Supporting Our Nonprofits
September 2023
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Lafayette Chamber Announcements |
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Upcoming Lafayette Chamber Events!
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Don't miss the following nonprofits at the Festival!
Vendor Booths
Acalanes Cheerleaders
Bikes For Tykes
Campolindo Cheerleaders
CCC Firefighters Local 1230
Contra Costa Mosquito & Vector Control District
Crime Prevention
NorSled Dog Rescue
Ticket Booth Hosts
Acalanes Cheer Parents
Acalanes Class Parents
Campo Cheer
Campo Water Polo Boys & Girls
PFLAG
Event Support
Boys Team Charity
BSA Troop 402
BSA Troop 212
National Charity League
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THIS MONTH'S EMAIL BLAST IS SPONSORED BY
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Celebrate Ruth's Birthday in style at the Ruth Bancroft Garden! This special occasion calls for a joyful gathering of nature enthusiasts and garden lovers. If you're a member of the Ruth Bancroft Garden community, seize the opportunity to share the beauty with a friend; Members can bring one friend FREE on Saturday, September 2nd, from 9 am to 4 pm. Learn more here.
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Upcoming Events from and for our Nonprofit Community |
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Community Foundation of Lafayette's Summer Soiree!
Reminder to get your tickets by August 26 for an event not to be missed! The Community Foundation of Lafayette's annual fundraiser is September 9, Saturday, in the heart of Lafayette—the Library Amphitheater and Patios.
You and your friends can gather to mix & mingle, drink, dine, donate & dance under the summer moon and stars.
And to make the evening more fun and memorable, classic rock band and local favorite Other People's Money will put on a high-energy show to set the party mood and fill the dance floor—with Bill Chan on lead guitar, Tom Velken on bass guitar, Steve Hall on drums, and Kevin Chew on lead vocals.
You will also have the opportunity to bid on fabulous auction packages including: Silverado Golf Weekend Getaway, Private Wine Tasting Tour for 10—including shuttle, SF Presidio National Park and Golf Weekend Getaway, Hotel SLO and Spa Weekend Getaway, and a Private Theater and Live Band Party for 180 of your friends!
The party begins at 6pm with a champagne and hors de oeuvres reception, followed by a delicious three-course sit down dinner with wine pairings, decadent dessert bar, live auction, cash bar with signature cocktails and mocktails, and live band.
This festive al fresco event has sold out previously. For tickets, please click HERE.
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All Ages Play in Plaza Park this Sunday!
This Sunday, August 27, join All Ages Recreation in Plaza Park anytime from 1pm to 4pm. Remember to bring the whole family, from the very young to the young at heart! The Lafayette Parks and Recreation Department and the Community Foundation of Lafayette have teamed up to bring you a wide variety of fun choices, including: Giant Jenga, Giant Connect 4, chess, wooden train track, badminton, volleyball, ping pong, giant pick up sticks, kinetic sand, simple crafts, giant checkers, and a chance to win small prizes! More dates, locations, and activities may be added. Learn more here.
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White Pony Express
White Pony Express is in the running for the Charity Navigator Community Choice Award, which empowers supporters to nominate their volunteer-powered model, which provides access to fresh, healthy food to our neighbors in need. After receiving 4 stars and a perfect score from Charity Navigator 2 years in a row, WPE has the exciting opportunity to become a Community Choice Charity. They need your help to secure this award! If awarded, Charity Navigator will shine a spotlight on the organization, bringing more awareness to their vital work to end hunger and protect the planet.
Click here to cast your vote today – It only takes 1 minute to complete the form. Voting ends on August 27th! Together we can create a future where no one suffers from want – all of us taking care of all of us!
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511 Contra Costa Summer Bike Challenge
Explore our City from the seat of a bike! The City of Lafayette and 511 Contra Costa, will launch a free, healthy, outdoor family fun activity with the Summer Bike Challenge. The Bike Challenge runs through August 31st. Lafayette residents are encouraged to participate and explore the City by biking, getting exercise, and collecting incentives in the process. It’s free to register.
Please visit 511contracosta.org/sbc for more detailed information on how to register, and take part in the Summer Bike Challenge!
