Nonprofits search for donations, volunteers for the holiday
season
Let us know of ways to help during the holiday season, whether
through donating a bag of groceries, buying a gift for a needy
child or volunteering time. Below are some ways to help in San
Benito County.
We will continue to add to the list throughout the holiday
season so feel free to e-mail [email protected] with
suggestions of other worthy nonprofits or organizations that are
doing good deeds throughout the holiday season.
Nonprofits search for donations, volunteers for the holiday season
Let us know of ways to help during the holiday season, whether through donating a bag of groceries, buying a gift for a needy child or volunteering time. Below are some ways to help in San Benito County.
We will continue to add to the list throughout the holiday season so feel free to e-mail [email protected] with suggestions of other worthy nonprofits or organizations that are doing good deeds throughout the holiday season.
Winter Shelter Program
637-9293
Community Services and Workforce Development of San Benito County is housing 18 homeless families as part of its winter shelter program. The staff holds a Christmas party for the families each year, and this year the party will be on Dec. 19.
“We want to make this celebration memorable,” said Enrique Arreola, the deputy director of CSWD, who added that sponsorship of the event is somewhat down this year.
While the Hollister School District staff has offered to help with the food, more items are needed for the meal. Restaurant owners or others who want to help with food, may contact Rebecca Arias to find out more.
But the main way community members can help is by donating toys for the children. The families have 55 children combined. Staff and community members have signed up to sponsor about half the children, so about half are still in need of gifts. The wish lists range from gift cards for the older children to Elmo toys, motorcycles and cars, and crib toys for the babies. The children range in age from 4 months to 17 years, and more than half are under 10 years old. Community members can also contact Arias about sponsoring a child to find their specific wish list.
Pet Friends
2975 Buena Vista Road
634-1191
While Pet Friends volunteers mostly would like new homes for the many animals they work with for the holidays, they also have plenty of other ways people can help. In a recent newsletter, the Pet Friends volunteers created a Wishing Tree that has many of the animals available for adoption, as well as some of the items needed to continue caring for the animals. Items that are needed include Advantage flea and tick medication for dogs and cats, dog and cat food, scoopable clumping litter, kitty condos and scratching posts.
They even break down what different monetary donations can support – $25 feeds an abandoned pet for three weeks; $40 provides a medical exam for a kitten or a puppy; and $75 covers the cost to spay or neuter a dog or cat.
The group can also use volunteers year-round, and needs help with everything from socializing cats, walking dogs or landscaping/carpentry.
Grocery store collections
At Save-Mart, shoppers can purchase a $20 bag of groceries for donation and store staff will donate 10 percent of their total grocery bill to charity, in addition to the bag of food staples.
At Raley’s Nob Hill, shoppers can donate $10 for the “Food for Families” program at the checkout stand and the money goes to Community Pantry.
Toys for Tots campaign kicks off
341 Tres Pinos Road, Ste. A
637-9233
Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage has joined forces with the United States Marine Corps Reserve to collect gifts for Toys for Tots. New, unwrapped toys can be donated at more than 336 Northern California Coldwell locations, including the Hollister branch.
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.
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.
St. Benedict’s/Sacred Heart Catholic Church
680 College St., 637-9212
Donations of food staples, canned and dry goods, are accepted at the parish office weekdays during open hours, as well as at each of the weekend Masses.
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.
Homeless Task Force
801-9531
Shelter staff and volunteers will be cooking meals at the Community Center on West Street and then transporting food to the shelter on South Side Road, 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
