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Buy a Christmas Tree, Help Others; Our Map Shows You Where to Shop

November 29, 2012 By
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If you’re planning on buying a fresh Christmas tree this season, why not purchase one that not only brings cheer to your family, but to many others in the community? We’ve compiled information of where some of the charity lots around the San Francisco Bay Area are located, and put together a handy interactive Google map to help you find one near you.

While most of the lots on the map are operated by nonprofits and will be open for the next few weeks, two lots are commercial ones hosting fundraisers the first weekend in December. Peacock Tree Farm in Los Gatos is having a special event on Saturday, Dec. 1, for the Loma Prieta Public Education Fund, from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. In San Martin Battaglia Ranch is hosting the annual Trees for Troops program Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 1 and 2. See the map for more details.

Did we miss a Christmas tree lot helping others this year? Share the information with us in the comments, and we’ll add it to the map.


View Christmas Tree Lots For Good 2012 in a larger map

Filed Under: Fundraising, Holidays Tagged With: ,

We’re Kicking Off Our Second Annual Virtual Food Drive!

November 27, 2012 By
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I’m proud to announce that for the second year in a row, Good Neighbor Stories is hosting a virtual food drive for Second Harvest Food Bank of Santa Clara and San Mateo Counties. Last year we raised almost $1,400 to feed local hungry families and individuals, exceeding our $1,000 goal. This year the goal is to raise $1,500 between now and Jan. 1, 2013.

Second Harvest officials estimate that they help one person out of every 10 in Silicon Valley. The organization does an efficient job of helping those hungry people: for every $1 donated, officials estimate that two meals are provided.

The efficiency extends to the online donation process, which was streamlined considerably this year. Last year’s process was a little more cumbersome, but Second Harvest apparently listened to input and made necessary improvements to the system.

To donate to the Good Neighbor Stories Virtual Food Drive, go to our donor page and fill out the form. The whole thing takes only a minute or two. Any amount is greatly appreciated, and will make a difference in the lives of local hungry families.

This year I’m offering an incentive to the first 10 people willing to donate $100 or more to the virtual food drive. Email me a copy of your receipt, and in return I’ll send you a thank you gift of the Good Neighbor Stories 2013 Datebook, free of charge. You’ll feel good about helping others, and all throughout next year using the datebook.

Please consider making a donation today. Thank you!

Filed Under: Fundraising, Holidays Tagged With: , , , ,

Here Comes “Giving Tuesday,” a Day of Charity to Follow Buying Frenzy

November 26, 2012 By
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It was, perhaps, inevitable that someone would follow up Thanksgiving weekend’s “Black Friday,” “Small Business Saturday,” and “Cyber Monday,” with a day devoted to charity. This year someone has, with “Giving Tuesday.” The first one takes place tomorrow, Nov. 27.

Giving Tuesday is the brainchild of the 92nd Street Y in New York City, which was joined in the effort by the United Nations Foundation, along with numerous corporations and nonprofits. The idea is a simple one: “find a way for your family, your community, your company or your organization to come together to give something more.” Part two of the idea is to then share with others how you are giving back to the community.

More than 2,000 nonprofits around the country signed up as Giving Tuesday parters, including hundreds in the state of California. Some are planning special events to mark the day, and many are kicking off fundraising campaigns for projects. A number of businesses are agreeing to increase giving, or match donations, made on the day.

What do you think about Giving Tuesday as a new holiday tradition? Tell us in the poll!

Will you participate in Giving Tuesday?

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Filed Under: Community, Donations, Fundraising, Nonprofits Tagged With: , , ,

Long List of Local Agencies Needing Holiday Help

November 14, 2012 By
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If you’re looking for ways to help those in need this holiday season, the San Jose Mercury News recently published a list of more than 25 organizations and agencies requesting the public’s help.

The groups were asking for everything from cash donations, to gift cards, food, clothing, blankets, unwrapped toys, and even things like gift wrap and bows.

For example, groups and agencies like Asian Americans for Community Involvement (AACI), the City of Saratoga, the Gardner Family Care Corporation, the Jewish Family Services of Silicon Valley, and Catholic Charities of Santa Clara County are in need of new, unwrapped toys, books, and other gifts.

