one that is not associated with a church or any religious group-- The River City Food Bank. In addition to providing food to those in need, they also provide other essential supplies. Please bring donations of canned, boxed, and bagged foods (non-perishable); baby food and formula; baby diapers and wipes; toiletries such as soap, shampoo, deodorant, toothpaste, dental floss, razors, lotions in all sizes (travel or family size); bags (paper or plastic); and grocery store gift cards.

Titanic's Pantry is a pet food bank that is run by the local Sacramento City and County animal shelters, the Sacramento ASPCA, and Happy Tails Pet Sanctuary. As the economy started going downhill several years ago, the animal shelter found that people were having to give-up their pets because they could no longer afford food for them. In an effort to keep pets with their people, the City started this pet food bank available to anyone in need. Please bring bags of dry and canned cat and dog food, and even toys, leashes, collars, cat litter, bedding, and other pet supplies to donate for our furry friends in need.