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Final Chance to Play the Summer Energy Checklist and Win A Prize
This is the final month to play the 2023 Summer Energy Checklist Challenge, if you haven't already. You are eligible for the drawing for a $50 gift card just by completing at least 5 of the 20 energy efficiency actions from this link by August 31st. The winner will be announced by Sustainable Contra Costa the first week of September. Click here to play!
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Sustainable Sunday
At Sustainable Lafayette, we're not big spenders. We give $1,000 stipends to Lamorinda students who have great ideas for environmental projects, we support the Lafayette Community Garden with insurance and certain bookkeeping tasks, we organize Earth Day, and we have a film series.
But every so often, we need to replenish our coffers. And this is one of those years, the first since 2019.
We try to keep our fundraisers low-key and casual, educational, and fun. We take advantage of food and beverage donations from our many fantastic and generous local restaurants, vintners and brewers. We have chosen the beautiful Jennifer Russell Building at the Lafayette Community Center as our venue, and feel lucky that our City has such an ideal public site for events such as ours.
This year's Sustainable Sunday will feature amazing local speakers who will share their experiences in green building concepts for your home, how to add permaculture to our gardens, and how to live a more sustainable life. Join us for live music, local food, beer, wine and an auction.
Even though you should live sustainably every day, Sustainable Sunday is an occasional event, and not to be missed! We can't wait to see you at the Jennifer Russell Building on Oct.1st.
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Join Us for a Vet-to-Vet Cafe!
Wednesday, September 6, 1 pm - 3 pm
Pleasant Hill Senior Center, 233 Gregory Lane, Pleasant Hill, CA 94523
Vet-to-Vet Cafes offer Veterans a chance to gather together, enjoy refreshments, share stories, and participate in a gently facilitated discussion on topics of interest to Veterans. This event is about one hour long and led by Hospice East Bay's Veterans Coordinator, Noga Welner-Kessler, MSW. Please RSVP with Seetah by calling (925) 766-3291.
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Welcome back to school, Lafayette!
Mark your calendars for these upcoming LPIE events.
December 1st: Poker Tournament - Save the date! Ticket sales will be announced soon.
Visit www.lpie.org for more information. Everyone is welcome. We hope to see you there!
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The Orinda Association: Orinda Car Show
Saturday, September 9, 10am-2pm
We close the northern part of the town to provide the best viewing for the entries. From treelined streets just off the Orinda Country Club fairway, to select vehicles on indoor display, we give owners and attendees plenty of room to enjoy the show. This special venue allows us to host a "big time" car show with a small town feel.
More than 200 entries come from all over the greater bay area and beyond! Free Admission and Family Friendly. Land Yachts are the featured cars this year, but all cars are welcome. Proceeds go to Seniors Around Town, our program that offers seniors free door to door rides to medical and social appointments. https://www.orindacarshow.com
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The Orinda Association: Seniors Around Town
This year's annual fundraiser will be matched dollar for dollar for all donations received between through September 10. Help us turn Horsepower into senior power!
Seniors Around Town provides safe, easy to use community-based door to door transportation at no charge, providing vital assistance that helps seniors remain living independently in their homes for longer... and the community benefits as well. Lasting friendships develop between riders, drivers, and staff. During the short drives the riders and drivers share stories, mutual connections, history, and experiences. As we like to say, “It’s more than a ride”. https://orindaassociation.org/seniors-around-town
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Cancer Support Community's Gala in the Grove
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Reception with artist Lisa Congdon
Join the Saint Mary’s Museum of Art in celebrating the opening of Lisa Congdon's exclusive solo exhibition, "Hold it Lightly." This private event features first access to the exhibition and work paired with delicious food and decadent wines. Lisa Congdon an internationally known fine artist, illustrator and writer based in Portland. Lisa has achieved recognition, not just as an artist, but as a leader in the industry for her work in social justice, knowledge sharing, mentoring and teaching. Guests will have the opportunity to meet Lisa and purchase original limited edition prints featured in the exhibition.
