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 Shop with a Cop Foundation Silicon Valley: seeks funding to host over 100 under-served children for a holiday shopping spree with local Bay Area police officers. For many of the children, this special 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 $150 Target gift card to shop for gifts for their family members and for themselves. The whole 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. RotaCare 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 the monetary donations of the community can be made online at www.rotacarebayarea.org, or by mail 514 Valley Way, Milpitas,
CA 95035 or by phone at 408-263-8166.
Sacred Heart Community Service: is distributing 7,400 holiday 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 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Mondays-Thursdays, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Fridays and 9 a.m.-noon Saturdays at 1381 S. 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 re-housing families in need of shelter they are often a last resort for those facing life on the streets. With 23 conferences and over 700 volunteers located throughout Santa Clara County each year they help over 92,000 needy 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 on-line 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 the most 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 0-12 years 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, cold weather jackets, ponchos, blankets and sleeping bags. Donations can be left at The Salvation Army Silicon Valley, 359 N. Fourth St., San Jose, CA 95112. Office hours are 9 a.m.-4 p.m. 408-282-1165. Website: salvationarmysiliconvalley. org.
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 donations can be delivered to the Joan Pisani Community Center, 19655 Allendale Ave., Saratoga Area Senior Center, 19655 Allendale Ave., Saratoga Prospect Center, 19848 Prospect Road, and Saratoga Library, 13650 Saratoga Ave. Toys can be dropped off at the Saratoga City Manager’s Office, 13777 Fruitvale Ave., Saratoga Historical Museum, 20450 SaratogaLos Gatos Road, the Joan Pisani Community Center, and Saratoga Area Senior Center. Donations will be accepted through Dec. 20. For more information, call 408.868.1249 or go to www.saratoga.ca.us. 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 257,000 people each month here in Silicon Valley. A $50 donation can provide the equivalent of 100 nutritious meals! In addition to cash donations, they are also requesting frozen turkeys, and nutritious non-perishable 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 their three locations: 750 Curtner Ave., San Jose, 4001 N. First St., San Jose, or 1051 Bing St., San Carlos. For a drop-off schedule or to make a donation, call 866-234-3663 or go to SHFB.org.
The Silicon Valley Education Foundation (SVEF): is a non-profit 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 408-790-9400. SJB Child Development
Centers: provide services for low-income families in Santa Clara County who have children from newborn to 12 years old, offering them free to lowcost preschool or before and after school child care 7 a.m.-6 p.m. MondayFriday. Our program also includes free breakfast, lunch and afternoon snacks for children who attend our subsidized programs. We are dedicated to provide high quality services for families to help their children succeed in school and life. We are seeking donations to purchase needed materials for the classroom such as age appropriate children books, educational toys and computers for the school age program. Please consider making
a donation to our program to support children in need and to help them thrive. Your generosity will empower countless lives. SJB Child Development Centers, 1400 Parkmoor Ave., San Jose, CA, 95126. 408-414-2700, ext. 210, or go to sjbcdc.org.
Sunnyvale Community
Services: is seeking nonperishable food items, new toys, gifts and gift cards for those ages 7 to 17 for holiday gift distribution to low-income families in Sunnyvale. Food items most needed are healthy cereal, canned tuna and chicken, peanut butter and jelly, canned soup, and canned tomato products. Gift cards to Target and Safeway are also greatly appreciated. Drop-off hours are weekdays 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. through Nov. 30 and 7 a.m.-8 p.m. Dec. 1-11. The center is located at 725 Kifer Road, Sunnyvale. All Sunnyvale Fire Stations also take donations for SCS seven days a week. 408-738-4298, www.svcommunityservices.org. Teen Challenge Holiday Gift Drive: is seeking new clothing, new toys, hygiene products, cleaning products and food for the men, women, teens and children in our program. Donations will be accepted at the Teen Challenge office, 390 Matthew St., Santa Clara. 408-7032001.
Unity Care’s Santa’s Helpers Donation Drive: uplifts 800 lonely, anxious and heartbroken foster children in our care. To ensure every youth has a gift to open, individuals and corporations can help by hosting a toy drive or holiday party. Donate unwrapped gifts for children ages 0-24 or $25 gift cards to Target or Walmart. Consider adopting and decorating one of 12 teen homes in San Jose, Los Gatos, Daly City, South San Francisco, or Foster City. 408-9719822. Donations can also be offered online at www. unitycare.org.
West Valley Community Services:
its mission is to unite the community to fight hunger and homelessness. This holiday season, we need your help. We need donations of nonperishable foods including meals-in-a-can (stew, chili, soup), tuna, canned meat, peanut butter, canned foods with pop-top lids, low-sugar cereals, 100 percent fruit juices in single-serving boxes, canned fruit, canned vegetables, diapers (3T, 4T, and pull-ups), feminine hygiene products, and gift cards. Donations may be dropped off at 10104 Vista Drive in Cupertino. Holiday volunteer and donation opportunities are also available. 408-956-6115, www.wvcommunityservices.org. Yu-Ai Kai:
a multi-service nonprofit senior community center located in San Jose’s Japantown, is seeking gift cards, packaged batteries, individually wrapped toilet paper, individually wrapped paper towel rolls, dish soap, Kleenex, toothpaste, toothbrushes, T-shirts, 40- or 60-watt lightbulbs (energy efficient preferred), and Brita water filters to be given out to our seniors. Donations can be dropped off at 588 N. Fourth St., San Jose, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Monday-Friday. For more information, contact Julie Hubbard at staff@yuaikai.org and 408-294-2505; website: yuaikai.org.
The Peninsula
Christmas Bureau of
Palo Alto: is a non-denominational and nonprofit organization. It helps bring the joys of the season by providing monetary assistance to over 3,400 individuals comprised of lowincome families, seniors and adults. The checks are used by recipients to meet their own individual needs. Please help us
continue the joy of giving to those who need assistance. Send your tax-deductible check to: Christmas Bureau of Palo Alto, P.O. Box 51874, Palo Alto, CA, 94303 or donate through Pay Pal. www. christmasbureauofpaloalto.org.
Community Services Agency of Mountain View and Los Altos: needs gifts and/or gift cards 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 204 Stierlin Road, Mountain View. 650968-0836, www. csacares.org.
Ecumenical Hunger
Program: 2411 Pulgas Ave., East Palo Alto, is in need of help for the holidays. We 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. Please mail or drop off donations 9 a.m.-5 p.m. weekdays through Dec. 22. We also will be open Dec. 16 and 17. Contact LaKesha at 650-323-7781, or go to www.ehpcares.org. Peninsula Healthcare Connection: isa 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, contact Eileen Richardson at Eileen@peninsulahcc.org; website 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 service recipients in San Mateo County and northern Santa Clara County. Over the next year, 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 located at 841 Kaynyne St., Redwood City. To donate or volunteer, contact 650-3666597, website www.rebuildingtogetherpeninsula.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. Dropoff hours are 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Mondays-Fridays through Dec. 23 at 7730 Enterprise Drive, Newark. 510-7943437, www.violablythe.org.