September 2016 - Silicon Valley 

 
Help Out Sacred Heart Community Services
Sacred Heart Community Services
 
Date/Time: Saturday, September 10, 9am - noon
 
Location: 1381 South 1st St, San Jose

Since 1964, Sacred Heart Community Services has served Santa Clara County residents in need. They provide food, clothing, job training, legal services, housing assistance, and educational classes free of charge to more than 1500 clients each day. Join us to support Sacred Heart's programs by building food baskets, sorting clothing and food donations and preparing educational materials for the clients. Volunteers must wear appropriate clothing (pants, no bare midriff or low cut shirts) and closed-toed shoes. Parking lot is often available for volunteers on Saturdays, please do not park in Wendy's or Denny's.

Ages: Ages 12 and up with an adult
 
Time Commitment: Three hours
 
Contact: 408.278.2171, volunteers@sacredheartcs.org
www.sacredheartcs.org/volunteer/
 
 
Coyote Creek Cleanup in Honor of Coastal Cleanup Day
Keep Coyote Creek Beautiful
 
Date/Time: Saturday, September 17, 9am - noon
 
Location: Tully Ball fields, 850 Tully Rd., San Jose

Coastal Cleanup Day is a terrific way to show your support for your California waterways, not just the Coast. Spend a few hours at Coyote Creek and help beautify our creek through a community cleanup. Be sure to wear long pants, long sleeves, and closed-toed shoes since you will be near poison oak and around loose or muddy soil.

Ages: Everyone is welcome to participate (those under 13 must be accompanied by an adult). Volunteers under age 18 must have a signed waiver (available upon completed registration). Community service hours are available.
 
Time Commitment: Three hours
 
Contact: Deb Kramer, 408.372.7053, deb@keepcoyotecreekbeautiful.org. Registration is available online.
www.keepcoyotecreekbeautiful.org
 
 
Color the Track 5K and 10K
Truploy Foundation
 
Date/Time: Saturday, September 24, 7:30am - noon
 
Location: Guadalupe River Park Conservancy, 438 Coleman Ave. San Jose

Register your family for the run/walk or sign up your family to volunteer and help coordinate kids games, guide runners and or operate water stations. Color the Track 5K/10K is a competitive run and a fun run/walk. The event was created to raise funds for foster youth in Santa Clara County and raise awareness of the youth in our communities at their time in need. The event will consist of a competitive run and walk, face painting, fun kid activities, and more.
 
Ages: All ages are welcome to participate; volunteers under 18 must have parent or guardian present.
 
Time Commitment: Up to five hours, depending on volunteer station.
 
Contact: Mark Martinez, co-founder, mmartinez@baarsllc.com or 408.874.5969
www.runsignup.com/Race/CA/SanJose/ColortheTrack5K10K
 
 
Hip Hop Run Benefiting Loaves & Fishes Family Kitchen and Make a Wish Foundation
Hip Hop Run
 
Date/Time: Saturday, September 24, all day events
 
Location:  588 E Alma Ave, San Jose

The Hip Hop Run brings entertainment to running in a fun, family-friendly environment suitable for all ages. Enjoy DJ's throughout the course, playing all of the songs you know and love. Participants have the option to take part in the 10k run, 5k run/walk, or the 5k-challenge race. Be entertained after the run with a star-studded lineup of musicians and DJ's at our main stage finish line. Be part of an exciting blend of competitive exercise and stellar music. Proceeds from the event go to Loaves and Fishes Family Kitchen and the Make A Wish Foundation of the Greater Bay Area.

Ages: All ages are welcome to walk for a great cause!
 
