1) Celebrate National Doughnut Day, June 3: Who doesn’t love doughnuts? Tomorrow is National Doughnut Day, to commemorate the Salvation Army “Lassies”, young women who made and
handed out fresh doughnuts to American soldiers in Europe during both World Wars. When soldiers returned home they craved the sweet treats, and the rest of America was introduced to the doughnut. Consider dough-nating (sorry) to the Salvation Army, which right now is front-and-center in Joplin, MO., helping survivors of deadly tornados. You can donate online, or text DONUT or JOPLIN to 80888 to make a $10 donation.
2) Share Your Lunch: Officials at Second Harvest Food Bank of Santa Clara and San Mateo Counties predict that 1 in 5 kids will go hungry this summer while school is out. Kids that normally qualify for free lunches at school have few options during summer vacation. The food bank is looking for people and organizations to host food drives during June, to stock up on needed items for distribution around the two counties. You can participate in a virtual food drive by donating money online.
3) Adopt a Cat: June is Adopt-a-Cat Month, sponsored by the American Humane Society. It’s on the heels of what they call “kitten season”, or rather every spring when a plethora of kittens are born 
and wind up in shelters. Visit the Humane Society of Silicon Valley to find out more about how to adopt, and to see lots of cute kitties waiting for homes. In addition, staff members are always looking for people who will act as foster owners, taking care of the kittens until they can be adopted out. There’s a foster care orientation class on Sunday, June 5.
4) Donate Blood: The World Health Organization (WHO) is promoting World Blood Donor Day on June 14. The purpose of the day is to “raise awareness of the need for safe blood and blood products, and to thank voluntary unpaid blood donors for their life-saving gifts of blood.” This year’s theme is “More blood. More life.” Consider donating blood this month to one of the local blood banks, like the Stanford Blood Center. You’ll feel better knowing you helped someone who needs the life-giving fluid (and there’s juice and cookies at the end!).
5) Remember Refugees: June 20 is the United Nation’s World Refugee Day, when people all over the world take time to recognize the plight of more than 15 million refugees who have been uprooted because of conflict or persecution. Here in the Bay Area the nonprofit Refugee Transitions is marking the day with performances by Epiphany Dance Productions at the ODC Theater in San Francisco. The show is called “Home Season 2011” and features students who are being helped by Refugee Transitions. Performances are the evenings of June 17, 18 and 19; tickets are $16 and $20. Refugee Transitions was featured in Good Neighbor Stories post last summer.
