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April 2020 - Silicon Valley |
We are all currently experiencing the impact of the efforts to contain the spread of COVID-19 in our communities. Our lives have changed dramatically in the past few weeks - our schools are closed, community events and everyday activities have been canceled, our homes are transformed into workspaces. Many nonprofits that serve vulnerable populations are now struggling to meet their basic needs. Although we like to encourage our subscribers to get out in the community and volunteer, right now fulfilling an organization's wish list or making a financial donation may be the best way that we can help. We are including a list of organizations you can contact in your community, as well as a few national sites you can use to search for additional organizations in your area. We suggest you be cognizant of potential staff shortages and the increased work demands on nonprofit staff and check an organization's website and social media channels for updated information. Please check with project organizers before beginning a project as needs are changing quickly!
There is much that we can do from home to lift the spirits of others who are struggling with ongoing issues made more difficult by the current crisis. Let's take this opportunity to turn our gaze outward, to spread joy, to help our neighbors and to be kind to ourselves and others. Our Doing Good Together family sends our warm wishes for the health and safety of every member of our community. Be well.
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EHP Emergency Food Program
Ecumenical Hunger Program
Date/Time: Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday between 9:30am - 4:30pm. Please check their
website for EHP's current work schedule
Location: Please drop off or send care packages to Ecumenical Hunger Program, 2411 Pulgas Ave., East Palo Alto
Ages: Everyone can help
Time Commitment: Varies
EHP is asking for the public's help in garnering items for local families in need. Food items that are the most needed are prepackaged, preferably single-serving sizes or any canned items that require little or no cooking. Some suggested items are; canned chili, soup, tuna, salmon, (poptop cans are preferred for homeless clients), fruit cups, Top Ramen, juice boxes, bottled water (8 oz. or 16 oz.), Cup-A-Soup and single serve meals and snacks (listed below). Many of these items may be ordered on Amazon. Gift cards to Walmart, Costco, Target or CVS would also be greatly appreciated. Non-food items that are also in high demand and needed are soap, wipes, hand sanitizer, toilet tissue, paper towels and diapers, sizes 4, 5, & 6.
The items below are sold on Amazon, but any similar items from any store will work:
- Campbell's Ready Meals, Creamy Dumplings with Chicken & Vegetables, 9 Ounce (Pack of 6)
- Bumble Bee Snack on the Run Tuna Salad with Crackers, Canned Tuna Fish, High Protein Food, 3.5 Ounce (Pack of 12)
- Hormel Compleats - Portion Control Variety Pack - Microwave Meals - No Refrigeration Needed (5 Pack)
- Hormel Compleats Chicken Alfredo, 10 Ounce (Pack of 6)
- Hormel Compleats Tender Beef with Mashed Potatoes and Gravy (Pack of 6)
- Hormel Compleats XL Chicken Alfredo, 13 Ounce (Pack of 5)
- Ultimate Snack Care Package, Variety Assortment of Chips, Cookies, Crackers & More, 40 Count
- Healthy Snacks Care Package (Count 30)
- Nabisco Cookies Sweet Treats Variety Pack Cookies - with Oreo, Chips Ahoy, & Golden Oreo - 30 Snack Pack
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West Valley Community Services
Date/Time: Monday through Friday; 8am - noon, 1 - 5pm (Please ring doorbell)
Location: West Valley Community Services, 10104 Vista Drive, Cupertino
Ages: Everyone can help
Time Commitment: Varies
Thank you for your compassion. Even at the darkest of times, a compassionate community can make an incredible difference. Here are three ways that you can help:
- To help us buy food, supplies and to support our clients, please donate here
- To help feed low income and homeless community residents, drop-off unexpired and unopened cans of food or shelf-stable dry packaged food (like canned soup, meals in a can, canned fruit, canned veggies, oatmeal packets, mac and cheese, cereal bars, pasta, noodles, rice, instant soup cups, snacks for kids etc.) or fruit from trees in your yard at West Valley Community Services' office
- Donate paper and plastic bags to help us package food for distribution
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Send Kindness to an Elder
Letters of Love
Date/Time: Anytime and as often as you'd like
Location: Mail cards to:
Love For The Elderly
P. O. Box 24248
Cleveland, OH 44124
Ages: Everyone can help
Time Commitment: Varies
The mission of Letters of Love is to bring joy into the lives of the elderly. They do this by collecting cards and mailing these to elders in senior communities across the globe. These include nursing homes, assisted living facilities, hospices and senior centers. With the outbreak of COVID-19, it's more important than ever to fight loneliness with love for our elders. Here are their letter writing guidelines:
- Letters must be legible (large print) and handwritten.