Time Commitment: Varies
 
Contact: Denise Chaisson, 406.360.4154, hiphoprun10k@gmail.com
www.hiphoprun.com
 
 
The Canary Challenge
The Canary Foundation
 
Date/Time: Saturday, September 24, 5 - 8pm
 
Location: Hewlett Packard Campus, 1501 Page Mill Rd, Palo Alto

The Canary Challenge is an annual cycling event and 5km walk/run in Palo Alto, and a pioneer in fundraising in the San Francisco Bay Area. Unlike many organized charity bike rides, the Canary Challenge ensures that 100 percent of all funds raised are directed to the event beneficiary, the Canary Foundation, and do not cover the cost of the event operations. Founded in 2004, the Canary Foundation is the world's first nonprofit organization dedicated solely to the funding, discovery and development of tests for early cancer detection Last year, over 1000 riders and 190 volunteers participated in the event and raised $1.1 million for the Canary Center at Stanford. The Canary Challenge is a fully supported bike ride, offering a 5km walk/ride/run, 50km, 50-mile, 75-mile, and 100-mile rides -- all with multiple food and water stops, mechanical and medical assistance, and plenty of SWAG. The rides cater to all levels of cycling strength -- from children, to fixed gear bikes and tandems, to time trial champions, the Canary Challenge is a ride for everyone! Over 200 volunteers are needed to make the Challenge a fun-filled family affair. Volunteer tasks include helping with village setup, rider registration, kid's zone, information booth, spin-to-win, beer and wine garden, village greeters, parking lot monitors and much more. All volunteers will receive a volunteer t-shirt, food and beverages, and that warm, fuzzy feeling from doing a great thing!

Ages: All ages are welcome. Volunteers under 18 must complete a waiver to volunteer with a parent or guardian.
 
Time Commitment: Varies depending on volunteer station or ride chosen.
 
Contact:  Gabriella, gabi@canaryfoundation.org, 650.468.3385. Click here to register to volunteer and here to register as a participant.
www.canarychallenge.org
 
 
Lincoln's 50th Anniversary Beautification Day
Lincoln PALS Club
 
Date/Time: Saturday, September 24, 9am - 1pm
 
Location: Lincoln Elementary School, 36111 Bettencourt St., Newark

Volunteers will be pulling weeds, spreading bark, repainting decorative features, and giving the school a much-needed refresher. Bring along gloves, shovels, rakes, trowels, wheel barrels, etc. Wear hat/sunscreen and sturdy shoes. No power tools, please.

Ages: Bring the whole family - all ages are welcome!
 
Time Commitment: Two to four hours
 
Contact: Danielle Koberstein, leopard.choir@gmail.com, 510.363.5515. Registration is available online
www.lincolnpalsclub.com/
 
 
Host a 'Shoe Cutting Party' or Hold a Collection Drive
Sole Hope
 
Date/Time: Flexible
 
Location: Shoes and donations can be mailed to:
605 East Innes St. #3263
Salisbury, NC 28145

Sole Hope is an organization working to create a positive difference in the lives of individuals in impoverished communities of Uganda to combat diseases that enter through the feet. Jiggers are small sand fleas that live in the dust, and are found on the dirt floors in schools and the homes of many families in Uganda and other similar climates. Female jiggers can burrow into the skin and these wounds are painful, and cause difficulties for victims in daily activities such as walking, playing, and attending school. In addition to shoe making events and collections, Sole Hope holds medical clinics, and provides education and jobs for the beautiful souls of Uganda. Volunteers can help by holding a Shoe Cutting Party or by Coordinating a Collection Drive. If you're holding a shoe cutting party, start by deciding approximately how many people you're going to invite. You can then purchase the corresponding shoe cutting kit from their website. Kits come with an instructional DVD, pictures, shoe sponsorship cards, bookmarks, stickers, a pattern, and much more! You can hold a collection for simple items to help with jigger removals and to assist the Outreach House in Africa. Sole Hope will ensure they go with the next bunch of shoe uppers and medical supplies to Uganda.

Ages: Everyone can participate
 
Time Commitment: Varies
 
Contact:  info@solehope.org
www.solehope.org
 
 
St. Francis' Hot Meals and Ecumenical Hunger Program
Ecumenical Hunger Program at St. Francis of Assisi Church
 
Date/Time: Wednesdays, 5 - 6pm for the Hot Meal Program, other volunteer opportunity days and times vary.
 
Location: St. Francis of Assisi Church, 1425 Bay Road, East Palo Alto

Ecumenical Hunger Program, along with the St. Vincent De Paul Society, prepares and serves hot meals to needy individuals and families every Wednesday night at St. Francis of Assisi Church in East Palo Alto. At St. Francis, you'll be serving pre-made food to the less fortunate. When volunteers arrive, they sign in, grab aprons and gloves to either prepare the plates or go out and serve the plates to the guests. Some of those served are homeless, while others are families with children who take advantage of this program to conserve the limited funds they have. There are also opportunities for families to volunteer in the Food Closet (sorting, packing and distributing boxes) and in the warehouse (sorting clothing, shoes and other items).