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CERT Fall Class Registration in Progress
Wildfire season is approaching! A great way to prepare for wildfires as well as other disasters is to take the Lamorinda Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) class series. We invite residents to register for the Fall class starting September 14, 2023 in Orinda. The Fall class series will be held Thursday nights from 9/14 – 11/9 from 6:30 – 9:30 pm at the Orinda Community Center. The subjects covered in the class include: personal and home preparedness for all-hazard emergencies, hazardous materials and fire safety; disaster medical response, light search and rescue, Incident Command System, disaster psychology, terrorism, radio communications and pet preparedness. The information you will learn in these classes is key for preparedness and response should disaster strike, and spaces are filling up fast. To register go to: https://classes.lamorindacert.org
Being prepared is essential for the safety of you and your family. Take the CERT class series and learn how to get prepared before the next wildfire or earthquake strikes!
"Ten minutes before the party is not the time to learn to dance" - Snoopy
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Music on the Lawn
Celebrate the end of summer with a free community concert! Gather your friends and bring your lawn chairs for an evening filled with fantastic melodies, toe-tapping rhythms, and wonderful company. Musical artists Max Minardi and The Sun Followers will be covering your favorites in classic rock, folk, pop, and other crowd favorites. Food and drinks available for sale. This concert is open to all—neighbors, friends, Saint Mary’s alumni, and students. Learn more at https://www.stmarys-ca.edu/musiconthelawn.
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Vintage Days at Hospice East Bay
Want to find some vintage items at an affordable price? Stop by any of six local thrift shoppes from September 15th - 17th for our Vintage Days sale! Come find vintage clothing, antiques, heirloom treasures, and much more, all at bargain prices. By supporting Hospice East Bay thrift shoppes you're helping us provide quality hospice care to everyone in our community and helping the environment at the same time! Stay informed on upcoming sales, online shoppe offerings, and more by following us on social media or signing up for email alerts at www.HospiceEastBay.org.
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15th Annual Sustainability Awards Gala & Fundraiser
Get all the details HERE, and don't wait to register! Early Bird tickets are now on sale and the price goes up on September 4th.
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Moraga Valley Presbyterian Church
MVPC has just announced our September book club pick: “A Life Worth Living A Guide To What Matters Most.” We will have a book discussion on September 20th in the Fellowship hall from 7pm-8:30pm. Project Peace is hosting one of the authors on September 24th as part of their speaker series in Walnut Creek. The book club will plan on attending the speaker series as an optional event.
The MVPC bookstore is selling copies of the book and tickets for the author event can be purchased at: www.projectpeaceeastbay.org. All information about these two events is on our website: www.mvpctoday.org Please join us and invite a friend!
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The Sweet Thursday Author Series opens the 2023-24 season with author Ingrid Rojas Contreras
By Laurie Miles
The Sweet Thursday Author Series presents Ingrid Rojas Contreras, author of The Man Who Could Move the Clouds on September 21 at 7:00 pm in the Don Tatzin Community Hall at the Lafayette Library and Learning Center. For Ms. Contreras, magic runs in the family. Raised amidst the political violence of the 1980s and ‘90s Columbia, in a house where “what did you dream?” was the preferred greeting in place of “how are you?,” very little was out of the ordinary. Her maternal grandfather, Nono, was a renowned curandero, a community healer gifted with what the family called the secrets:” the power to talk to the dead, tell the future, treat the sick, and move the clouds. So when Rojas Contreras, now living in the United States, suffered a head injury in the twenties that left her with amnesia – an accident eerily similar to a fall her mother took as a child, from which she woke not just with amnesia, but the ability to see ghosts – the family assumed the “the secrets’ had been passed down once again. Interweaving family stories, resurrected Columbian history, and her own deeply personal reckonings with the bounds of reality, she writes her way through the incomprehensible and into her inheritance.
Ingrid Rojas Contreras was born in Bogotá, Columbia. Her memoir, The Man Who Could Move Clouds, was named a “Best Book of Summer” by TIME. Her first novel, The Fruit of the Drunken Tree was a silver medal winner in First Fiction from CA Book Awards, and a NYT Editor’s Choice. She live in California.
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The Community Foundation Presents Its 14th Annual Senior Symposium--September 30
Mark your calendars for September 30 for the Community Foundation of Lafayette's FREE Senior Symposium. This in-person event will be held at Acalanes High School from 8:30 am - Noon. You will have access to valuable senior health and wellness updates as you visit our information booths and hear from a panel of experts. Come connect with programs, services and resources you need to thrive in your golden years. Thank you to the event sponsors: Kaiser Permanente and John Muir Health.
