February 2018  - Silicon Valley 
 
Delivery Volunteers for Families with Critically Ill Children
There With Care of the Bay Area
 
Date/Time: Times and dates are flexible for volunteering. The next volunteer orientation will be held on Friday, February 2, 10 - 11:30am
 
Location: There With Care of the Bay Area, 2682 Middlefield Road, Suite H, Redwood City
 
There With Care provides a wide range of thoughtful and fundamental services to children and families during the critical phases of a medical crisis. They serve families referred by medical agencies by building a network of services and people who ease the burden of life's day-to-day obligations with compassion and care. Help care for the families of critically ill children in your community by delivering groceries and needed items to them. Adult volunteers must attend a one-time mandatory 90-minute training before heading out with grocery and supply deliveries from our pantry in Redwood City to families on the Peninsula, Lucile Packard Children's Hospital, and Ronald McDonald House. Please bring your children of all ages to help you volunteer!
 
Ages: 18 years old with drivers license, background check and orientation for drivers meeting with families, but please bring your children!
 
Time Commitment: Flexible; orientation is required. Register for orientation online.
 
Contact:  Lisa Scheidecker, 650.268.8557, [email protected]
www.bayarea.therewithcare.org/
 
 
La Mesa Verde Build Days
Sacred Heart Community Services - La Mesa Verde Program
 
Date/Time(s): 
Volunteer for Build Day (space limited):
  • Saturday, February 3, 11:15am - 4:15pm
Build Installation Days:
  • Saturday, Feb 24, 8:30am - 12:30pm
  • Saturday, March 10, 8:30am - 12:30pm
  • Saturday, March 17, 8:30am - 12:30pm
  • Saturday, March 24, 1 - 5pm 
  • Saturday, March 31, 8:30am - 12:30pm
Location: Sacred Heart Community Services, 1381 S. First Street, San José

Sacred Heart Community Services La Mesa Verde (LMV) is a network of low-income urban gardeners who build access to healthy food in San Jose. LMV builds garden beds, shares knowledge, and creates a mutually supportive community through workshops, events, and volunteering. LMV enrolls 50 new families a year to receive redwood planter boxes, soil, seedlings, and educational workshops to learn about urban gardening. On February 3, volunteers will come to Sacred Heart for LMV's Build Day to build 55 new garden beds for 2018. Once the beds are built, installation volunteers will be needed to install these beds at the recipients' residences. Build installation days volunteer tasks will include helping with soil deliveries, building beds, and installing the beds under the guidance of our trained Build Leads and members, on a weekly or one-time basis. No experience necessary, only the willingness to learn .

Ages: Volunteers must be 13 or older. All volunteers under the age of 18 must be chaperoned by an adult. Any volunteers 17 and under must fill out this waiver.

Time Commitment: Average of four hours
 
Contact: Lindsey Zimmer, [email protected] or 408.775.5760. Please contact Lindsey to register for any of these projects.
www.sacredheartcs.org/
 
 
Help Out at the Alzheimer's Activity Center - Sunday Programs
Respite and Research for Alzheimer's Disease
 
Date/Time: Sunday February 4. A variety of shifts are available between 9am - 5pm. Other upcoming Sunday dates are March 4, May 6, and June 3
 
Location: 2380 Enborg Ln.,San José

The mission of Alzheimer's Activity Center is to enrich the lives of people affected by Alzheimer's and related conditions by providing safe, nurturing, intergenerational services and support. The Rosa Elena Childcare Center, also a program of Respite and Research for Alzheimer's Disease, brings the intergenerational component to the programs. Sunday volunteers provide support to the organization when clients are not on site.

Volunteers must fulfill the following requirements prior to their first shift:
  • Fill out a Volunteer Application packet
  • Obtain a parental signature (if under the age of eighteen) or, if under the age of 15, be accompanied by an adult
Sunday volunteers assist with supportive services such as organizing, touch-up painting, gardening, general cleaning, various office projects, and filing. There is no client interaction on Sundays, as the Center is closed to the public. Volunteer attire should be casual and closed toe shoes should be worn.
 
Ages: Minimum age is 11 years old.  Volunteers younger than age of 15 need to be accompanied by an adult.
 
Time Commitment: Shifts must be a minimum of two hours in length. A lunch and/or break(s) must be taken for shifts that are four hours or longer.
 
Contact: Jill Moore, [email protected], 408.279.7515
 
 
Quarry Park Restoration Volunteer Day
City of Saratoga
 
Date/Time: Saturday February 10, 9am - noon
 
Location: Quarry Park, 22000 Congress Springs Rd., Saratoga

Volunteers are needed for the Parks & Recreation Commission Let's Work! program at Quarry Park on the second Saturday of every month from January through April. Volunteers will meet in the parking lot, then help remove invasive plants to beautify and maintain the trails. Please bring gloves, water, and sunscreen, and wear closed-toed shoes and long sleeves.
 
