January 2022 - San Diego

January Family Volunteering Opportunities in San Diego

Family Volunteering in San Diego

October 2020 Silicon Valley Family Volunteer Opportunities

October 2020 - Silicon Valley  Virtual Festival of Giving Doing Good Together (DGT) Date/Time: Launching on Saturday, October 24, National Make a Difference Day Location: Virtual event Ages: All ages can participate; especially appropriate for children 4 - 10 years and their families Time Commitment: As little or as much time as you like Now more than ever, action feels better than anxiety. Fortunately, kindness is something you can spread safely. And not just to those family members right next to you but across your neighborhood, across your city, across your country and across the Earth. Join DGT to celebrate Make a Difference Day on Saturday, October 24 with our FREE virtual Festival of Giving. Sing and dance, try loving-kindness mindfulness, enjoy read-aloud storytime, and give back with creative service projects. Festival activities kick off at 10am and will provide a meaningful day of online inspiration and offline acts of kindness with your family. Learn more here: https://www.doinggoodtogether.org/festival. Contact: For more information, contact Leah@doinggoodtogether.org. If you'd like to sponsor this unique event, contact Jenny@doinggoodtogether.org. www.doinggoodtogether.org Farm Help! Taylor Street Farms Date/Time: Mondays and Wednesdays from 4:30 - 6:30pm and Saturdays from 10am - noon. Location: Taylor St Farm is located at 200 West Taylor St. next to Citibank in downtown San Jose. Walk through the Citibank parking lot entrance on West Taylor St. to find the gate to our main entrance. Ages: There is no minimum age for volunteers but those under the age of 18 need to have their parents sign a waiver. Time Commitment: Two-hour shifts Volunteers are needed to help with farm work tasks that vary from day to day. The most common tasks include: planting, harvesting, cultivating, composting and farm maintenance. Prior gardening and farming experience is not required! We will teach you everything you need to know. Wear clothes you don't mind getting dirty, appropriate footwear and a hat. And do not forget sunscreen! Check the weather forecast and dress appropriately. Because of COVID-19 safety concerns, we are asking volunteers to bring their own water, snacks, and gloves. Taylor St Farm is an operating farm so there may be tools present, uneven surfaces, and insects. Contact: Email us at taylorstfarmsj@gmail.com to reserve your volunteer spot. New volunteers must fill out a brief volunteer application and we will be in touch. First time volunteers also need to complete a volunteer waiver. http://www.taylorstfarm.org/ Food Donations for JFCS Food Banks Jewish Family and Children's Services (JFCS) Date/Time: Monday - Friday,  9am - 5pm Location(s): San Mateo - 2001 Winward Way #200 Palo Alto - 200 Channing Ave San Francisco - 2150 Post Street San Francisco - 2534 Judah Street San Rafael - 600 Fifth Ave  Ages: All ages can participate Time Commitment: Varies Our community is facing an unprecedented need for food donations. Help JFCS keep our Food Banks full throughout the Bay Area and ensure we have essential supplies for all those in need. Add extra items to your grocery cart and drop them off in person outside of your local JFCS office. You can also shop on Amazon, or purchase a grocery store gift card. Click here for a full list of items to collect. Contact: Masha Gutkin, mashag@jfcs.org www.jfcs.org Dune's Beach Clean Up - Join the Plastic Free Movement Pacific Beach Coalition Date/Time: Saturday, October 31, 10am - noon Location: Dunes Beach, Half Moon Bay. Click here for directions. Volunteers should meet at the end of the parking lot. Look for the tent. Dunes Beach is a state park so there is a fee to park. Ages: All ages are welcome to participate with adult supervision as long as you think your child can actively participate the activities outlined below. Time Commitment: Two hours Volunteers will be cleaning up the beach, trail and parking lot areas. Volunteers are encouraged to bring their own buckets and reusable gloves. Extra gloves and buckets will be provided while supplies last. Make sure to bring extra layers, a hat, sunblock, water, and snacks. Expect to be picking up cigarette butts, food wrappers, cans, and bottles. There will also be microplastic and styrofoam along the tide line. If you have a shovel or some type of scoping tool, you can help us grab the plastic items. Contact: Registration is available online. https://www.pacificbeachcoalition.org/    Virtual End Childhood Cancer 5K Halloween Edition! Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation Date/Time: Saturday, October 31, anytime. There will be a virtual program at noon EST. Stay tuned for further updates on the virtual program as we draw closer to the event! Location: Any location of your choice Ages: Everyone can participate Time Commitment: Varies Now, more than ever, kids and families going through cancer treatment need our help. Your participation in this virtual event translates to much-needed funding to help find new and better treatments for kids fighting cancer and to support families going through childhood cancer. Every contribution, no matter how large or small, will make a difference. Walkers and runners from near and far are invited to come together for an inspiring 5K (3.1 mile) walk or run that can be done from any location. With the event falling on Halloween, participants are encouraged to dress up in their costumes for an extra fun and festive event! There will even be a Halloween costume contest where we will recognize and award the top-rated costume with a special prize. Ghost, ghoul or goblin, all participants will receive a link to a downloadable bib that can be printed from home to sport during their 5K. You can register for free, or for $20 you can register with a limited-edition t-shirt that will be sent directly to your home. On the day of the event, inspire others by sharing your photos or videos with us on social media and tag @AlexsLemonade. Contact: Sara Moyer, S.Moyer@AlexsLemonade.org. Registration is available online. https://www.alexslemonade.org/virtual-walk-run Holiday Stockings for Heroes Soldiers' Angels Date/Time: Stockings must be sent to the address provided to you by Soldiers' Angels no later than December 11, 2020. Location: Soldiers' Angels will send you the shipping address once you sign-up. Please note that participants are responsible for any and all shipping costs. Ages: Everyone can participate Time Commitment: Varies The holiday season can be especially difficult for deployed service members and veterans in VA Hospitals. Nothing can replace the sense of being with loved ones during the holidays, but receiving a stuffed holiday stocking will help to brighten the spirits of deployed service members and veterans. Your family can help by participating in the Holiday Stockings for Heroes program. It's easy to help! Collect items from this list of suggested items, stuff the items into holiday stockings, and send your finished stockings to Soldiers' Angels. Deployed Service Members love to receive homemade cards/drawings/creations from children inside their stuffed stockings! Learn more here. Contact: stockings@soldiersangels.org. Click here to sign-up to donate stockings https://soldiersangels.org/ Make Cards Cards for Hospitalized Kids (CFHK) Date/Time: At your convenience Location: Mail cards to: Cards for Hospitalized Kids 7290 W. Devon Chicago, IL 60631 Ages: Everyone can participate Time Commitment: Varies Cards for Hospitalized Kids is an internationally recognized charitable organization that spreads hope, joy & magic to hospitalized kids across America through uplifting, handmade cards. Your family can help by making cards. Here are some guidelines for creating your cards: The only supplies you need are paper and a writing utensil, such as crayons, markers etc. You may use other supplies such as stickers and glue-on craft decals but please do not use any supplies, like glitter, that might fall off of your cards. Do not address the card to a specific child, as we don't know the name of the child yet. At the request of hospitals, we ask that you do not write "Get well", "Feel Better" or other illness related comments. Include uplifting messages in your cards. Click here for suggestions. Don't write any religious comments such as "God Bless" or "I'm praying for you." Sign your cards with your first name only.   Contact: info@cardsforhospitalizedkids.com http://www.cardsforhospitalizedkids.com/ Send Kindness to an Elder Letters of Love - Love for Our Elders Date/Time: Anytime and as often as you'd like Location: Mail cards to: Love for Our Elders P. O. Box 24248 Cleveland, OH 44124 Ages: Everyone can help Time Commitment: Varies Love for Our Elders is committed to fostering a sense of belonging and hope in our older, often vulnerable generation. One way they are doing this is through Letters of Love: collecting cards and mailing these to elders in senior communities across the globe. These include nursing homes, assisted living facilities, hospices, and senior centers. During the COVID-19 pandemic, it's more