How you can help children, needy families

Area food banks and social service agencies are collecting donations to help the needy through the Christmas and New Year’s holidays. Here’s how you can help:

Santa Clara County The Bay Area Furniture Bank (BAFB):

is a taxexempt 501(c)(3) nonprofit that believes no one should be forced to live, sleep and eat on the floor. Our mission is to provide furniture to those in need in the community who have suffered personal tragedy or disaster. In 2017, we provided furniture to 235families, which included 350adults and 248children. These families included homeless veterans transitioning to subsidized housing, victims of natural disaster (fire and flood), domestic violence relocation, foster children and refugees. We also diverted 48tons of furniture from going to landfill. Our organization is focused on helping veterans and victims achieve goals of self-sufficiency to improve the ability of families to take care of children. We rely solely on the monetary donations of the community, which can be made online at www.bayareafurniturebank. org or by phone at 650969-2100.

Bill Wilson Center:

provides counseling, education and housing for homeless youth in Santa Clara County. BWC’s Adopt-A-Family program fulfills holiday wishes of more than 1,600of the neediest youth and families selected by the County Department of Family and Children’s Services. These families have cases with the DFCS due to abuse or neglect; our goal is to provide a bit of extra joy during the holiday season. BWC needs gift cards (Walmart, Target, etc.). These youth rarely get the opportunity to buy something new and the parents (biological and foster) rarely get to buy something special for themselves. The organization is at 3490The Alameda, Santa Clara. 408243-0222, www.billwilsoncenter.org.

Boys & Girls Clubs of Silicon Valley:

offers out-ofschool enrichment programs for more than 3,000at-risk youth, ages 6-18years, at 12 locations throughout Santa Clara County. We are always in need of school, supplies, art supplies and board games. Also needed are gift cards for teens (Target, Safeway). Monetary donations for school uniforms and computers are greatly needed and appreciated. Donations can be dropped off at 518Valley Way, Milpitas, CA 95035, 9 a.m.-4p.m. Monday-Friday. Volunteers are also always needed. Contact Alethia Ruiz at alethia@bgclub.org; website bgclub.org.

Catholic Charities of Santa Clara County:

serves 38,000children and adults of all cultures and beliefs through 34programs at 80 locations throughout Santa Clara County. Ways to give to our clients at the holidays and year round: cash donations toward rental assistance; gift cards for youth and families struggling to get by; bus passes for transportation to school and work; winter jackets/sweaters for children and adults; cozy blankets for seniors. Items should be new and unwrapped please. To donate, call 408-325-5125or email lpippin@ CatholicCharitiessSCC.org. Catholic Charities is located at 2625Zanker Road, San Jose. Learnmore atwww.catholiccharitiesscc. org.

Child Advocates of Silicon Valley:

recruits, trains and supports community volunteers to serve as Court Appointed Special Advocates to children in the Santa Clara County dependency system. CASAs provides critical emotional and educational support to foster children, ensuring that their needs are met, and their voice is heard in dependency hearings. We are seeking gift cards for teens (Kohl’s, Target, andWalgreens) and new toys for children of all ages. Monetary contributions are always appreciated. Donations can be brought to Child Advocates, 509ValleyWay, Milpitas, CA 95035, 9a.m.5p.m. Monday-Friday. For volunteer opportunities, go to www.BeMyAdvocate.org.

Cityteam: is helping thousands of low-income families in need this holiday season with food boxes, meals, coats and Christmas toys. Bring your canned food, unwrapped toys, new or gentle used coats, winter scarfs, hats and gloves to Cityteam Community Services, 1297N. 13th St., San Jose, 9a.m.-4p.m. Tuesdays-Saturdays. We are always in need of volunteers to help us serve 650meals each day. To volunteer, go to www.cityteam.org/volunteer or call 408-232-5600.

