A guide to helping others this holiday season and all year
long
‘Tis the season to be jolly, but it is also a time to remember
those less fortunate than ourselves and there are plenty of ways to
do it this giving seasons. Plenty of places in the region are
looking for volunteers, unwrapped gifts, food or money to help
those in need in the community. And many of these places need help
all year round, not just during the holidays.
A guide to helping others this holiday season and all year long
‘Tis the season to be jolly, but it is also a time to remember those less fortunate than ourselves and there are plenty of ways to do it this giving seasons. Plenty of places in the region are looking for volunteers, unwrapped gifts, food or money to help those in need in the community. And many of these places need help all year round, not just during the holidays.
Online Wish List
The Salvation Army and Target.com have teamed up this year to create an online wishlist for shoppers who want to add a little something extra to their cart while looking for Christmas gifts on the world wide web. Target.com has set up wishlists for different regions of the country for families in need. The lists include everything from pajama bottoms to toy block sets. Gifts can be purchased online now through January 25.
Visit http://www1.salvationarmy.org/usw/www_usw.nsf for more information and to get shopping.
Toys for Tots
For 58 years, the United States Marine Corps Reserve has dedicated themselves to collecting toys for underprivileged children throughout the country during the holiday season. Look for “Toys for Tots” collection bins, marked with the choo-choo train logo. The Toys for Tots program collects new, unwrapped toys from October to December. And for the last several years, the program has teamed up with the Best Buy Children’s Foundation to provide gifts for teens through the “Toys for Teens” drive. There are plenty of businesses or offices in Southern Santa Clara and San Benito Counties who are helping collect items with the Marines.
Visit http://toys4tots.us or call 408-286-6501 for locations in Gilroy, Morgan Hill, Hollister and San Juan Bautista.
Keeping food on the table
The Second Harvest Food Bank allows opportunities to start food drives, donate goods or give cash all year long. The food bank works with many local organizations such as St. Jospeph Family Center in Gilroy and the Community Pantry in Hollister. Their holiday food drives are continuing through Dec. Drop-off sites are available year round for those who feel like giving non-perishable goods to those in need. The best items to drop off include canned soups, meats, vegetables, rice, pasta, peanut butter and tuna. The food bank also accepts cash donations. Each $1 donation equals three pounds of food.
For information on the Second Harvest Food Bank of Santa Cruz and San Benito Counties, call 831-722-7110 or visit www.thefoodbank.org.
For information on the Second Harvest Food Bank of Santa Clara and San Mateo Counties, call 1-866-234-3663 or visit www.2ndharvest.net/.
Hollister – open year round
San Benito County Chamber of Commerce
650 San Benito St., Ste. 130
Gavilan College Hollister Center
365 Fifth St.
Community Pantry
30 Airport Dr.
Gilroy – open through Dec. 12
Safeway
905 First St.
Morgan Hill – open through Dec. 31
Safeway
840 Dunne Ave.
Below are charities that can use support all year long.
Santa Clara County
Community Solutions
408-779-2113
www.communitysolutions.org
Goodwill Store
408-842-9941 or 408-778-3253
www.goodwillsv.org
Mexican American Community Services Agency, Inc.
408-847-4686
www.macsa.org
Rebekah Children’s Services
408-846-2100
www.rcskids.org
St. Joseph Family Center
408-842-6662
www.stjosephsgilroy.org
St. Vincent de Paul Thrift Store
408-842-5524
www.svdpusa.org
Salvation Army Corps Community Center
408-848-5373
www.salvationarmyusa.org
San Benito County
Goodwill Store
831-634-0960
www.goodwillsv.org
St. Vincent de Paul Thrift Store
831-637-7998
www.svdpusa.org
Salvation Army Corps Community Center
831-636-9832
www.salvationarmyusa.org
United Way of San Benito County
831-297-3547
http://unitedwayofsbc.com
