November 2018  - Silicon Valley 
 
Help Sort and Pack Holiday Care Packages
Operation: Care and Comfort
 
Date/Time: Sunday, November 4, 9am - 1pm
 
Location: Avaya Stadium, 1123 Coleman Avenue, San José. Free parking will be available at the back of the stadium. Head to the stadium and sign in at the registration table.
 
Operation: Care and Comfort (OCC) provides support and comfort to "adopted" units of deployed U.S. military service members, serving in Iraq, Afghanistan, and other conflict regions. Working within the community and through donations received from all over the country, the organization assembles and ships care packages to their adopted units every month until they return home. They currently support up to 200 units on a monthly basis. Join them as they sort, pack and box care packages for troops serving overseas. The troops overseas do not have the comforts of home, so mailing care packages filled with snacks, hygiene and leisure items bring them a touch of home. Be sure to wear your Santa hats and garb, and join the fun for the year's last public packing event. Light snacks and beverages will be provided.
 
Ages: Families with children ages 5 and older are welcome to volunteer, but anyone under 16 must be supervised by an adult.
 
Time Commitment: Four hours
 
Contact: Registration is available online. For questions contact Julie DeMaria, 408.373.8635 or [email protected]
https://www.occ-usa.org
 
 
Holiday Shopping Spree
Sunday Friends
 
Date/Time(s):
  • Friday November 9, 6:30 - 9pm
  • Friday November 16, 6:30 - 9pm
Location: Target Store, 1811 Hillsdale Ave, San José

Sunday Friends empowers families to break the generational cycle of poverty by fostering positive development in children while educating and guiding parents to support their children's life success. This event is important because the gifts we gather during our shopping spree will make it possible for children and parents to earn, select and gift wrap presents for their loved ones in Sunday Friends' holiday programs. Join us to give the gift of giving this holiday season. We meet at the front of the store, split up into shopping teams and divide up the money collected. We assign each team a "mission" (girls' toys, teens' gifts, dads' gifts, warming presents, etc.). Each team searches the store for the best gifts. We meet back at the registers to check out and award prizes.  Each shopper must bring $10 - $100 (or more). For more information about this program, visit Sunday Friends' website.

Ages: Families with children ages eight and older are welcome to participate.
 
Time Commitment: One and one-half hours
 
Contact: Registration is available online. For questions, contact the Volunteer Coordinator at 408.217.9587 or email [email protected]
http://www.sundayfriends.org
 
 
Work at the Farm
Santa Clara Unified School District
 
Date/Time: Ongoing, Wednesdays and Saturdays 9 - 11am
 
Location: 1055 Dunford Way, Sunnyvale
 
Santa Clara Unified School District's Farm produce is grown organically, picked fresh, and then sent to their students' cafeteria plates! Volunteers are needed to help put in stakes for their tomato plant crops, plant pumpkins, pull weeds, harvest food, water plants, and have fun working hard with other community members. Volunteers must wear gloves and eye protection for their safety. Also, please make sure to bring sunblock, water, and hats.

Ages: Families with children ages 10 and older are welcome to volunteer. An adult must accompany children under the age of 14.
 
Time Commitment: Two hours
 
Contact: Email [email protected] at least 48 hours in advance informing the date and time you plan to volunteer. For additional questions contact Angie Ruiz, 408.423.3248 or [email protected]
https://www.santaclarausd.org/Page/1175
 
 
Tutor with the Young Scholars Program
Family Connections
 
Date/Time: Saturday, November 17, 10 - 1pm
 
Location: Belle Haven School Site, 1391 Chilco Street, Menlo Park
 
Family Connections strives to make our community stronger through a ripple effect of positive, lasting change. This is accomplished by supporting and deeply caring for each individual family and, importantly, always respecting their unique situation. The Young Scholars Program supports underserved students who have participated in the Family Connections preschool program for at least one year and are entering Transitional Kindergarten or Kindergarten. After preschool, the Young Scholars program sustains positive family dynamics and learning opportunities for kindergarten and beyond so that participating students and their families have the tools and resources to become the drivers of their own success and leaders in their extended communities. Volunteers are needed to mentor and support Young Scholars Program participants.
 
Ages: Families with children ages eight and older are welcome to volunteer. All minors under the age of 16 must have adult present.
 
Time Commitment: Three hours
 
Contact: Sign up online through HandsOn Bay Area for full opportunity details and additional questions.
 
