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 more than 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 themselves. The whole premise is to humanize the people behind the badge so that children can grow up trusting the police. Visit www. shopwithacopsv.org. Our address is P.O. Box 8003 San Jose, CA 95155-8003.
RotaCare Bay Area: isa 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. They are in need of volunteer physicians, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants, as well as pharmacists, registrars, and interpreters. They rely on the monetary donations of the community. Donations 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. The 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, visit www.sacredheartcs.org/ holidays. St. Vincent de Paul of
Santa Clara County: isa 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 the last resort for those facing life on the streets. With 23 conferences and more than
700 volunteers throughout Santa Clara County each year, they help more than 92,000 needy people with rent, utilities, clothing, food and health care. Monetary donations to help needy families are always appreciated, especially as the holidays and inclement weather approaches. 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 the most good, for the most people in the most need. This year as Christmas approaches, the army is helping making the holidays merry for those in need by donating. For children 1-12 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 are needed. Gift cards, warm clothing such as sweatshirts, hoodies and other warm clothing are needed for pre-teens. 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.