Please visit lafayettecf.org to register for this free event, learn about sponsorship opportunities and program details as they unfold.
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The Big La Bocce 2023 Bocce Ball Tournament
September 30, 2023, 10:00am - 2:00pm, 100 Joe DiMaggio Drive, Martinez
Includes breakfast, lunch, beverages, a silent auction and a raffle.
SCHEDULE:
10:00am - Registration and Practice
10:40am - 12:30pm - 3 Games per Team (Timed Games)
12:30pm - 1:30pm Lunch and Silent Auction
1:30pm - Top 16 Teams Advance to Knock Out Round*
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MOONLIGHT AT THE MUSEUM - SEPTEMBER 30
Join Sunflower Hill for their 10 year anniversary celebration gala, Moonlight at the Museum, on Saturday, September 30, in Danville at the Blackhawk Museum. Get your tickets today-this us one event you don’t want to miss. Are you interested in sponsorship? Contact us!
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Lafayette Juniors
Rummage SALE - October 7, 2023
Let's get ready to rummage! A Lafayette institution each year, the Lafayette Juniors Rummage Sale will return on October 7th, 2023! Every Fall during the first Saturday in October, Lafayette Juniors and local community members donate their gently used items for the Rummage Sale. Shoppers find everything from gently used clothing, designer clothing, furniture, household items, toys, electronics, and sporting goods at truly unbeatable prices. Early Bird entrance will begin at 7:00am and general sale hours will be 8:00am to 2:00pm. All proceeds go to our beneficiaries. Lafayette-Orinda Presbyterian Church - 49 Knox Dr, Lafayette, CA 94549. For additional details, please visit LafayetteJuniors.org.
Lafayette Lifestyle Tour - May 4, 2024
For over twenty years, The Lifestyle Tour continues to be one of
Lamorinda’s most beloved events and the Lafayette Juniors' largest annual
fundraiser. The Lafayette Lifestyle Tour (formerly known as The Kitchen Tour)
is a self-guided tour featuring beautiful Lafayette homes with masterfully
designed, unique and awe-inspiring indoor and outdoor spaces with proceeds
going to our beneficiary partners. For additional details and early-bird tickets (once available), please visit LafayetteJuniors.org.
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Save the Date: Harvest Festival
Welcome fall with a joyous outdoor celebration of family, friendship, and food! Mark your calendars for JMLT’s annual Harvest Festival on Saturday, October 14th from 11am to 3pm at Family Harvest Farm in Pittsburg. This is a free, fun-filled event with activities for all ages. Food trucks, wreath-making workshops, face painting, music, and more! Wreath-making registration coming your way next month!
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Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA)
Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) Program cordially invites you to join us for an unforgettable evening filled with inspiration and community spirit, all in support of the future of our local youth in foster care.
Get ready for a night featuring gourmet cuisine, captivating silent and live auctions, all aimed at the important mission of empowering the lives of our community's youth in foster care.
Your presence at this event is not only appreciated; it's a testament to our collective commitment to brightening the futures of these children in need.
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Join us for GATHER Fundraiser - October 28th!
Lafayette Chamber member, Grateful Gatherings, is thrilled to present GATHER, a special evening to celebrate 10 years of Grateful Gatherings and raise funds to provide more families with a place to call home.
Come one, come all … Join us on Saturday, October 28, 2023 at St. Perpetua Church Hall in Lafayette. GATHER will feature a family-style dinner, entertainment, presentation, Live Auction, and a Fund-a-Need to grow our organization and help more families thrive!
We can’t wait to celebrate with you! Tickets now available! Visit this link to purchase your tickets today!
Sponsorships available! GATHER sponsorship supports our efforts and provides excellent marketing recognition for your business to our attendees prior to and during the event, in addition to our entire email database of 3,500 supporters. If you are interested in a sponsorship or would like to see current sponsors, please visit this link and contact lisa@hoskinsmarketing.com.
About Grateful Gatherings:
Grateful Gatherings is an East Bay-based non-profit that helps families, foster youth, veterans, seniors, people with disabilities, and others transitioning out of homelessness, poverty and crisis. We transform their housing into safe, comfortable, and equipped real homes by providing new or gently used furniture and home goods. This gives families a sense of dignity and hope, helping families build a healthier and brighter future. To date, we have helped over 400 households, providing 1,300 children and adults with the basics they need to thrive.