 
South Bay Family Volunteer Day
HandsOn Bay Area
 
Date/Time: Saturday, November 17, 9:30am - 12:30pm
 
Location: Runnymede Garden Apartments, 2301 Cooley Avenue, East Palo Alto. There is plenty of parking in the neighborhood outside of the building
 
Organized by HandsOn Bay Area and sponsored by The Walt Disney Company, this day of service helps families strengthen bonds to their communities and each other. This year, HandsOn Bay Area is partnering with Collective Roots, and activities will include installing a trellis system, building a small compost box, and painting terracotta pots. With only one grocery store for a population of 30,000 people, much of East Palo Alto is considered a Low Access Community by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Collective Roots serves as an important space for community members to learn about growing food, as well as providing garden plots for East Palo Alto residents who don't have access to gardening space. Please wear closed-toe shoes and clothes you are comfortable getting dirty/painted.

Ages: All ages and skill levels are welcome to participate.
 
Time Commitment: Three hours
 
Contact: Registration is available online. For questions, contact Ambrosia Shapiro at [email protected]
http://handsonbayarea.org
 
 
Make Welcome Kits for Refugees in Need
International Rescue Committee
 
Date/Time: Ongoing
 
Location: 1210 South Bascom Avenue, San José
 
The International Rescue Committee (IRC) responds to the world's worst humanitarian crises and helps people whose lives and livelihoods are shattered by conflict and disaster to survive, recover, and gain control of their future. IRC is gathering welcome kits for newly arrived families, asylees and victims of Human Trafficking. Welcome kits offer refugees with primary sets of necessities upon their arrival and also increases their efficiency in distributing goods to their clients. The welcome kits include items, such as basic kitchen necessities, personal hygiene items, bedding, and cleaning supplies. Furthermore, donating a completed kit increases the staff's efficiency in distributing these goods to newly arrived refugees. Please label and package completed welcome kits in reusable bags/boxes and mail/deliver to the address above. Click here for a detailed list of items needed for the welcome kit.
 
Ages: All ages welcome to participate
 
Time Commitment: Varies
 
Contact: Please email Amanda Gamban, [email protected] or call 408.277.0255 to learn about drop off dates and times.
 
 
14th Annual Silicon Valley Turkey Trot
Sponsored by Applied Materials
 
Date/Time: Thursday November 22, 6 - 11am. The kids fun run (ages 2 - 7) is at 10:30am
 
Location: 525 West Santa Clara Street, San José. You can find convenient parking at one of these lots:
  • SAP Center Parking (lots A & D) - behind the arena/Santa Clara Street @ Autumn Street
  • 2nd Street Parking Lot - 280 S. Second Street
  • Market/San Pedro Garage - 45 N. Market St. (Entrances on Market and San Pedro streets)
  • 3rd Street Parking Lot - 95 N. Third Street, north of Santa Clara Street
  • 4th Street Parking Lot - 44 S. Fourth Street, at San Fernando Street
  • Cityview Plaza - Park Ave, Almaden Blvd & San Fernando Street entrances
  • 333 W. Julian Street #100
Kick off the holiday season by joining your Silicon Valley neighbors at the biggest Thanksgiving block-party in the country! The Silicon Valley Turkey Trot is a 5K Run/Walk and 10K Run that benefits five deserving charities helping to fight hunger, homelessness and promoting healthy communities in the Bay Area.
 
Beneficiaries include:
  • Healthier Kids Foundation Santa Clara County
  • The Housing Trust Silicon Valley
  • Second Harvest Food Bank, Santa Clara and San Mateo Counties
  • Second Harvest Food Bank, Santa Cruz County
  • The Health Trust
Ages: All ages are welcome to participate
 
Time Commitment: Varies
 
Contact:  Registration is available online.
http://svturkeytrot.com

 
Help Provide Valet Bike Parking at Special Events
Silicon Valley Bicycle Coalition (SVBC)

Date/Time(s):
  • Thursday, November 1, 2 - 10pm, Levi's Stadium, San Francisco 49ers vs. Oakland Raiders
  • Saturday, November 10, 3:45 - 9:45pm, Stanford Stadium, Stanford Cardinal vs. Oregon State
  • Monday, November 12, 2 - 10pm, Levi's Stadium, San Francisco 49ers vs. New York Giants
  • Friday, November 30, 2:15 - 10pm, Levi's Stadium, Pac-12 Football Championship Game
Location(s):
  • Levi's Stadium, 4900 Marie P. DeBartolo Way, Santa Clara
  • Stanford Stadium, 625 Nelson Rd, Santa Clara  
The purpose of SVBC is to create a healthy community, environment, and economy through bicycling for people who live, work, or play in San Mateo and Santa Clara Counties. Valet bike parking is one of many ways that Silicon Valley Bicycle Coalition encourages people to bike to public events. Volunteer responsibilities include accepting event attendees' bikes, placing them on bike racks, keeping a watchful eye during the event and then happily returning them to the attendees when they are ready to leave. Perks (such as snacks, free entry, or a meal) are usually provided for volunteers, depending on the event.
 
