The giving season is upon us. Read about how the season has
inspired our community, find out what you can do to give a ‘helping
hand’ to others through donations and volunteering or find out how
to get what you need with a ‘helping hand’ from others.
Holiday blood drive
Gilroy – Al Sanchez Volkswagen will hold a holiday blood drive along with the American Red cross on Wednesday, Dec. 22, from 2 to 7pm in the showroom, 6800 Chestnut St. Donors will receive a holiday T-shirt. Donors must be at least 17 years old, in good general health and weigh more than 110 pounds. To schedule an appointment call 842-9371.
Students urged to donate loose change
Gilroy – In Gilroy High School’s annual Donation Drive, students are asked to donate loose change to their third period class to raise money for homeless charities in town. Money collected will help homeless charities like the Lord’s Table to feed the homeless this year.
Ailes death sparks desire to help
Gilroy – The tragic death of Jeramy Ailes has touched employees at Intero Realty, a group of whom would like to invite the community to join them in collecting and donating any small non-perishable items (phone cards, magazines, non-perishable candy, deodorant, card games, etc.) Please feel free to write some thoughtful letters of gratitude to any unknown soldier. Call 710-6212 to make a contribution, and an Intero employee will pick up the donation. Donations will be collected through Wednesday.
Items needed for holiday baskets
Gilroy – St. Joseph’s Family Center is collecting items to be used in holiday-themed baskets, packages for homeless individuals and new toys for children 10 and under. To find out how you can assist the center in their work, call 842-6662.
Warm coats, blankets collected
Gilroy – Coldwell Banker, Gilroy is participating in several charities, including Operation: One Warm Coat, which collects new and gently used clothing, blankets and towels for the homeless and needy; CanTree, which collects canned foods for those less fortunate; and Toys for Tots. Coats and blankets for Operation: One Warm Coats will be collected until Friday, Dec. 17.
To donate an item or for details about one of the programs, contact Coldwell Banker at 848-2800 or at (925)275-3085.
Books for children
Gilroy – St. Joseph’s Family Center’s “A Book of My Own,” annual book drive for poor and very low-income children is on. Drop children’s books off at the Gilroy Library, 7387 Rosanna St.; Garlic City Coffee and Tea, Fifth and Monterey streets; The Wize Owl Bookstore, 7411 Monterey St.; St. Mary School, First and Church streets; St. Louise Hospital’s medical surgical department, 9400 No Name Uno; or St. Joseph’s Family Center, 7950 Church St. Donations may be sent to St. Joseph’s with “A Book of My Own” written on the check.
Last year, more than 500 children received books because from the book drive.
Donate books to children in need at local Barnes & Noble
Gilroy – To help put books in the hands of low-income children, Barnes & Noble, Inc. and Verizon Communications announced a joint program this holiday season, “Season’s Readings: One Million Books for One Million Children.” The program encourages shoppers at Barnes & Noble stores all across the country and online at Barnes & Noble.com (www.bn.com) to donate children’s books to charities in their community.
Customers at the Gilroy Barnes & Noble simply add a children’s book to their purchases and the store will donate the books to the Gilroy Unified School District’s 21st Century After School Program. Customers will find book lists and suggested titles at Barnes & Noble stores and on www.bn.com. Colorful bookmarks will also be available at the stores with more information on “Season’s Readings.”
Customers can add children’s books to their purchases at the Gilroy Barnes & Noble by simply choosing a colorful bookmark for that child and placing it in the book. Booksellers are making book selection easy for customers by displaying popular titles for girls and boys in the 1st through 8th grades on special tables set up throughout the store. They can also donate online at Barnes & Noble.com (www.bn.com/millionbooks) and Verizon Reads (www.verizonreads.net). Shipping on orders of $25 or more will be free of charge.
Barnes & Noble’s Libros en Español section also makes it possible to donate a Spanish-language children’s book to the “Season’s Readings” program.
Customers will be able to personalize their donations with a bookplate for the recipient.
The “Season’s Readings” program continues through Dec. 31, 2004.
A special Season’s Reading event is being planned for Dec. 18 at the Gilroy store and will include celebrities and other prominent members of the community reading to local grade school children, as well as a visit from Santa.
Holiday giving programs at Community Solutions
Gilroy – Community Solutions has several holiday giving programs to benefit local families. Donated food items, gifts and toys, families interested in adopting other families and volunteers to sort and assemble donations are all needed this season. The deadline for donating items is Monday. Help by participating in one of the following programs:
• Adopt-A-Family Program: People are needed to provide a gift for each family member and food for a holiday meal. Details: 776-6280.
• Love Basket Program: Donations of non-perishable food items, diapers, baby formula, blankets, gift and grocery cards, and toys are needed to create gift baskets for families. Gifts for teenagers are strongly encouraged as they are usually in short supply. Giving trees with names, ages and gift suggestions for individuals in need are located at South Valley National Bank and Morgan Hill City Hall. Details: 776-6282.