- Avoid religion. Please refrain from including anything religious in your letters, such as religious quotes, words like "God," etc.
- Exclude the date (day, month, and year).
- Embrace creativity! Recipients love it when the letters are personal. We encourage you to make your letters detailed, thoughtful and heartfelt.
- Be kind and thoughtful (more than talking about yourself). This is a one-way letter exchange, meaning you will not receive a letter back, so remember that no reciprocation attached is part of the beauty of your act of kindness, and the recipients don't feel burdened by feeling obligated or being unable to respond.
- Envelope your letters if you can! It's so much nicer to open up an enveloped card, don't you think? If you're sending more than 1 letter, leave your enveloped letters unsealed and unstamped and put them in a larger envelope or box to send.
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Color A Smile
Date/Time: Ongoing
Location: Mail your drawings to:
Color A Smile
PO Box 1516
Morristown, NJ
07962-1516
Ages: Everyone is welcome to participate
Time Commitment: Varies
Color A Smile is a nonprofit organization that distributes cheerful drawings to senior citizens, our troops overseas, and anyone in need of a smile. Every month Color A Smile mails out thousands of cheerful drawings. Over the last 25 years, Color A Smile has given out over 1 million drawings. Their goal is to put smiles on people's faces and remind them that someone is thinking of them. Pick up your crayons and help to spread smiles! Click here for coloring templates and instructions.
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Emergency Assistance Fund for College Youth
Together We Rise
Date/Time: Ongoing
Location: Online
Ages: Everyone can help
Time Commitment: Varies
Together We Rise's mission is to help ease the transitions that foster children experience within the system. The foster care system can be a confusing and sometimes disheartening place for children. Together We Rise's fundraising and network of passionate volunteers strives to give children in foster care a brighter future, a sense of normalcy and belonging. Right now college students formerly in the foster care system are being displaced from their dorms and on-campus housing. The Together We Rise network is working on creating emergency housing, providing travel, utilities, and groceries to these students. You can help by making a financial donation to this emergency fund.
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Clean up Your Neighborhood
Date/Time: Choose your own date and time
Location: Your neighborhood or local park
Ages: Everyone can participate
Time Commitment: Varies
This April marks the 50th anniversary of Earth day. Because of the COVID-19 outbreak, many cleanup projects and celebration have unfortunately needed to be canceled. Your family can host your own independent cleanup for Earth Day instead. Celebrate by picking up trash in your neighborhood, or in your local parks -- while maintaining a safe distance from others. Check out the Doing Good Together Clean Up your Neighborhood Pick a Project page for additional ideas and reflection ideas.
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Operation Gratitude
Date/Time: Ongoing
Location: Put all loose artwork and letters/cards (no individual envelopes) in a large envelope or box according to their recipient type, and ship to:
Operation Gratitude
ATTN: Letter Writing Program
9409 Owensmouth Avenue
Chatsworth, CA 91311
Ages: Everyone is welcome to participate
Time Commitment: Varies
Write letters to our military, veterans and first responders. Operation Gratitude sends care packages to our active duty military, veterans, first responders and new recruits. Each package includes a bundle of letters from the American people, thanking them for their service to our country. Package recipients tell us these letters, notes, and drawings are the most cherished items in their box. Visit the Operation Gratitude website for full instructions.
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EXPLORE our growing list of at-home projects you can do whenever you're ready, each with conversation starters, book ideas, and more! Follow along on social media as other families tackle this month's projects and share their stories! Simply join our Facebook group or find us on Instagram (@doinggoodtogether and #sharekindness)
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Stay home, teach kindness, make a difference, and have fun!
Homebound with your kids? This is the ideal time to teach your children that when our community faces difficult challenges, your family thinks about helping others, too. We've put together a DGT Kindness Kit that allows you and your kids to offer simple acts of generosity right from your own kitchen table. Find all you need to advocate for issues that matter; combat hunger; treat homebound folks to creative artwork; share gratitude with people who mean the world to you; and spark fun, meaningful conversations about empathy, compassion and the common good! Find more information about our Kindness Kit in our DGT Store and order today: only $9.95, including shipping. (Bulk discounts are available.) We're also offering a digital version for $4.95. However, if the cost is a problem, use the coupon code KINDNESS to download it for free
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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.
© 2020 Doing Good Together™
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