Salt Lake City festival helps families reduce holiday stress by connecting them with the resources they need

Saving money for Christmas gifts can be stressful for many working parents, but the holiday angst doesn’t end there. What about finding — and funding — a baby sitter for those extended winter breaks when the kids are out of school?

“I still have to work,” explained Jacqueline Martinez, a single mother of five children ages 2 to 15.

Fortunately, Martinez isn’t afraid to reach out to community groups for help. “I’ve already signed my kids up for day care,” she said Saturday while attending Salt Lake City’s Winter De-Sresser Festival.

(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) Jodi Burnett, left, picks out food from the pantry with her daughters October, 5, and Isabella Flores, 16, as Salt Lake City's Winter De-Stressor Festival at the Horizonte Instruction and Training Center on Saturday, Dec. 15, 2018, to help families identify and locate services or programs open to youth during between Christmas and New Years.

(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) Jonas Orbiso and his son Anthony, 7, immerse themselves in a virtual world as Salt Lake City's Winter De-Stressor Festival at the Horizonte Instruction and Training Center on Saturday, Dec. 15, 2018. The event helped families identify and locate services for youths during between Christmas and New Years. When school is out for winter break, it can have an impact on the state's most vulnerable populations who face food insecurity, access to healthcare services, affordable childcare and safe places for their children.

(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) The Utah Food Bank offered free canned foods as part of the Winter De-Stressor Festival, at Horizonte Instruction and Training Center in Salt Lake on Saturday, Dec. 15, 2018.

(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) Salt Lake City hosts a Winter De-Stressor Festival at the Horizonte Instruction and Training Center in Salt Lake on Saturday, Dec. 15, 2018. The event helped families identify and locate services or programs available for youths between Christmas and New Years.

The event, held at Salt Lake City’s Horizonte Instruction and Training Center, offered families a place to learn about affordable child care options, health and dental services and free family activities available all year long, not just between Christmas and New Year’s Day.