Ages: Ages 10 and up with an adult present. Ages 14 and up can serve without supervision.
 
Time Commitment: Three hours
 
Contact: Babette McKay, [email protected], 408.868.1265. To register, visit the event page and be sure to fill out the volunteer waiver form and bring it to the event.
 
 
Alum Rock Park: Trail Crew
San José Parks Volunteer Management Team
 
Date/Time: Saturday, February 10, 9am - 1pm
 
Location: Alum Rock Park, 15350 Penitencia Creek Road, San José. Please plan on arriving at the Penitencia Creek entrance by 8:45am, then follow the "Volunteer Event" signs to the parking lot. The park is very large and has very limited cell phone reception.

Like to hike? Then volunteer to improve the trails! Foot traffic wears down the tread; bushes and wildflowers grow over the trail; and rain, fire and wind have their own effects. You and your family can help to maintain a safe trail. Trail Crew Days are a great way to learn about the park, try something new, and meet new friends. After your inspiring volunteer experience, you will end up feeling refreshed, rejuvenated and ready to hike even more!
  • No experience necessary. Come meet others who enjoy hiking and the great outdoors!
  • Training and tools are provided, but you are welcome to bring your favorite tool.
  • Long pants, a long-sleeve shirt, sturdy shoes, sunscreen and a hat are recommended.
  • Please bring a filled water bottle and your own snack.
Ages: School age children are welcome to participate. Elementary and Middle school students must attend with an adult.
 
Time Commitment: Three to four hours
 
 
 
Beautify San José
The Trash Punx
 
Date/Time: Saturday, February 10, 9 - 11am
 
Location: In San José, location TBD

Our community has been over-populated by a massive amount of trash. The Trash Punx decided to do something about this by uniting our community together. Join us as we pick up trash around our community, one piece at a time, and have fun while doing it! Join The Trash Punx team as we target a specific area of San Jose invaded by litter. Please wear closed-toed shoes, and bring water, sunscreen, and sunglasses.

Ages: Children ages six and up are welcome with adult supervision. 
 
Time Commitment: Two hours
 
Contact: Justin Imamura, [email protected]. Registration is available online.
www.thetrashpunx.org  
 
 
The Super Run San José
Superfly Running Inc.
 
Date/Time: Saturday, February 17, 8 - 11am. Click for schedule details.
 
Location: Almaden Lake Park ($6 per car), Winfield & Coleman, San José

Be a Hero. Help a Cause. Join the Run. The Super Run is a national series of 5K, family friendly running events that partners with local nonprofit organizations to put on superhero themed events to help raise funds and awareness for their cause. The partners for the San José Run are the American Association for Cancer Research, Asian American Donor Program, Cure Search, Autism Run, Fleece & Thank You and the Superfly Foundation. As a registered runner, you have the option of raising funds for these charities through an individual Crowdrise page you can share with your friends. If 5K is a bit far for your kids, there is a Kids Run at 10:15am!

Ages: All ages are welcome to participate in the run. Strollers are welcome! Please note that only registered runners receive a cape and medal, so if you want your child to receive a cape and medal, they will need to be registered. Only participants with a bib (given out at packet pick up) will receive a finishers medal. 
 
Time Commitment: Approximately three hours
 
 
 
The Trash Punx: Operation Care & Comfort
The Trash Punx
 
Date/Time: Sunday, February 25. Check-in is at 9:30am; Event runs from 10am - 2pm
 
Location: Avaya Stadium, 1123 Coleman Avenue, San José

Join The Trash Punx team as we partner with Operation: Care and Comfort to sort, box and mail thousands of pounds of care packages for our forward deployed troops. This is Operation: Care and Comfort's first 2018 public military care package event. Please wear closed-toed shoes, and bring water, sunscreen, and sunglasses.
 
Ages: Children ages five and up are welcome with adult supervision. 
 
Time Commitment: Flexible. Join for as long as you are able!
 
Contact: Justin Imamura, [email protected] . Volunteers must pre-register online
 
 
Meals On Wheels Delivery
Peninsula Volunteers, Inc. (PVI)
 
Date/Time: WEEKDAYS ONLY, 10am - 1pm
 
Location: Initial meeting and training will be held at 800 Middle Ave., Menlo Park. Food pickups are in San Bruno, San Mateo and Menlo Park.

The mission of PVI Meals on Wheels is to increase food security and access to nutritious food and to keep older adults and adults with disabilities well-nourished and healthy, living independently in their own homes. After an initial phone visit, adult volunteers are asked to do a drive along. To volunteer, please bring drivers license and proof of insurance. There is a training and volunteer orientation at the first meeting. If a volunteer wants to drive a route once a week (weekdays only, no weekends or evenings) they are welcome to bring their children on the route.