Community Solutions’ Holiday Giving Program:

provides gifts and necessities to low-income families for the holidays. We currently need grocery cards, gift cards, diapers (especially large sizes), warm blankets, socks (all sizes), baby items (new bottles, teethers, etc.), chunky baby books, sweatshirts (especially men’s sizes), and cleaning supplies (laundry soap, bathroom cleaner, etc.). As these are gifts, we are requesting new, unused items only. For information on how to donate, contact Paige Day at 408846-4713orpaige.day@communitysolutions.org or go to communitysolutions. org. Community Solutions is a comprehensive nonprofit human services agency serving children, families and individuals in South Santa Clara County and surrounding areas.

ConXión to Community:

a community-based, nonprofit that provides education, workforce, behavioral health and other services to disconnected youth and adults since 1977. It’s important to remember older youths during the holiday season. Youths ages 13-18are often overlooked, yet they are still children and should be given the same pleasures as younger youths. Help a teenager smile. Donate toiletries, socks, gloves, scarfs, gift cards, movie passes. Something so simple can change the life of a youth. 749Story Road, Suite 10, San Jose, CA 95122-2600or call 408213-0961, ext. 23, and ask for Lori.

Downtown Streets Team (DST):

builds teams that restore dignity, inspire hope, and provide a pathway to recover from homelessness. The volunteer-Work-Experience Program provides homeless and at-risk Team Members an opportunity to beautify their community in

exchange for case management, employment services, and a basic needs stipend. To date, DST has found over 1,400homes and jobs for people who used to live on the streets. Monetary donations, gift cards, socks and hygiene products are all ongoing needs. Contact Kalie to learn more Kalie@ StreetsTeam.org or go to StreetsTeam.org. Eating Disorders Resource

Center: As is true for other mental illnesses and addictions, the holidays are a challenging time for those struggling with eating disorders and body image issues. EDRC hosts free weekly support groups for individuals who do not have insurance or the ability to pay for services. Many people do not realize that eating disorders, including anorexia, bulimia and binge eating, affect all ages, genders, ethnicities and socio-economic backgrounds. Your contribution makes it possible for us to continue to offer free support groups and vital resources for individuals and families in need. Checks may be mailed to: Eating Disorders Resource Center, 15891Los Gatos-Almaden Road, Los Gatos, CA 95032. Or donate online at www. edrcsv.org.

The Family Giving Tree:

fulfills the exact holiday wishes of children and seniors in need throughout the Greater Bay Area. This year we need your help filling the wishes of 80,000deserving children and seniors. Pick up a wish tag at a participating Wells Fargo Bank location in the South and East Bay, fulfill a wish online at www. familygivingtree.org/donate or call 408-946-3111to make a contribution. You can make holiday wishes come true this season!

Family Supportive Housing:

provides interim emergency housing and supportive services to families experiencing homelessness. Financial donations are most needed this holiday season. Gift cards for gas, groceries and clothing are also appreciated. We also have many volunteer opportunities. Contact Christi Moyer Kelly at 408-516-5106, or go to www.familysupportivehousing.org and click on “how to help.”

Home-First Services:

will, again this year, offer a warm bed and meals to more than 1,000homeless individuals— infants to seniors, veterans and families — each day at our three Cold Weather Shelters in San Jose, Sunnyvale and Gilroy, through April 15. Donations can bemade to Home First, 507Valley Way, Milpitas, CA 95035. For online donations, go to www.homefirstscc.org/donate. Our most vulnerable neighbors also need towels, twin size sheets, rain ponchos, small toiletry items, nonperishable snacks, new white socks and underwear (including bras in all sizes), sweatpants, sweatshirts and store gift cards. Contact Tracie Wallace at info@homefirstscc.org, 408-539-2143.

