A week ago, the woman charged with feeding holiday meals to thousands of hungry families wasn’t sure what she would do.
“I may have to go out and buy turkeys for the first time ever,” said Vicky Martin, who has worked with Gilroy’s St. Joseph’s Family Center for 13 years, three as a volunteer and the rest as an employee. “I’ve never seen it so empty.”
But, after readers responded to an article in the Dispatch, she said money and turkeys have been pouring in. She got $1,000 in donations and piles of turkeys, adding 600 to the freezers in only a week.
But her need is still pressing. She’s after another 1,000 turkeys to reach the 1,600 goal so that families can have meals at Thanksgiving and Christmas.
“Gilroy residents are so generous when they know there’s a need,” Martin said, smiling wide after weeks of worry.
Her challenge is hardly over. St. Joseph’s also puts on an amazing toy giveaway Dec. 22, where thousands of kids who might not otherwise see a toy, get to pick bright, shiny new ones in a room stacked floor-to-ceiling like Santa’s workshop. Anyone who wants to feel the true spirit of the holiday can stop by the center that day and witness a true miracle.
Over at the Salvation Army, Ellen Torchio has Thanksgiving under control, but she’s also working hard to bring kids toys
for Christmas.
The Gilroy building at 200 Fifth St. will host 300 people for a noon-3 p.m. dinner Nov. 25, the day before Thanksgiving, with 30 volunteers cooking and serving food, mostly for homeless people.
Her shortage is for bellringers, the people who stand outside and collect donations that cover the holidays and the rest of the year.
“Usually we have a lot more than we can use,” said Torchio. “This year we have har-
dly any.”
She said the Salvation Army is also looking for toys, that can be dropped off at the building daily. Toys shouldn’t be gift wrapped, so that volunteers can make sure they are safe.
“Some people like to do fancy wrapping and that’s nice, but we’d have to open them,” Martin added. “You never know. Sometimes bizarre people do bizarre things.”
Mike Luevano at Rebekah Children’s Services in Gilroy is looking for toys, toys and more toys. They sponsor 700 children for the holidays and right now they have only 500 covered. They need toys for $30 or under, including LEGOS, books, dolls, balls (soccer, basketball, football), toy cars, games (puzzles, board games, card games), art supplies and gift cards. They also need wrapping paper and materials for 3,000 gifts—and volunteers to help wrap during the week of Dec. 8. Contact Mike at
ml******@rc*****.org
for more information.
Donations can be made through the website or dropped off at the center.
Sears in Gilroy is trying some innovative marketing to make holiday giving more pleasant. Customers who donate $5 to Make-A-Wish at the store November 19-22 or December 10-13 will receive a $10 Award Card that can be used toward a future purchase on December 3-9 or December 26-31, respectively.
Customers who donate $5 to Make-A-Wish on Wednesday, Nov. 25, can take advantage of the location’s Black Friday Deals two days early, from 5–8 p.m. And those who donate $5 to Make-A-Wish Dec. 17-24 will receive an extra 10 percent off everything storewide.
Gilroy
Community Solutions
New and unwrapped toys, clothing, books, gift cards, for men, women, & children
9015 Murray Ave, #100, Gilroy
www.communitysolutions.org
Live Oak Adult Services
Sugar-free foods of all kinds, socks, gloves, scarves, & hats
651 West Sixth Street, Room #2, Gilroy, (408) 847-5491
liveoakadultdaycare.org/locations/gilroy/
Rebekah Children’s Services
290 Ioof Ave., Gilroy
www.rcskids.org
St. Joseph’s Family Center
Frozen turkeys and hams, flour, salt, sugar, cooking oil, cranberry sauce, canned yams, fresh fruits and vegetables, stuffing, and other non-prepared food items
7950 Church Street, Gilroy, 9:00-4:00, M-F, (408) 842-6662
stjosephsgilroy.org
The Salvation Army
New and unwrapped toys, books, clothing for men, women, & children
200 5th Street, Gilroy, CA
Salvation Army Angel Trees
(select a name and provide a gift)
Nob Hill, 777 First Street, Gilroy
(408) 848-5373, or (408) 848-0681
www.salvationarmy.org/
South County Realtor Alliance—Collecting for Toys for Tots
New and unwrapped toys for children of all ages
Gilroy—Check the website under Donate/Drop Off locations, for specific locations
San-Jose-ca.toysfortots.org/local-coordinator-sites/lco-sites/donatetoys.aspx
Morgan Hill
Community Solutions
New and unwrapped toys, clothing, books, gift cards, for men, women, children
16264 Church Street, #103, Morgan Hill, (408) 461-0481, Beth Edmonds
Donations are always accepted
and appreciated.
www.communitysolutions.org
The Edward ‘Boss’ Prado Foundation
New and unwrapped toys for the Morgan Hill elementary school children
Morgan Hill City Hall, Chamber of Commerce, CRC, Monterey Road Cal Fire station, El Toro Cal Fire station, Heritage Bank, Chase Bank, Union Bank, Noah’s, Lin Engineering, Tencate, BookSmart, Morgan Hill Kiwanis Club, & Wolf Pak Racing Team
Contact Cecilia Ponzini for more info: 408-670-0266
The Salvation Army
Salvation Army Angel Trees (select a name and provide a gift)
Nob Hill, 451 Vineyard Boulevard, Morgan Hill, (408) 848-5373,
or (408) 848-0681
www.salvationarmy.org
Hollister
Community Food Bank
Groceries, and cash gifts
Labeled barrels throughout the Hollister community, or drop off your donations at:
1133 San Felipe Road, Hollister, 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday, (831) 637-0340
www.shfb.org/
Community Services and Workforce Development, (CSWD)
Adopt an individual or family for the holidays
Contact Andi Anderson,
(831) 637-0435, email
AA*******@co**.us
for more info
www.sbccab.wix.com/cab1
Donations are accepted through December 16
Salvation Army
New and unwrapped toys, books, and clothing, for men, women, children
910 Buena Vista, Hollister
(831) 636-9832
www.salvationarmyusa.org
Court Appointed Special Advocates, (CASA)
New and unwrapped toys, games, books, gift cards, ages, infant to 21 years old
829 San Benito Street, Suite 200, Hollister (831) 637-4992, casasanbenito.org
Donations are accepted through December 9.
Chamberlain’s Center
New and unwrapped, clothing, toys, books, gift cards, for children
ages 7-17
1850 San Benito Street, Hollister (831) 636-2121
www.chamberlaincc.org
