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 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 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 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: 750 Curtner Ave., San Jose; 4001 N. First St., San Jose; or 1051 Bing St., San Carlos. For a drop-off schedule or to donate, call 866-2343663 or go to SHFB.org.

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 21stcentury 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. Monday-Friday. Our program also includes free breakfast, lunch and afternoon snacks for children who attend our subsidized programs. We are dedicated to providing 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 donating 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. 408414-2700, 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 7 a.m.8 p.m. weekdays through Dec. 11. The center is 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 also can be made 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 multiservice 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, CA 95112, 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 nondenominational 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 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. 650-968-0836, 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 and 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:

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 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 energyefficient 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 the year-round Safe at Home minor home repair program, 40-50 homeowners and 20-30 community facilities through the National Rebuilding Day program in the spring, and another 8-10 homeowners and community facilities through the summer/fall Team Build program. We are at 841 Kaynyne St., Redwood City. To donate or volunteer, contact 650366-6597, 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 and gift cards for food. Drop-off hours are 10 a.m.-4 p.m. MondayFriday through Dec. 23 at 7730 Enterprise Drive, Newark. 510-794-3437, www.violablythe.org.