Where to give this holiday season Where to give this holiday season (December 07, 2005)

Local charities hoping for help

by Kenneth Seli

While shoppers rush home with their presents this season, the staff at local charities that aid the poor are hoping some gift-givers will extend the generosity to them. The nonprofits are planning to provide hot meals and gifts to those in need this year.

Here are a few ways to give.

The Urban Ministry Food Closet, located at 425 Hamilton Ave. in Palo Alto, is getting set for its Christmas Day meal.

Donations of bottled water, yogurt and cheese, juice boxes, chili in cans, pork and beans, hearty soups, stuffing and all the fixings are needed. The Christmas meal is potluck, so donations are welcome up until the meal.

Volunteers are welcome to help organize and serve dinner.

Gift cards of $15-20 to local grocery and drug stores, along with items such as new socks, underwear, sleeping bags, toiletries, knitted hats, gloves and sweatshirts are also needed.

In East Palo Alto, Mother Oneida Branch continues her 50-year mission of helping residents.

She needs all kinds of meat, including turkeys, fruits, vegetables, rice, cornmeal and beans, as well as checks made out to the EPA Community Service Center so she can purchase Safeway and Albertson gift certificates. The center is at 2584 Farrington Way, East Palo Alto.

St. Anthony's Padua Dining Room at 3500 Middlefield Road in Menlo Park needs donations of frozen food along with turkeys and hams. Local churches will be decorating the dining room for the holidays.

Organizer Max Torres said the dining room is also looking for more permanent volunteers who are willing to make a commitment of coming one day a week throughout the year.

"Our main focus is on feeding the people; providing a hot nutritious meal Monday through Saturday at our facility," Torres said. He can be contacted at maxtorres@covad.net. The dining room phone number is (650) 365-9665.

The Community Services Agency of Mountain View and Los Altos is offering its annual Holiday Sharing Program.

"Basically our goal is to provide every child with a toy, stocking stuffer and new pajamas," Alison Hopkins, director of volunteers, said.

They are looking for volunteers to work morning and afternoon shifts from Monday through Friday. They also have a Dec. 15 deadline for the donation of toys for children ages newborn to 18 years, and a Dec. 22 deadline for food donations.

Contact Hopkins to volunteer or make donations at (650) 964-4630 and at ahopkins@csacares.org.

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