Jewish Family Services of Silicon Valley:

empowers people facing difficult challenges to have better lives. We assist more than 5,000 low income people in need and accept supermarket, gas and department store gift cards; toys; and cash donations year-round. New unwrapped toys, gift cards, unexpired nonperishable food, and cash donations are needed throughout the winter holidays to bring light and warmth to appreciative families (including refugees) and seniors. Donations can be dropped off 8:30a.m.-5:30p.m. Mondays-Thursdays and 8:30a.m.-3:30 p.m. Fridays at 14855Oka Road, Suite 202, Los Gatos. Monetary donations can be made online at www.jfssv.org. 408-556-0600.

Life-Moves: formerly Inn-Vision Shelter Network, provides interim housing and supportive services for homeless families and individuals to rapidly return to stable housing and achieve long-term self-sufficiency. Last year, Life-Moves served over 10,000people: 93 percent of families and 72 percent of singles returned to stable housing. To help directly support homeless children and adults during this holiday season, Life-Moves requests financial contributions as well as donations of gift cards, linens and bedding, new socks undergarments, kitchen supplies, and dishware. For more information about all our holiday giving opportunities, go to www.lifemoves.org/ holidays.

Live Oak Adult Day Services:

needs soft, warm items like socks, sweaters, sweats, hoods, gloves, scarves, to give to our seniors as stocking stuffers and personal gifts from Mr. & Mrs. Santa when they come to visit each of our four centers. We also need nutritious, nonperishable foods including, tuna, peanut butter, low-sugar snacks, 100 percent fruit juices, canned fruit, low-sodium canned vegetables, grocery and retail gift cards are welcome. To donate call 408-9719363or email liveoakdaycare@att.net. Additionally, go to our website at www. liveoakadultdaycare.org.

Martha’s Kitchen: a private nonprofit, community-based agency needs frozen turkeys and 5-pound canned hams. Donations may be dropped off at Martha’s Kitchen, 311 Willow St., corner of Locust Street, at the Sacred Heart Church grounds, 6a.m.-2 p.m. Mondays, Thursday and Fridays; 6a.m.-5:30 p.m. Tuesdays and Wednesdays. 408-293-6111, www.marthas-kitchen.org. We are closed Dec. 24-Jan. 1.

NAMI Santa Clara County:

offers practical experience, support, and education to anyone concerned about mental illnesses and their treatment in Santa Clara County. We work with public organizations, private businesses and the media to increase knowledge of effective ways of treating the illnesses while advocating for research and improved services for individuals with mental illness. Our Warmline/Help Desk has trained and knowledgeable volunteers with lived experience who offer free and confidential information and support services to individuals, family and friends who have been affected by mental illness. We are requesting donations for our annual Holiday Gift Drive (socks, scarves, gloves, hats, travel sized toiletries, decks of playing cards, pocket calendars, $5gift cards for food and beverages), for gift bags which are delivered to over 600people in need at local hospitals, self-help centers, churches and homeless shelters. Our office hours are 10a.m.-2 p.m. Monday-Friday. Call us at 408-453-0400, option 1; or visit us at 1150 S. Bascom Ave., Suite 24, San Jose, CA 95128(during office hours); or email us at info@namisantaclara.org.

Next Door Solutions to Domestic Violence (NDS):

asks our community to help make the holidays a little bit brighter by providing items for our clients and their children. Gift cards in $25 increments (i.e., Target, Mi Pueblo Foods); new books, especially multilingual or multicultural, and new stuffed animals. NDS also will accept monetary donations. Next Door Solution’s mission is to end domestic violence in the moment and for all time, supporting survivors on their path from crisis to self-sufficiency. Contact us at development@nextdoor.org or 408-501-7544, www.nextdoor.org.

Rota -Care Bay Area:

is a volunteer alliance of medical professionals, organizations and community members dedicated to providing free primary, quality health care services to uninsured families and individuals with limited ability to pay for medical care. We are in need of volunteer physicians, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants, as well as pharmacists, registrars and interpreters. We rely on monetary donations of the community; donate online at www.rotacarebayarea.org, or by mail to 514ValleyWay, Milpitas, CA 95035or by phone at 408-263-8166.

