Nonprofits search for donations, volunteers for the holiday
season
For many of us, the holiday season is not just about getting the
latest gadget or picking out the coolest gift for family and
friends
– it’s about finding ways we can help others who are not as
fortunate as we are. And with the economy in turmoil many of the
nonprofits in the county that quietly do work all year round need
some extra help this season. Here are just a few of the places
where a gift of time, money or other items w
ill go along way.
Nonprofits search for donations, volunteers for the holiday season
For many of us, the holiday season is not just about getting the latest gadget or picking out the coolest gift for family and friends – it’s about finding ways we can help others who are not as fortunate as we are. And with the economy in turmoil many of the nonprofits in the county that quietly do work all year round need some extra help this season. Here are just a few of the places where a gift of time, money or other items will go along way.
We will continue to add to the list throughout the holiday season so feel free to e-mail
mf*****@pi**********.com
with suggestions of other worthy nonprofits or organizations that are doing good deeds throughout the holiday season.
Chamberlain Children’s Center Holiday Toy Drive
www.chamberlaincc.org
637-8151
Members of the band Soul Kiss – Sara Denice-Ruvalcaba, Ronnie Ruvalcaba, Jim Kalogrides, Patrick Bahar and James Myrick – have paired up with staff of the Ridgemark Golf and Country Club for a Holiday Toy Drive that will benefit the children at Chamberlain Children’s Center.
On Friday, Dec. 5, community members are invited to a dinner and raffle at Ridgemark, 3800 Airline Hwy. Admission is an unwrapped toy or a cash donation. Dinner specials will be available from 5 to 8 p.m, with music by Soul Kiss kicking off at 8:30 p.m.
“This is our first year, but we would like to make it an annual event,” said Sandra Weis of Ridgemark. “At Christmas time, our hearts go out to kids that don’t have the family and we wanted to do something to make the holiday a little special for them.”
Denice-Ruvalcaba approached Weis with the idea. They have more than 20 local sponsors on board, who have made donations of raffle prizes or supported in other ways.
Two dozen children will be spending the holidays at Chamberlains, including 12 girls ages 8 to 15 and 12 boys ages 6 to 14. The children submitted a wish list of items they would like (see complete list online at www.pinnaclenews.com). Some of the requests include jewelry for the girls, Bratz dolls and Fur Real Pets. The boys have asked for skateboard stuff, cars and Transformers, among other items.
COMPLETE LIST:
girl 16 jewelry or uggz size 7 1/2,
girl 15 make up and jewelry,
girl 15 blank CD’s and jewelry,
girl 14 necklace and earings,
girl 13 dresses lage size in womens,
girl 12 fidow now or fur real, moving stuffed pets
girl 12 elmo stuff and fur real pets,
girl 12 make up and jewelry.
girl 12 jewelry,
girl 11 tinker bell things, sponge bob things or goose bump books,
girl 8 barbie and Bratz dolls and stuff
girl 8 bratz doll or art kit,
boy 14 kinge size pillow or silk blanket,
boy 14 guitar or tool set.
boy 13 remote control car,
boy 12 silver chain neaklace, blk or wht ball caps & blank cd
boy 11remote control car,
boy 10 cars and skate board,
boy 10 skate board and skate stuff
boy 9 remote control helicopter or action figures,
boy 9 skate board stuff or basketball,
boy 7 star wars stuff or transformers,
boy 6 soccer ball or transformers, ,
boy 6 stufffed animals and toy trucks,
St. Benedict’s/Sacred Heart Catholic Church
680 College St., 637-9212
Just a few weeks ago parishioners at St. Benedict’s/Sacred Heart decided a weekly collection for non-perishable food items would go a long way in the community.
“People are really struggling this season more than usual,” said Ruth Ann Robinson, who suggested the weekly collection to other members. The idea came from a comment she heard from youth after a summer camp held at the church. The theme was God’s Big Backyard, and one young member said some of the people in God’s big backyard don’t have enough to eat.
In the past, church members have held a collection for Fishes and Loaves, the church’s food bank, once a month but “unless they are reminded, people forget and hardly any food was coming in.”
Donations are accepted at the parish office weekdays during open hours, as well as at each of the weekend masses.
Court Appointed Special Advocates of San Benito County
www.casasanbenito.org
637-4992
CASA of San Benito County staff has trained 22 volunteers who have been paired with San Benito students who are in the foster care system. While the volunteers serve as advocates, they are hoping community members can help in making the holiday season a special one for the children with whom they work.
They are seeking individuals and businesses to help provide gifts for youth in the local foster system this holiday season. There are several ways to contribute:
Adopt a child: CASA will submit a list of a child’s wishes and needs and an individual or group can “adopt” the child by providing these items for him or her.
Donate gifts: An organization can provide unwrapped gifts – half for children from infants to 12 years old and half for ages 13 to 18 – equally divided among boys and girls. Suggested gifts include toys, books and gift cards.
Monetary donations will be used to purchase gifts for the children served by CASA, which is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization.
Pleasant Valley Church
7455 Eigleberry St., Gilroy, 842-1320
Members of the church are trying to raise $4,000 so that they can prodice gifts to 200 children and families. They are accepting monetary donations, or donations of toys. They will hold a service Dec. 14 and distribute gifts afterwards.
Community Pantry
www.communitypantry.com
1133 San Felipe Road, 637-0340
The local food bank staff and volunteers offer up meals to more than 1,700 San Benito County families each week. Unfortunately, as purse strings tighten on federal, state and local funding, the staff relies more and more on individuals to provide enough food to keep hungry residents fed.
There are plenty of ways to help out at Community Pantry. It can be as simple as saving up paper and plastic grocery bags and dropping them off at the Pantry office. Volunteers are always welcome to help out with distribution, filling bags or even with writing and marketing. Monetary donations are especially helpful because staff can stretch a dollar into multiple meals, and a link on the Web site allows residents to donate online. Donations of food are accepted, and the staff has also added a refrigerated truck, microwave and work counter to their wish list.
Homeless Task Force
801-9531
On Dec. 1, staff and volunteers will reopen the San Benito County Homeless Shelter on Southside Road. The weeks leading up to the season have been especially challenging with a renovation on the property – which doubles as the migrant camp during the harvest season – that closes off access to the kitchen facility.
With the shelter staff cooking meals at the Community Center on West Street and then transporting food to the shelter, more volunteers than ever are needed. In addition, donations of paper plates and disposable utensils will come in handy, as well as items that are always in need such as socks, hygiene products and blankets. To volunteer, or donate, contact Cindy Parr, shelter manager at 801-9531
Second Harvest Food Bank of Santa Cruz and San Benito Counties
www.thefoodbank.org
800 Ohlone Parkway, in Watsonville; 722-7110
Second Harvest Food Bank staff and volunteers serve meals to more than 47,000 families in Monterey and San Benito County. They distribute food to local agencies, such as Community Pantry and Fishes and Loaves, who then give food straight to clients.
Each holiday season, Second Harvest staff holds a holiday food drive that collects more food than any other drive throughout the year. This year, they hope to collect 1.8 million pounds of food. Look for food donation barrels in local churches and businesses. Business owners or church members who want to host a food drive at anytime of the year can visit the Second Harvest Web site and download a “food drive kit.” They provide barrels, bags and even donation envelopes for cash or checks.