The Bill Wilson Center needs lots of gift cards to give to the youth in their program. Many of the teens and young adults don’t get to go shopping very often for something new, and gift cards allow them to get the size, style, and color of the things they need and want most.

Family Supportive Housing is seeking donations of new pillows and blankets (both twin and full sizes), new socks and underwear for children, as well as unwrapped toys and gift cards. Alum Rock Counseling Center could use not only toys and bikes for approximately 200 children, leaders are also asking for donations of large rolls of wrapping paper, tape, ribbons and bows, baskets, tinned cookies, candy, bottled water, and more.

See the complete list for more information. If you know of additional holiday donation opportunities in the San Francisco Bay Area, please tell us in comments.

 

 

 

Filed Under: Donations, Fundraising, Holidays Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , ,

You Can Make a Difference—And Your Friends Want to Help

October 12, 2012 By
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You have the power to make a difference in the world. And your friends are just waiting for you to ask for their help.

That lesson was driven home for me a few years ago when I accepted a challenge thrown down at a conference. The challenge was to multiply some money to help others within three weeks. I was intimidated at first, but in the end I discovered meeting the challenge was a lot easier than I thought, and I was amazed by how eager my friends wanted to partner with me.

A Daunting Challenge?

The challenge came at a Donald Miller Storyline Conference in Portland, OR., as part of a point about “living a better story”. Audience members were given the opportunity to take envelopes that contained either $5, $10, or $20 bills. The catch was that we had to commit to doing something that would help another person or organization, ideally in a way that multiplied the money.

My envelope had $20 in it. The challenge felt daunting. How would I multiply the money? In such a short period of time, up against an already busy schedule? What if I failed?

As I left the auditorium clutching my envelope, it crossed my mind I could turn around and give it back. Yet beneath the doubt was a sense of excitement. What if I succeeded? What good things could come from a $20 bill? [Read more…]

Filed Under: Community, Fundraising Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

Faith In Action Celebrates Six Month Anniversary With Youth Dance

September 25, 2012 By
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The Faith in Action Silicon Valley Rotating Shelter is marking its first six-month milestone with a special dance and mixer just for Bay Area high school students on Friday, Sept. 28, in Cupertino.

The shelter launched in March as a collaboration of more than 20 South Bay churches, individuals, and companies, to provide meals, shelter, and other supportive services for 15 homeless men at a time, for a period of up to 90 days.  Each month a different church or synagogue houses the shelter, with volunteers providing meals. According to shelter organizers, more than 45 men have been served so far, with 18 moving into permanent housing situations.

To celebrate its success and raise funds at the same time, the Faith in Action nonprofit is throwing the dance for up to 300 high school students from 8 to 10 p.m., at the Quinlan Community Center, 10185 N. Stelling Rd., Cupertino. In addition to music and dancing, the event will include refreshments and opportunities to learn more about how students can make a difference in the community.

Tickets are on sale now for $5 if students RSVP in advance, or $10 at the door. All proceeds benefit the rotating shelter. To RSVP, email program intern Kelsey Haynes at kelseyhanes@me.com.

“We want to see a lot of high school students at our benefit dance,” said Haynes, a senior at the Middle School program at De Anza Community College, and organizer of the dance. “It’s a great chance to invite your friends and meet new people while making a real difference in your local community.”

The convergence of youth and community to support the rotating shelter was an original vision of founder and unpaid executive director Cathey Edwards, she told Good Neighbor Stories in March. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Fundraising, Youth Tagged With: , , , , ,

Catching Up With Project WeHOPE; Trip Sponsors Needed

August 7, 2012 By
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I got a chance to catch up with Pastor Paul Bains of Project WeHOPE, the East Palo Alto nonprofit I reported on last year. The small organization is making significant inroads toward combating homelessness in a town of 2.2 square miles that has the largest homeless population in San Mateo County.

Recently the city council awarded Project WeHOPE a $30,000 grant for its warming shelter, the only homeless facility in East Palo Alto (EPA). This was down from an original request for $50,000; the council went through some quibbling over details of the request before settling on the final number .