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Taye Diggs and The Sydney Paige Foundation
Please join us for our Third Annual Benefit on November 4th, featuring award-winning actor, author & literacy advocate, Taye Diggs! This event promises an evening of inspiration, laughs, camaraderie, and a shared commitment to a brighter future.
Sydney Paige is dedicated to effecting positive change in the lives of underprivileged children across the United States. Our mission is driven by the belief that every child deserves access to quality education and essential resources, regardless of their circumstances.
Your unwavering support has played an instrumental role in our journey and this year, your contributions have been nothing short of monumental, propelling us to achieve remarkable progress in numerous communities. The impact we've achieved together is a testament to the power of collective effort and shared compassion. Thank you for your dedication, and we look forward to joining forces for yet another impactful year.
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Special Announcements from our Nonprofit Community |
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September Is National Suicide Prevention Month
At A Brighter Day Charity, our mission is to shine a light on the importance of mental health and provide tangible solutions for those in crisis. Here's how you can engage with us this month:
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📱 Immediate Support When It Matters Most: Facing a crisis? Text BRIGHTER to 741741. We offer a confidential, 24/7 crisis text line to ensure you're heard during your darkest moments.
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🚗 Meet Us In Person: We’ll be at the Danville Hot Summer Sundays Car Show! Swing by our booth to chat about our initiatives, donate, or just say hi. Your support and curiosity fuel our mission. View Event: https://www.dhsscs.com
Join us in our commitment to shed light on mental health. For more details and to get involved, visit www.abrighterday.org.
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September is HUNGER ACTION MONTH!
Each year during September, food banks like us around the country launch an effort in our communities to raise awareness about hunger and food insecurity. Here at the Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano, we are gearing up for this year’s effort and want YOU to join us!
This year’s theme is FIGHT HUNGER. FEED HOPE. The color of hunger is ORANGE – throughout September, you’ll see it on our website, social media channels and in all of our marketing pieces.
We are reaching out to our dedicated and supportive community partners to invite you to participate in our efforts this year during the month of September.
We want you to TURN ORANGE and become HUNGER FIGHTERS to help us raise awareness in your community! Visit our webpage for the Hunger Fighter toolkit HERE. We’re providing all of the supplies and ‘superpowers’ you need to engage your community to help us in the FIGHT TO END HUNGER!
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Back-to-School Pass Program
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“We Welcome All” states New Lamorinda Spiritual Leader
St. Anselm’s Episcopal Church recently announced that it has retained The Rev. Stephen M. Siptroth as its Rector (pastor) after an 18-month search to succeed their prior pastor, who retired in November of 2021 after 23 years at St. Anselm’s. According to Marty Fischer, Sr. Warden at St. Anselm’s and a member of the St. Anselm’s congregation for over 50 years “It is with great Joy that we welcome Rev. Siptroth. We’re delighted he accepted the call to lead our congregation.” Rev. Siptroth led his first service at St. Anselm’s on July 23rd with a church filled with our members and visitors. Fischer continued, “We had many younger families, singles and our older contingent attending from Rossmoor at Rev. Siptroth’s first service. We expect to welcome all as we grow under Rev. Siptroth and the warm and welcoming nature of our congregation.”
Rev. Siptroth lives in Concord with his wife Eileen M. Bissen, a local attorney (and their many rescue animals). His call to St. Anselm’s completes a transition from a public sector legal career to ordained ministry. Says Rev. Siptroth, “When I met with the leadership at St. Anslem’s, it was clear to me that this congregation welcomes all people, wherever they are on their life journey. This, and their commitment to partnering with community
organizations that serve those most in need, are some of the reasons we matched. The people here preach Gospel love with their words and through their works in the community.”
No stranger to Lamorinda, Siptroth joined St. Stephen’s, in Orinda, in 2013 as a member. There, he served on the vestry and represented his congregation at the deanery – a regional governing body in the Episcopal Diocese of California. Prior to his ordination as a Priest at Grace Cathedral on June 3rd, Siptroth held several positions within the Diocese, including President and Vice President of the Contra Costa Deanery. Ordained as a
Transitional Deacon on December 3, 2022, he served in that capacity at St. John the Evangelist and Grace Cathedral, both in San Francisco. He has been a member of and chaired various Diocesan task forces and committees.