Ages: Families with children eight and older are welcome to participate. Volunteers age 13-18 may participate on their own with a signed waiver. If you will be volunteering with children, the expectation is that they can be independent and support the bike parking program without needing to be supervised the entire time. You will be working together but must be able to leave them unattended at times. If you are unsure if this is an age appropriate volunteer activity for your child, please do not hesitate to contact the Community Programs Manager.
 
Time Commitment: Varies
 
 
 
Holiday Food Drive
Sacred Heart Community Service
 
Date/Time: Deadline to deliver Thanksgiving food drives is Saturday November 17;
and deadline for Christmas food drives is Saturday December 15.
 
Location: Sacred Heart Donation Station, 1381 South 1st Street, San José

You can make a HUGE impact in a family's life by organizing a holiday food drive! Help Sacred Heart ensure families in need have the opportunity to gather together for a bountiful holiday meal. Please visit their website to see the items most in need for the holidays.
Follow these easy steps:
  • Choose your team: Invite your co-workers, classmates or teammates to participate in your drive. You can collect at your place of worship or with friends, family and neighbors!
  • Choose your theme: For holiday drives, would you like to collect food or toys?
  • Celebrate your success! Gather your team's collection and bring it to Sacred Heart. Let us know when you come so we can thank you personally. We can also take a picture of your group with your donations!
Ages: All ages are welcome to participate.
 
Time Commitment: Varies
 
Contact: You can register your drive online . If you have questions about hosting a drive, please contact Terri West at [email protected].
https://sacredheartcs.org/
 
 
Volunteer for Holiday Wish Drive
Family Giving Tree
 
Date/Time: Warehouse volunteers are needed in December. Registration for warehouse volunteers will begin six weeks before the warehouse opens.
 
Location: Family Giving Tree, 606 Valley Way, Milpitas

The Family Giving Tree fulfills the exact holiday wishes of those children in the most need in our communities while inspiring the values of kindness, philanthropy and volunteerism. Interested in volunteering during the Family Giving Tree's Holiday Wish Drive? They are always looking for people who want to have fun, are passionate about their work and love giving back to the community. The warehouse is a flurry of activity in December for the Holiday Wish Drive. Family Giving Tree relies on groups and individual volunteers to help set up the warehouse space, receive donations, sort and prepare donations, quality check donated products, help load agency cars, and clean up the warehouse space. Tasks will be assigned when volunteers arrive at the warehouse depending on most pressing needs at that time.
 
Ages: Open to all ages; Children under 15 years must be accompanied by an adult.
 
Time Commitment: Varies
 
Contact: To sign up, email [email protected]. Registrations are taken on a first come first serve basis. 
 
 
Feed the Hungry
Community Seva
 
Date/Time:
  • Breakfast: Every Sunday, 6 - 7:30am, San José
  • Lunch: Saturday, November 24, 10am - noon
  • Dinner: Sunday, November 25, 3 - 7pm
  • CARE Bags: Anytime
Location(s):
  • Breakfast - San José (exact location will be provided after sign-up)
  • Lunch - Fremont (exact location will be provided after sign-up)
  • Dinner  - Fremont (exact location will be provided after sign-up)
  • CARE Bags: At your own location
The word Seva means service. Selfless service, or Seva (a Sanskrit word), is a service which is performed with no expectation of any kind of return. Community Seva is not a religious or faith-based organization. Community Seva has been carrying out their mission of cooking and serving meals, distributing blankets during winter and hygiene kits to the homeless for nearly five years, resulting in over 65,000 meals served. Additionally, they aim to empower children, the future citizens of our world, to learn empathy and participate by making a difference that they can see. As Silicon Valley grapples with historic levels of homelessness, staying clean is part of a daily struggle for thousands of men, women & children who live on the streets and in various emergency shelters. Community Seva helps volunteers to organize a CARE Bag activity to prepare 100 care bags containing basic hygiene kits, including articles such as toothpaste, hairbrush, shampoo, lotion, etc. and distribute these to homeless individuals. This activity takes place at the sponsor's house and can be a great way to celebrate birthdays and other special days in your child's life by encouraging them to volunteer and help the needy! There is a $200 cost to sponsor the CARE Bags activity. Community Seva requests that you sign up only once a year so as to allow others to take part in the activity.

