Holiday giving 2016
Area food banks and social service agencies are collecting donations to help the needy through the Christmas and New Year’s holidays. For a full list, visit: http://www.mercurynews. com/tag/nonprofits/. Here’s how you can help:
The Peninsula
Christmas Bureau of Palo Alto is a non-denominational and non-profit organization. It helps bring the joys of the season by providing monetary assistance to over 2,900 individuals comprised of low-income families, seniors and adults. The checks are used by recipients to meet individual needs. Please help us continue the joy of giving to those who need assistance. Kindly send your taxdeductible check to: Christmas Bureau of Palo Alto, P.O. Box 51874, Palo Alto, CA, 94303 or donate through Pay Pal. Visit www. christmasbureauofpaloalto.org. Community Services Agency of Mountain View and Los Altos, 204 Stierlin Road, Mountain View, needs new toys, pajamas, gifts for teens, food donations, and volunteers to help provide holiday spirit to hundreds of families in the local community. Donations can be delivered 9 a.m.-noon and 1:30-4 p.m. weekdays at the CSA office. 650-968-0836, www. csacares.org. Ecumenical Hunger Program, 2411 Pulgas Ave., East Palo Alto, is can use donations of cash, gift cards from local department & grocery stores and teen gifts for underprivileged families in East Palo Alto, Palo Alto and Menlo Park. The agency also needs volunteers. Donations can be made not just for the holidays but also throughout the year as the number of people in need increases. Food items such as turkeys, ham and chicken are welcome. Donations accepted 9 a.m.-5 p.m. weekdays through Dec. 22. Contact LaKesha at 650-323-7781, or visit www.ehpcares.org.
Peninsula Healthcare Connection is a state licensed medical clinic holistically serving homeless and low-income individuals in North Santa Clara County. PHC provides integrated primary, preventative, and mental health care free of charge to community members who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless. Financial donations are greatly appreciated this holiday season. Your gift ensures PHC can continue to provide these services year-round. For more information, please contact Meta Townsley at meta@ peninsulahcc.org. Rebuilding Together Peninsula transforms lives by providing critical repairs, accessibility modifications and energy efficient upgrades to low-income homes and community centers at no cost to recipients in San Mateo County and northern Santa Clara County. We will be serving 130 homeowners through its year-round Safe at Home minor home repair program, 40-50 homeowners and 20-30 community facilities through its National Rebuilding Day program in the spring, and another 8-10 homeowners and community facilities through its Summer/Fall Team Build program. We are at 841 Kaynyne St., Redwood City. Contact 650-3666597, www.rebuildingtogether peninsula.org.
Alameda County
Viola Blythe Community Service Center of Newark, 37365 Ash St., which serves children and families, needs fresh holiday food such as turkey, chicken, eggs, milk, as well as new unwrapped toys, gift cards for food. Drop-off hours are 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Mondays-Fridays., through Dec. 23. 510-794-3437, violablythe.org.
Santa Clara County
The Salvation Army Silicon Valley needs for children 0-12: soft plush toys, building toys, Lego, My Little Pony, Barbie, toy trucks, Nerf toys, toddler ride-on toys, trikes, bikes, sports equipment, books in Spanish, English and Vietnamese. Gift cards for pre-teens. Warm clothing for kids such as sweatshirts, cold weather jackets. For Seniors: body/personal care bags or baskets, blankets. For the Homeless: thick warm socks, knit hats and scarves, gloves, cold weather jackets, ponchos, blankets and sleeping bags. Please bring your donations to The Salvation Army Silicon Valley, 359 N. Fourth St., San Jose, CA 95112. Office hours are 9 a.m.-4 p.m. 408-282-2265. Website: salvationarmysiliconvalley.org
Santa Clara Valley Medical
Center Foundation, the nonprofit fundraising arm of Santa Clara Valley Medical Center, is seeking donations to support the trauma center. To donate, go to www. vmcfoundation.org, call 408-8855299, or write a check payable to VMC Foundation, 2400 Moorpark Ave., Suite 207, San Jose, CA, 95128.
City of Saratoga is collecting nonperishable food items as well as new unwrapped toys to be distributed to needy families this holiday season as part of its annual Food and Toy Drive. Food and toys can be dropped off at the Joan Pisani Community center, 19655 Allendale Ave.; or the City Manager’s Office, 13777 Fruitvale Ave. Additional dropoff locations for food include the Saratoga Library, 13650 Saratoga Ave., and Saratoga SeniorCenter, 13650 Saratoga Library Ave. Toys will also be accepted at the Saratoga Historical Museum, 20450 Saratoga-Los Gatos Road. The Toy Drive ends Dec. 16, and the Food Drive will end Dec. 21. For more information, call 408-868-1249.