Seeking: Blankets and Sleeping Bags

Pali High Freshman Sadie Sabin Aims to Give Back this Holiday Season

By SARAH SHMERLING | Editor-in-Chief

Sadie Sabin, a lifelong resident of El Medio Bluffs and freshman at Palisades Charter High School, is seeking donations for a pilot program she is launching this holiday season.

“We are collecting sleeping bags and blankets,” Sadie shared.

Donations that are collected between now and December 23 of new, (ideally) water-resistant sleeping bags and blankets will be given out to people in need at the annual Mimi Adams brunch at St. Augustine by the Sea in Santa Monica.

For the past seven years, the Sabin family has volunteered at the brunch, which serves food and also has stations for anyone in need to pick up donated items, from hygiene products to toys and clothes.

This year, Sadie hopes to increase the number of sleeping bags and blankets that are available for pick up, both items that have quickly run out in years past.

“Sadie’s idea was sleeping bags and blankets because there wasn’t enough of them,” Sadie’s mom, Jennifer explained.

Though she volunteers each year, this is the first time Sadie has put together something like this.

“I’ve never done anything like this before … I’m really excited about it,” she shared.

Mimi Adams, who lived in the Palisades for more than 30 years, passed away in 2006, so the annual brunch continues on in her honor.

“When we volunteer at this brunch … the most rewarding part is interacting with the men and women and the children,” Jennifer shared. Sadie shared a story of a young boy she has seen for a few years that she has gotten to interact and play with—and added that he is always grateful.

“He’s so appreciative for any items that we give him and for the interaction,” Jennifer said, “and it always touches our hearts when we see him there.”

Jennifer shared that each year the family has volunteered, she notices that each person who is there to collect items only takes what they need, leaving the rest for others.

“It makes me feel emotional and grounded,” she added. “It’s a beautiful thing.”

Palisadians who are interested in donating may do so at The Yogurt Shoppe, which will have a bin in place for collections.