St. Anselm’s focus on community service, and especially its commitment to the homeless through financial and volunteer support for Winter Nights, Trinity Center and other charitable organizations, are a perfect base upon which to build his ministry. St. Anselm’s also hosts a preschool “Michael Lane Preschool” to serve younger families in the surrounding community.
St. Anselm’s Episcopal Church is located in the Burton Valley Community of Lafayette, at 682 Michael Lane. Its website can be accessed at www.stanselms.us. It currently has a 9 a.m. service each Sunday which is also available by Zoom, as well as other groups, like the Cancer Survivors and Grief Support groups that meet during the week. All are welcome to attend or participate in any of our groups. You may reach Rev. Siptroth at rector@stanselms.us.
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Monument Crisis Center
We are thrilled to share the success of our recent 20th Anniversary Party, where we commemorated two decades of dedicated service to the community. We serve over 2,000 households in Contra Costa County every month and we remain committed to providing a weekly supply of food to each client who comes to our door. To continue these vital services, we rely on the support of compassionate individuals like you. You can support our mission by donating through our website or providing non-perishable food items to our pantry. We take food donations every Monday-Wednesday from 9am-noon.
As we look to the future, we are excited to announce an opportunity for you to become a part of our journey through our Supporters’ Circle initiative. Monument Crisis Center is offering everyone a chance to have a personalized brick displayed for public view. Each brick can be purchased for $200, and these donations will go toward the expansion of our food pantry. Click on the link provided to fill out a form: https://forms.gle/DhWzMMdRVuhJzWAv6.
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MCE Named Top Bay Area Workplace by the SF Chronicle
Attracting top talent to MCE is key to solving California’s most pressing challenges. That’s why we’re proud to be one of the Bay Area’s Top Places to Work!
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Greetings from Acalanes Fellowship Lodge #480, Free & Accepted Masons of California!
Masonry is the world’s first and largest fraternity, built on a 300+ year tradition of improving ourselves and our communities, and ultimately making good men better. This year marks the 100th Anniversary of the constitution of OUR lodge, located in the heart of Lafayette, CA. For more information, please visit our website at http://acalanesfellowshiplodge.com.
Pete Peterson, Junior Warden of Acalanes Fellowship Lodge and President of the Hall Association would like to remind everyone that Acalanes Fellowship Lodge Number 480 rents our facility, primarily to help fund needed repairs and maintenance to our venerable building. Goodwill Industries approached us a while back, requesting the free use of our facility for a special civic event - recycling. The attached Goodwill email documents the success of their event and details how much was diverted from local landfills. Our Masonic Lodge is willing to consider and work with like-minded civic groups for the betterment of Lafayette and surrounding communities whenever we can.
On July 9th and July 16, 2023 we offered them our parking lot to collect donations. We are thrilled to have received the following thank you letter from Liz Dembski Donor Acquisition Manager Goodwill San Francisco Bay. Together, we can make a meaningful difference in the lives of others!
On behalf of Goodwill, thank you so much for allowing us to use the parking lot of the Acalanes Fellowship Center on consecutive Sundays, 7/9 and 7/16. The events on both days were very successful, the location was central and easy for donors to locate.
Here are some stats from both Sundays: Donors: 137, Pounds diverted from landfill: 6,165.
Your support of Goodwill’s mission equips low-income individuals and those with barriers with the skills required to succeed in the 21st-century job market. We also hire our trainees to gain transferable skills and valuable on-the-job experience in our stores and warehouses. And for those motivated job seekers who want to pursue a sustainable career track, we help place them in jobs at top Bay Area companies.
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Lamorinda Village
Our City surveys have shown that the top priority of older adults in Lafayette is to stay in their homes. The most significant development to address this priority in recent years was the establishment of Lamorinda Village, a non-profit whose mission is to provide a one-stop resource for older adults to access services that help them to maintain independence. Services include transportation, grocery deliveries, minor household repairs, computer assistance and vendor referrals along with programs such as social events, wellness classes and lectures. The City encourages older adults to become members of Lamorinda Village. The current annual cost is $360 for an individual and $600 for a household. To make it possible for more Lafayette older adults to become part of Lamorinda Village, the City is partnering with the Village to provide a discounted rate to qualified low-income residents so they can have full membership benefits. For more information, visit LoveLafayette.org/Seniors or call 925-284-5050. As the Village serves more residents, they will need more volunteers – more drivers, handy-persons, and gardeners. Learn more about becoming a volunteer or member of Lamorinda Village at www.lamorindavillage.org or call 925-283-3500.