• Volunteers are needed now through Dec. 17 for four-hour shifts to wrap gifts, sort food and assemble holiday boxes. Details: 776-6282.
Neighborhood toy drive
Gilroy – Gilroy Eigleberry Neighborhood Association is hosting a toy drive for kids 12 years old and younger. Bring new, unwrapped toys to barrels located at Veteran’s Hall, 74 W. Sixth St.; Happy Dog Pizza, 55 W. Fifth St.; Hobby World, 6901 Monterey St.; or Keller Williams Realty, 2542 S. Bascom suite 100 in Campbell.
Happy Dog Pizza will donate a free kid’s meal for each new toy donated, limited to one meal per family, per visit.
Santa will be giving out presents to kids from a raffle and taking pictures with everyone from 6 to 9pm on Wednesday, Dec. 15 at Veteran’s Hall, 74 W. Sixth St. Raffle prize donations are also needed and greatly appreciated. Details: 315-0854 or 655-2500.
Toys for Tots drop of location
Gilroy – The office of The Edward Jones financial services firm in Gilroy is supporting the St. Joseph’s Family Center Toys for Tots program. Local investment representative Tim Fortino is using his office, 8060 Santa Teresa Blvd., Suite 140, as a drop-off location for local residents to drop off new, unwrapped toys. Drop-off hours are 9am to 5pm Monday to Friday.
“With the holiday season around the corner, we are all getting ready for the festivities,” Fortino said. “And as this is the season of giving, now is a great time to remember the less fortunate in our community.”
Chiropractors sponsor Toys for Tots
Gilroy – Local Chiropractors Dr. Mike Lacerda and Dr. Martin Davis are sponsoring a Toys For Tots drive for the U.S. Marines along with their annual Gift of Health program.
For a donation of one toy, participants will be awarded a “Gift of Health Certificate” valued at $120 for chiropractic care at their clinics. Help the doctors reach their goal to raise more than $30,000 in toys, as well as improve the health of the community, by giving a toy for someone in need.
Dr. Davis’ Family Choice Chiropractic is located at 7933-A Wren Ave. in Gilroy and Lacerda Chiropractic is located at 17295 Monterey Road in Morgan Hill.
Details: Dr. Davis at 842-5959 or Dr. Lacerda at 799-3176.
Biker Toy Run
Gilroy – Victory/Indian Motorcycles of Gilroy, 7191 Monterey Road, presents “The Toy Run” on Saturday, Dec. 18, starting at 11am.
All bikes are welcome to bring a new unwrapped toy and join in the bike run. A 50/50 raffle will be held for a chance to win great prizes and food will be provided before and after the run by Hawaii’z Grill. The all-new Victory motorcycles will also be available for test rides.
Details: 848-2262 or visit www.indiancmc.com.
Holiday food drive
Gilroy – The Hilton Garden Inn Gilroy, 6070 Monterey St., is collecting food for the Second Harvest Food Bank through Dec. 31. Anyone who brings at least two food items to the hotel’s Great American Grill will receive 20 percent off their dining bill. Call 840-7000.
Volunteers needed
Gilroy – The Salvation Army needs volunteers to help during the holiday season. Volunteers are need to help:
• Pack food boxes for Thanksgiving and Christmas and distribute them on Christmas Friday, Dec. 17; contact Major Gonzatti or Laura at 848-5373
• Adopt a family for Christmas by helping provide food, new toys and warm clothing for a family in need; contact Christine Flautt at 848-848-5373
• Sponsor a food or toy barrel; contact the Salvation Army at 848-5373
• Be a bell ringer between now and Dec. 24, during two-hour or all day shifts from 10am to 4pm; contact Major Gonzzatti at 848-3994 or 848-5373
Food and toy donation are also being accepted at Gilroy Salvation Army, 200 W. Fifth St. The Salvation Army is open from 9am to 4pm.
Plan your holiday mailings now
It’s never too early to start planning for overseas holiday mailings. With thousands of troops stationed around the world, the coming weeks will be very busy for our U.S. Postal Service. Major dates recommended for mail to be delivered by Dec. 25 are listed below. Mail for Hanukkah should be sent five days earlier. Send mail on:
Dec. 11 – First-class cards and letters or Priority Mail to all other military APO/FPO addresses
Dec. 13 – Global Airmail letters, cards, and Parcel Post to other International Mail locations
Dec. 20 – Global Express guaranteed International Mail
For details visit www.usps.com.
SHARE food cooperative
Gilroy – SHARE is a nonprofit organization that unites the efforts of volunteers to provide access to affordable food and opportunities to improve the community. Participants in SHARE receive about $30 per month of meat, fresh fruits and vegetables and other grocery items for $15 plus two hours of volunteer time. Participants can volunteer at SHARE or with any other group. The host for SHARE in South County is the United Methodist Church, located at Fourth and Church streets. SHARE is non-sectarian.
Details: Madri, 848-4090 or Lily (por Espanol), 842-7050.