But aside from leading the charge to end homelessness in East Palo Alto, Project WeHOPE is also a service agency for local youth, and currently has a need for sponsors and donations so volunteers can take students on an end-of-summer trip to Disneyland and Universal Studios. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Fundraising, Nonprofits, Youth Tagged With: , , , , , ,

Grateful for New Journey Helping Victims

July 19, 2012 By
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A chance conversation with a complete stranger and a college assignment are propelling Lisa Blanchard on an unexpected trajectory as the leader of a fast growing all-volunteer organization that extends comfort and aid to sexual assault victims across the State of California.

Thanks to The Grateful Garment Project, started by Blanchard in March 2011 as an undergraduate student, sexual assault victims who must give up clothing as police evidence can go home fully clothed. In the past some victims left examinations with nothing more than a paper hospital gown.

“I had no idea when I started my simple class project that I was hitting a vein of need that was so immense, that basically it’s consumed my life for the past year,” said Blanchard, a San Jose resident and University of San Francisco graduate student.

The Grateful Garment Project has grown into a full-blown nonprofit with a board of directors, numerous volunteers, and Blanchard as its unpaid executive director.

To help continue its mission of aiding victims, the group’s volunteers are hosting a “Party for Panties” fundraiser at 6 p.m., on Saturday, July 21, at the Willow Den, 803 Lincoln Ave., San Jose. The event features free food, dancing and door prizes. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Fundraising, Nonprofits, Volunteering Tagged With: , , , , , ,

Student Travels to Kenya on a Dream of Schools for All Youth

July 13, 2012 By
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A big dream of schools for all children envisioned by UC Berkeley student Justin Li is taking him all the way to Kenya later this month, where an organization he helped found at Cupertino High School is currently helping three schools.

Justin Li holding his 2011 Sandlot Award.

Li is traveling July 29 with two other members of the student-run nonprofit called Kenya Dream, to visit the schools in Meru County, formerly known as the Eastern Province, in the country on the eastern coast of Africa.

“Words can’t really describe how I feel about this upcoming trip,” Li said. “I have spent over five years putting my heart into Kenya Dream, and I know for a fact that my life is going to be changed forever when I finally get to see the work we as a community have done. I know I will probably break down and cry when I see each school.”

Li, fellow co-founder and Berkeley student Lisa Nguyen, and current co-president of Cupertino High’s Kenya Dream Matt Workman, will spend 16 days touring the province with representatives from an organization they are partnered with, Friends of Kenya Schools and Wildlife. Kenya Dream is working with Kenya Schools to fund tuition and supplies for more than 50 students.

The team will not only visit Nthimbiri Secondary School, Nkubu Victory Acadamy, and Kachiuru School, to see how the approximately $100,000 Kenya Dream has raised since 2007 has been put to work, they will also visit other sites the group might help.

“I can’t wait to immerse myself into the culture, meet the students we have been supporting, and make new connections for future projects,” said Li. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Fundraising, Nonprofits, Volunteering, Youth Tagged With: , , , , , , , ,

Commentary: Why I’m Not Buying Girl Scout Cookies This Year

February 21, 2012 By
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I realize what I am about to say is pure heresy in the United States of America: I am not going to buy Girl Scout Cookies this year. Maybe forever.

As a fan of the tasty cookies, I do not relish my decision. However, over the last decade I have grown increasingly uncomfortable with the practice of youth sales of unhealthy products in the face on an increasingly disturbing childhood obesity epidemic.

I am not saying I will stop supporting Girl Scouts and other youth organizations. I will continue to contribute monetary donations to the organizations I’ve supported in the past through their sales. Just this past weekend I gave money to a troop selling cookies outside my local supermarket.

Why I Won’t Buy The Cookies and Why Cookie Sales Need to Stop

With near epidemic proportions of childhood obesity, Type 2 Diabetes and other dangerous diseases in the U.S., youth organizations need to take a leadership role in advocating for healthy eating and lifestyles. That means taking sugar and fat-laden products out of kids’ hands, [Read more…]

Filed Under: Commentary, Fundraising Tagged With: , , ,
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