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Lamorinda Spirit Van Senior Transportation Program
Neighbors Helping Neighbors: What a sense of relief to know that a system is in place to provide help as we age! Especially if there is no family nearby. We, at Lamorinda Spirit Van, need additional drivers, so we don’t have to regretfully say: “Unfortunately we are already booked up for that day.” The Lamorinda community depends on an inflow of Lamorinda Spirit Volunteer Drivers to provide those much-appreciated rides for older adults who prefer to age in their own homes and neighborhoods.
- Do you enjoy driving?
- Would you like to meet some fascinating older individuals?
- Are you interested in experiencing the satisfaction of helping seniors get to medical, personal, and social appointments, errands, exercise, lunch at Café Costa or to visit a spouse in a care facility?
- Can you spare 4-5 hours every week or two?
Lamorinda Spirit Van provides door to and through door rides to Lamorinda residents ages 60+ and persons with disabilities. We take pride in helping the seniors in our community remain independent and able to stay in their own homes.
To learn more or to schedule a ride to medical appointments, personal appointments, errands, or anything else, contact us at 925-283-3534 or dispatch@lovelafayette.org.
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Underdog Animal Rescue
Fosters wanted and needed to save the dog lives of California. Underdog Animal Rescue is non-profit foster based organization serving Northern California. We save annually at least 300 dogs who rely on us as their last lifeline. Anyone can foster, no matter if you work full time, have kids, cats we will find a dog that works for your household. Big, small, old or puppy we have them in need. Please sign up today www.underdogca.com
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Hope Solutions
Hope Solutions envisions a world in which everyone has a place to call home and the support of a strong community, so that they can live with dignity and reach their full potential. What sets Hope Solutions apart, and gives us confidence in our clients’ future success, is our proven model of permanent housing coupled with supportive services. We are working to heal the multi-generational impact of poverty, racism, trauma, substance use, mental health issues, and inadequate access to healthcare.
HOPE SOLUTIONS VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES
After-School Program Volunteers Needed: We are looking for volunteers to provide academic and mentoring support for the children in our Pittsburg, Concord, and Pleasant Hill after-school programs: We ask volunteers to commit to one afternoon per week (Monday-Thursday) through the end of the semester at one of our four sites: Pleasant Hill, Concord, Pittsburg, or Bay Point.
If you have any questions about our opportunities for involvement, please contact Sandibel Arnold at sarnold@hopesolutions.org or call (925) 788-3676.
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HOPE SOLUTIONS CAREER OPPORTUNITIES
We invite you to join us to help reach our mission to heal the effects of poverty and homelessness. Come join our passionate and fun team. We have several open positions at Hope Solutions. Learn more about all our career opportunities, by visiting: https://www.hopesolutions.org/join-our-team/.
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Diablo View Rotary Club
Looking for a young, fun and dynamic group of people to spend your Tuesday evenings within Walnut Creek? Check out Diablo View Rotary Club.
Our gatherings are fun networking events in a relaxed and approachable atmosphere. We learn about our community, invite speakers, raise money for great causes, volunteer at local non-profits, network, and make lifelong friendships. We meet every Tuesday at 5:45PM at Bourbon Highway in downtown Walnut Creek.
It is a non-political and non-religious organization. Membership is by invitation and based on various social factors. There are over 46,000 member clubs worldwide, with a membership of 1.4 million individuals, known as Rotarians. For more information visit https://diabloviewrotary.org/.