Ages: Drivers over 18 with two years of driving experience. Children are welcome to come along on deliveries.
 
Time Commitment: Three hours, once a week with a three-month commitment.
 
Contact:  Vicki Cormack [email protected], 650.272.5108  
www.penvol.org/mealsonwheels/
 
 
Dinner is Served Program
JW House
 
Date/Time: Check the calendar for upcoming available dates
 
Location: 3850 Homestead Road, Santa Clara

JW House provides a warm, comfortable "home away from home" for families facing medical crises. Families and individuals from area hospitals are welcomed into the JW House family for rest and self-care during the day or overnight while their loved one is in the hospital. Dinner is Served is one of the most popular volunteer opportunities at JW House. After a long day at the hospital, our guests look forward to coming "home" to find that someone has planned, purchased the ingredients, and prepared ---   a delicious meal just for them. Groups who participate in Dinner is Served soon discover that their efforts go far beyond simply supplying a dinner. As families gather for dinner, a warm sense of community exists. It is a place where families can relax with one another and check in on how another's loved one is doing.
 
Ages: All ages are welcome to volunteer. Minors need to be supervised by an adult. Groups, businesses and individual families are ALL welcome to participate.
 
Time Commitment: Two and one-half to three hours
 
Contact: Laura Delgado, [email protected], 408.246.2224. The sign-up calendar shows available dates in RED - please click on a red date, then on "Click here to submit your information." Please complete the form to request that date. Someone from our office will contact you soon to confirm the date you request.   
 
 
Veggielution's Youth Garden
Veggielution
 
Date/Time: Every Saturday, 10am - 12:30pm
 
Location: 647 S. King Road, San José; located in the back of Emma Prusch Park

Come join the Veggielution team for weekly Youth Garden Activities. Every Saturday the whole family can enjoy gardening, crafting, and learning together in the Youth Garden. Participating in our Youth Garden activities is a great way to spend time with your children while exploring the garden, learning about the exciting processes of the natural world - not to mention making new friends. This is a unique opportunity to get your hands dirty and become better stewards of the environment as a family. Veggielution volunteer activities encourage exploration and play-based learning for the whole family .
 
Ages: Families with children ages three and up are welcome to volunteer. Families visiting the Youth Garden should have a 2:1 child to adult ratio for ages 3-6, and a 3:1 ratio for ages 7 and up. All parents or guardians must fill out a liability waiver for themselves and for each child accompanying them. Feel free to print and fill out the liability waiver ahead of time, or fill out the waiver when you sign-in at the Youth Garden.
 
Time Commitment: Two and one-half hours
 
Contact:  Emily Martinez, [email protected], 408.753.6705
www.veggielution.org
 
 
Car Window Poetry
Words Matter: Harness the Power of Poetry
Doing Good Together
 
Date/Time: Anytime
 
Location: Your home and community

At Doing Good Together, we know how the right turn of phrase can encourage more kindness. We know how  a great book can cultivate empathy, opening a child up to the feelings and experiences of a stranger. The instructions for this project are as simple as its name.
  1. Create short, heart-warming poems, jokes, or artwork. You may want to use the free Car Window Poetry cards available here.
  2. Place your poems on car windows outside your school, playground, library, a busy grocery store, or wherever you happen to be. Note: if it's raining or remarkably windy, postpone this step a bit.
  3. Post your poems on Instagram with the #CarWindowPoetry. While you're at it, kindly add #DoingGoodTogether as well!
Learn more by visiting the Doing Good Together Words Matter: Harness the Power of Poetry project page.
 
Ages: Everyone can participate
 
Time Commitment: Varies
 
 
 
Let's take the lovely day called Valentine's Day and make it a month-long kindness endeavor! Prepare now by printing and posting our 28-Day Valentine Kindness Challenge. Pick and choose your favorite days for doing something extra good for others or challenge yourselves for the entire month of February. This is a great project for families, community or faith groups, or even classrooms. And if you participate in this challenge, kindly let us know how it goes!

Share your stories here: www.doinggoodtogether.org/good-stories/

 

 

Like me on Facebook Follow me on Twitter Find me on Pinterest  View on Instagram 

 

If you received this email from someone else and would like to subscribe, please click here.

 

 
This list was compiled by Doing Good Together™ (www.doinggoodtogether.org)
 When calling to volunteer for any of the opportunities listed above, please let the coordinator know you found it through this listing. You are encouraged to ask any questions you may have of the sponsoring organization before committing to a project.
Disclaimer: This list is provided as a service to families. Inclusion of organizations in this listing does not imply affiliation, endorsement or quality assurance on the part of Doing Good Together.™ Doing Good Together™ bears no responsibility whatsoever for the activities and actions of the listed organizations. 
                                                                            

                                                                                                     © 2018 Doing Good Together™