Ages: All ages welcome, please make sure that you are not sick.
 
Time Commitment: One to two hours
 
Contact:  Lakesha Roberts, info@ehpcares.org, 650.323.7781
www.ehpcares.org/food-services.html
 
 
Full Circle Farm Education Garden - Sustainable Community Gardens
Full Circle Farm
 
Date/Time: Wednesdays and Saturdays from 10am to 7pm or dark, whichever comes first.
 
Location: Our West Gate at 955 Dunford Way, Sunnyvale

Full Circle Farm's Education Garden is a one-acre patch of green at the west end of the farm. The Education Garden meets several community needs while the production fields are focused on food production. Volunteer garden tasks are different everyday; you might be harvesting, planting, weeding, composting, digging and more. No experience is necessary. All volunteers are encouraged to take home some veggies with them. Enjoy the fruits of your labor!

What to Bring/Wear
  • Water bottle
  • Closed toed shoes
  • Hat
  • Snacks and/or a lunch
  • Garden gloves (if you have them)
Ages: All ages, families are welcome to volunteer
 
Time Commitment:  Come when you can and leave whenever you need to.
 
Contact: Dan Hafeman, danh@fullcirclesunnyvale.org
www.fullcirclesunnyvale.org
 
 
Neighborhood Cleanup
Downtown Streets Team
 
Date/Time: Three Saturday mornings each month, 9:30am to noon.
  • First Saturday, Santee Neighborhood
  • Second Saturday, McKinley Neighborhood
  • Third Saturday: Mayfair Neighborhood
Location:  
  • Santee: Santee Community Center - 1535 Santee Drive, San Jose
  • McKinley: McKinley Community Center - 651 Macredes Avenue, San Jose
  • Mayfair: Mayfair Community Center - 2039 Kammerer Avenue, San Jose
Beautify San Jose's most blighted neighborhoods with homeless Downtown Streets Team Members who are working hard to get housing and employment. The mission of Downtown Streets Team is to eradicate homelessness by empowering homeless individuals to be part of the solution to homelessness. Join your community by beautifying the Santee, McKinley or Mayfair neighborhoods with Downtown Streets Team Members. Not only will you be beautifying one of the most blighted neighborhoods in San Jose, fostering a safe place for people to live and play, you will be volunteering side-by-side with people who are volunteering their way out of homelessness. Feel free to ask them questions and get a new perspective on what it's like to be homeless and living on a low income in Santa Clara County.

What to wear and bring:
  • Please wear covered shoes, pants, long sleeves and work gloves.
  • Wear sunscreen and bring water to stay hydrated.
  • For safety reasons please do not wear these items: no red or blue, no logos on hats/shirts and no numbers. Blue jeans are okay.
  • All that's left to bring is your "Can-do" attitude and we'll be on our way to making our neighborhoods safer and more beautiful places.  
     
Ages: Youth under 18 are welcome to volunteer with a parent or guardian.
 
Time Commitment: Two and one-half hours
 
Contact: Cliff Navales, San Jose Project Manager; cliff@streetsteam.org. Registration is available online
www.streetsteam.org/
 
 
Magic Mail Center
Doing Good Together
 
Date/Time: Anytime
 
Location: Set up in your own home

Creating a Magic Mail Center in your home can make it easy to keep kindness part of your family's fall routine! As your fall family schedule gets busy, keep this simple worksheet on hand. When you have unexpected free time, send a letter and make a difference. Visit the Doing Good Together project page to for more ideas and reflection questions.
 
Ages: Everyone can participate
 
Time Commitment: Varies
 
Contact: mail@doinggoodtogether.org
www.doinggoodtogether.org
 
 
As we start Back-To-School Season, let's remind our kids about the importance of kindness. We're making it easy to deliver this message with our new Doing Good Together™ Infographic that offers insight and ideas for making kindness a priority! 

Presented in a problem/solution format, with relevant stats, fun graphics, and easy-to-find links, we encourage you to post, pin, tweet, and share this graphic with your circle of friends, family, and educators. You can find this graphic on our website, along with other compelling articles on why kindness matters and why DGT matters too. Thanks for sharing DGT™ with others!
 
 

 

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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. 
                                                                            

                                                                                                     © 2016 Doing Good Together™