Sacred Heart Community Service:

is distributing 7,400holiday food boxes to families and toys to 6,200 children. Bring joy this holiday season and join our family by dropping off turkeys or new toys, volunteering, organizing a donation drive, or volunteering. Our donation station is open 8a.m.-5p.m. Mondays-Thursdays, 9a.m.-4p.m. Fridays and 9a.m.noon Saturdays at 1381S. First St., San Jose. To learn more and donate online, go to www.sacredheartcs.org/ holidays.

St. Vincent de Paul of Santa Clara County:

is a nonprofit organization that has been helping all needy individuals and families throughout Santa Clara County since 1946. With a goal of homeless prevention and rehousing families in need of shelter they are often a last resort for those facing life on the streets. With 23conferences and over 700volunteers located throughout Santa Clara County, each year they help over 92,000needy people with rent, utilities, clothing, food and health care. Monetary donations to help needy families are always appreciated, especially as we approach the holidays and inclement weather. Donations can be made online or mailed in. The organization also accepts auto donations. For more information, go to www.svdp.org.

The Salvation Army Silicon Valley:

works to do themost good, for the most people, in the most need. This year as Christmas approaches, help us make the holidays merry for those in need by donating. For children 0-12years of age: baby dolls, soft plush toys, building toys, Barbie, board games, skateboards, toddler ride-on toys, trikes, bikes, sports equipment, educational and musical toys/gifts. Gift cards, warm clothing such as sweatshirts, hoodies and other warm clothing for preteens. For seniors: body/personal care bags or baskets, blankets. For the homeless: thick warm socks, knit hats, underwear, gloves, coldweather jackets, ponchos, blankets and sleeping bags. Donations can be left at The Salvation Army Silicon Valley, 359N. Fourth St., San Jose, CA 95112. Office hours are 9a.m.-4p.m. 408-2821165. Website: salvationarmysiliconvalley.org.

Second Harvest Food Bank of Santa Clara and San Mateo Counties:

is one of the largest food banks in the nation and provides food to an average of more than 257,000people each month here in Silicon Valley. A $50 donation can provide the equivalent of 100nutritious meals. In addition to cash donations, they are also requesting frozen turkeys, and nutritious nonperishable food items such as canned food with pop-top lids (for example: meals in a can, soup, stew, chili, low-sodium vegetables), tuna, peanut butter, olive or canola oil, and healthy snacks. Donations can be dropped off at any of its three locations: 750Curtner Ave., San Jose; 4001N. First St., San Jose; or 1051 Bing St., San Carlos. For a drop-off schedule or tomake a donation, call 866-2343663or go to SHFB.org.

The Shop with a Cop Foundation Silicon Valley:

seeks funding to host over 100 underserved children for a holiday shopping spree with local Bay Area police officers. For many of the children, this opportunity becomes the only holiday experience they will have. Some participants are selected from the Readers Are Leaders reading campaign at local elementary schools, where they “earn” their way to the shopping spree. Other children participating are living in traumatic crisis from the loss of a parent, domestic violence and other tragedies. With a uniformed police officer by their side during the shopping spree, each child receives a $150Target gift card to shop for gifts for their family members and for themselves. The premise is to humanize the people behind the badge so that children can grow up trusting the police. Go to www.shopwithacopsv.org. Our address is P.O. Box 8003, San Jose, CA 95155-8003.

The Silicon Valley Education Foundation (SVEF):

is a nonprofit resource and advocate for students and educators in Silicon Valley. SVEF is dedicated to putting all students on track for college and career, focusing on the critical areas of science, technology, engineering and math (STEM). Through operating programs, advocating for equitable policies at the school district level, and bringing innovation education technology into the classroom, SVEF directly works to create a 21st century skilled workforce and empower underserved, minority students. Help SVEF close the achievement gap today and give the gift of education. For more information, go to www.svefoundation.org or call 408-7909400.