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Lamorinda Sunrise Rotary Club Donates Van to White Pony Express to Expand Food Rescue Capacity
The Lamorinda Sunrise Rotary Club successfully led a project to purchase a new refrigerated delivery van for White Pony Express (WPE), raising over $90,000. While Lamorinda Sunrise spearheaded the campaign, substantial contributions were received from many generous individuals and organizations, as well as fifteen local Rotary Clubs, including the Rotary Clubs of Alamo, Antioch, Brentwood, Clayton Valley/Concord Sunrise, Concord, Concord-Diablo, Hercules, Lafayette, Lamorinda Sunrise, Martinez, Moraga, Orinda, Rossmoor, Walnut Creek, and Walnut Creek Sunrise. Additionally, grants were received from Rotary District 5160, Mechanics Bank, and the Lafayette-Orinda Presbyterian Church.
Every day, White Pony Express uses its refrigerated vans to pick up 12,000 lb. of healthy, perishable food from local grocery stores and restaurants and bring it to their distribution center, where it is quality-controlled and sorted by dedicated volunteers. Then, the same day, these vans take the food and deliver it, free of charge, to recipient partners throughout the county, who in turn distribute the food to those in need.
WPE rescues fresh food from 70 grocers, distributors, farmers, and restaurants and provides this food to 90+ community-based organizations, serving 120,000 individuals each year. Approximately 400 people volunteer for WPE. In the process of rescuing surplus food, WPE significantly contributes to the elimination of food waste and the reduction of toxic gases that harm our environment.
To learn more about White Pony Express, or to donate or volunteer, click here.
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Lafayette Historical Society Celebrating 175+ Years
Seven utility boxes along Mt. Diablo Boulevard in downtown Lafayette are being updated with new artwork. The new utility box wraps feature a collage of historic images intended to increase awareness of our local history and contribute to the cultural identity of our city.
The Lafayette Historical Society (LHS) and the City's Public Art Committee collaborated with graphic designer Danielle Gogo-Gallagher to create the series of beautifully designed, photo-realistic history wraps utilizing archival photos from LHS’s impressive collection. The boxes are located along Mt. Diablo Boulevard between First Street and Dolores Drive. Each box includes a QR code that can be scanned using a smartphone to access educational information presented by the Lafayette Historical Society on the historical relevance of the archival images.
You can directly visit the individual pages for each box by following the links below:
The new utility box wraps are part of the City of Lafayette’s 175+ Years celebration in 2023. The City is working in partnership with the Lafayette Historical Society to increase awareness and appreciation of our history including recognition and understanding of the indigenous people who were first on the land that is now Lafayette, as well as the Spaniards and Rancheros that preceded American settlers who laid out the built community that we see today.
In addition to the new utility box wraps, there will be several events and presentations throughout the year including monthly presentations to the City Council, copies of “Images of America: Lafayette” circulated through Little Free Libraries in Lafayette and more!
For more information, visit these websites:
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Did You Know?
In case you did not already know, the Lafayette Veterans Memorial Building is home to the largest variety of events in Contra Costa County! From Weddings, Bar Mitzvahs, business meetings, to Celebrations of Life, the Veterans Building hosts those type of events and more.
Since reopening after the Covid shutdown, the Veterans Building is once again THE place to rent for your next event – and NO you do not have to be a Veteran to hold your gathering in our beautiful facility. Not only can you hold your event in the building, but we can help to make it all happen with suggestions for a caterer, decorations, or a DJ or musicians to make your party downright memorable. To take a site tour or get more information, please contact our Building Director Eileen Lawrence at 925-283-1153 or at info@lafayetteveterans.org.
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Become a lifetime Friend of the Chamber
A Friend of the Chamber membership provides a way for community members to support the efforts of the Lafayette Chamber of Commerce. We are 75 years strong and our mission continues “To promote and maintain a healthy business climate and to preserve and enhance the quality of life in Lafayette.”
All aspects that make up a community are important to us: schools, residents, churches and synagogues, community organizations, activities, and the city government. Chamber members work with representatives of all these groups for the betterment of our community. A lifetime Friend of the Chamber membership is $150 per family. Learn more here.
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Quick Links to Lafayette Chamber Resources
Please note: to signup via text you will be asked for your birthdate. This information is not stored, it is only used to verify you are over 21 years of age.
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Sara Regan, Executive Director
251 Lafayette Circle, Ste 150, Lafayette, CA
Office hours by appointment only:
Monday-Thursday 9am-4pm, Friday 9am-1pm
Closed M-Thr 12:30-1pm for lunch.
Closed Monday, September 4 for Labor Day.
(925) 284-7404
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