The 2025 holiday season is feeling different to me—and I’m guessing I am not alone. It’s been an incredibly challenging year for our communities. The recent government shutdown, the high costs of housing and food, and cutbacks in federal funding for health care, social services, and other urgent needs are pushing already vulnerable communities to the edge. In this season of thanks and reflection, I am more thankful than ever for the bold work of so many nonprofits that are stepping in and offering a much-needed helping hand.  

One of these nonprofits is the Season of Sharing Fund here in the San Francisco Bay Area. In the 39 years since it was created jointly by the Haas, Jr. Fund and the San Francisco Chronicle, Season of Sharing has distributed nearly $220 million to Bay Area residents and families staring down unexpected financial crises. 

Recently, I checked in with Kevin Swanson, executive director at the Season of Sharing Fund, about the issues and challenges he and his team are seeing right now across the Bay Area. Kevin shared a surprising data point that one in five of our Bay Area neighbors has less than $400 in savings to navigate financial emergencies like a lost job or an unexpected medical issue. At a time when people are already struggling with rising rents and grocery bills, this puts them at huge risk of eviction, homelessness, and other crises.