Holiday giving
Area food banks and social service agencies are collecting donations to help the needy through the Christmas and New Year's holidays. For a complete list, go to www. mercurynews. com.
SANTA CLARA COUNTY
Asian Americans for Community Involvement ( AACI)
is asking for brand new, unwrapped gifts for families in its Youth Development Services Program and Domestic Violence Program/ Asian Women’s Home. AACI provides services for atrisk and high- risk youth impacted by substance abuse and gang activity as well as abused women, children, and men. The group is asking for $ 40 Target gift cards, toys, arts and crafts supplies, winter clothing, sporting equipment, etc. Car and monetary donations are also welcome. Donations made by Dec. 14 are much appreciated. Please contact 408- 975- 2730 ext. 223 or dvvolunteer@aaci.org for a full wish list. For more information about AACI, go to www.aaci.org
Alum Rock Counseling Center
will have a virtual Santa’s Workshop with age- and genderspecific toys and bikes for approximately 200 children from infants to teens. Families can also receive a bag of holiday treats on the day of distribution. Donations of large rolls of wrapping paper, tape, ribbons and bows, baskets, tinned cookies, candy, nonperishable food, bottled water and more. ARCC’s drive ends on Dec. 14. Monetary donations are also welcome as the center needs to rent an on- site mobile storage unit to accommodate donations for up to two weeks. Contact Stephanie at 408- 240- 0070, info@ alumrockcc. org ( Attention: Stephanie) or go to www.alumrockcc.org.
Christmas Bureau of Palo Alto.
The nondenominational and nonprofit organization provides monetary assistance to more than 3,100 individuals, including low- income families, seniors and adults. The checks are used by recipients to meet their own individual needs. The group says 99 percent of donations go to help people afford basic necessities like food, clothes and medicine. Send tax- deductible checks to: Christmas Bureau of Palo Alto, P. O. Box 51874, Palo Alto, CA 94303 .
The VMC Foundation,
the nonprofit fundraising arm of Santa Clara Valley Medical Center, seeks donations to support the New Directions program that helps homeless men and women who use Valley Medical Center’s emergency services. New Directions helps break the cycle of homelessness by providing access to a doctor, treatment, transportation, food and even housing to homeless patients. VMC is the only local hospital that will treat everyone regardless of ability to pay. To donate, go to www.vmcfoundation.org, call 408- 885- 5299, or write a check payable toVMC Foundation, New Directions, 2400 Moorpark Ave., Suite 207, San Jose, CA 95128.