Ages: Families with children ten and older are welcome to volunteer at any of the meal Sevas.. All ages welcome to assemble CARE Bag Sevas.
 
Time Commitment:  Varies
 
 
 
Sponsor a Holiday Gift Drive
YWCA
 
Date/Time: The last day for donations is Saturday, December 8
 
Location: 375 S. Third St., San José, CA 95112. Donate by mail or in person.
 
The YWCA Child Care Center benefits survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, and human trafficking. On December 8, survivors and families will be invited to celebrate the holidays with YWCA at their annual Holiday Party. Your holiday gift donation can help make this event even more meaningful!
 
DONATE NEW & UNWRAPPED ITEMS: Donate gift and items for newborns to adults, such as: clothing, jackets & shoes, educational toys, books, craft items & games, personal care products, journals and make-up, bedding and linens, kitchenware and small appliances.

GIFT CARDS ARE WELCOME: Donate gift cards for $15, $20, $50 or more for stores, such as: Target, Walmart, Kohl's, Barnes & Noble, Walgreens & CVS. Gift cards will be used for clothes and provide food for survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault and human trafficking during and after the holidays.
 
Ages: Everyone is welcome to participate
 
Time Commitment: Varies
 
Contact: Yaritza Velazquez, 408.295.4011 ext. 375 or [email protected]
http://ywca-sv.org
 
 
November Sorting Party
Pajama Program: Bay Area Chapter

Date/Time: Saturday November 17, 9am - 1pm

Location: Santa Teresa Hills Presbyterian Church, 5370 Snell Ave, San José

Bedtime is a vulnerable time for every child, but for millions in America, it is especially sensitive. For these children who don't know a loving home environment, or who live unstable lives in unsafe situations, the treasured bedtime ritual most of us grew up with is unknown. The goal of Pajama Program is to change this part of the day with loving, magical gifts that offer a new reality. They accomplish this by gifting pajamas and books - ordinary objects that transform bedtime into a ritual of love, warmth, imagination and fun. The Bay Area Chapter's sorting party will help to sort, fold and deliver new pajamas and books to the children in need before the holiday season. Volunteers always have a great time together... and many hands make light work!

Ages: All ages are welcome to participate

Time Commitment: Four hours

Contact:  Sign up online. For additional questions, contact Pallie Zambrano at [email protected]
http://pajamaprogram.org/
 
 
HandsOn Bay Area Youth Guide
HandsOn Bay Area
 
Date/Time: Will depend on specific opportunity
 
Location: Throughout the Bay Area
 
HandsOn Bay Area has a variety of volunteering projects for youth of all ages. It's easy for the family to plan with this ongoing list of volunteer opportunities, segmented by age groups. Referrals from Doing Good Together can use discount code doinggoodtogether for $5 off their one-time activation donation. Visit www.handsonbayarea.org/youth-guide for their full list of family-friendly volunteer opportunities!
 
Ages: There are opportunities for families with children of all ages.
 
Time Commitment: Varies
 
Contact:  Please see individual opportunities for contact information and details.
http://www.handsonbayarea.org
 
 
Sponsor a Family
Family-to-Family
 
Date/Time: Ongoing, monthly donation
 
Location: Family-to-Family will connect you with a family to sponsor.

Teach your children the importance of sharing your bounty with others by sponsoring a family in need with a monthly box of groceries. Choose one of the six options on the Family-to Family website and your family can help ease the burden of hunger and poverty in one of America's poorest communities. Depending on the option you choose, you'll need to buy groceries and personal care items, along with a box and postage. Visit the Doing Good Together Sponsor a Family project page for reflection questions and other ways your family can make a positive difference in the lives of others.
 
Ages: Everyone is welcome to participate
 
Time Commitment: Varies
 
 
Shop Kind for the Holidays!

Whether you're shopping for birthday gifts, making your holiday gift list, or just looking for books, games, and activities for your family, be sure to keep kindness in mind. DGT has compiled a variety of "kind vendors," and we've found some fun Amazon products that could turn online shopping into a big-hearted activity. Best of all, as an Amazon affiliate and having sponsored vendors, DGT benefits from these purchases as well. Want to become a Kind Vendor? Contact us and tell us about your big-hearted product!
 

 

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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™