important than ever to fight loneliness with love for our elders. Please follow these letter writing guidelines: Letters must be legible (large print) and handwritten. Avoid religion. Please refrain from including anything religious in your letters, such as religious quotes, words like "God," etc. Exclude the date (day, month, and year). Embrace creativity! Recipients love it when the letters are personal. We encourage you to make your letters detailed, thoughtful and heartfelt. Be kind and thoughtful (more than talking about yourself). This is a one-way letter exchange, meaning you will not receive a letter back, so remember that no reciprocation attached is part of the beauty of your act of kindness, and the recipients don't feel burdened by feeling obligated or being unable to respond. Envelope your letters if you can! It's so much nicer to open up an enveloped card, don't you think? If you're sending more than 1 letter, leave your enveloped letters unsealed and unstamped and put them in a larger envelope or box to send. Share your act of kindness! Tag @loveforourelders Send as many cards as you'd like! Letters are accepted year-round, so there's no deadline for when you must send them by. Learn more here. Contact: https://loveforourelders.org/contact https://loveforourelders.org Foster a Pet Furry Friends Rescue Date/Time: Ongoing need Location: Foster a pet in your home Ages: This is a great opportunity for families Time Commitment: Varies If you're an animal lover with the time and space to spare, you can look into fostering a new furry friend. Furry Friends Rescue has rescued over 13,000 animals and helped over 6000+ Guardians, Shelters & Rescue Assists since November 1998. They rescue and home foster dogs and cats (all ages, breed types, medical & behavior needs, and sanctuary) from Northern California Shelters. Furry Friends Rescue (FFR) is an all-volunteer non-profit Bay Area companion animal rescue organization. All FFR's rescue dogs and cats live in wonderful foster homes and they are always in need of more foster homes and volunteers. If you are interested, please read more information on their Foster Home Network and Volunteering  pages. Contact: info@furryfriendsrescue.org https://www.furryfriendsrescue.org/ Halloween Candy Give Back Operation Gratitude Date/Time: Collect your donations in October Location: Candy donations should be shipped no later than November 13 to: OG Candy Processing Center ATTN: Halloween Candy 8967 Oso Ave - Building D Chatsworth, CA 91311 Ages: Everyone can participate Time Commitment: Varies Operation Gratitude's mission is to lift the spirits and meet the evolving needs of our First Responder, U.S. Military Active Duty, Veteran, and Wounded Hero communities. We also seek to provide volunteer opportunities for all Americans to express their appreciation for these deserving Heroes through hands-on volunteerism, such as collection drives, letter writing campaigns, handcrafted "Made with Love" projects, and care package assembly events. The Operation Gratitude Halloween Candy Give-Back Program has been connecting communities with Military and First Responder Heroes each fall since 2007. While Halloween may look a little different this year, Operation Gratitude and our incredible volunteers are committed to continuing to give back in meaningful ways. You and your family can help by collecting and donating candy. Click here for more information about Candy Give-Back donation guidelines. Contact: candy@operationgratitude.org. This year, candy donors are asked to sign-up to participate. We will be sharing important information and updates via email that you'll need throughout the candy season. Click here to sign your family up to participate. If you'd like to participate as part of a larger group, sign-up here. https://www.operationgratitude.com/ Coat Drive One Warm Coat Date/Time: Flexible Location: Click here for a list of local drop off locations. Ages: Everyone can help Time Commitment: Varies One Warm Coat is the only national non-profit organization focused on coat drives. One Warm Coat supports individuals, groups, companies and organizations across the country by providing the tools and resources needed to hold a successful coat drive. Coats are distributed in the communities where they are collected, to children and adults in need, without charge, discrimination or obligation. This year, the need for coats will be greater than ever before. Your family can help by holding a Warm Coat Drive or a Virtual Coat Drive: Register to hold a coat drive in the coming weeks or months. While physically holding a coat drive might be different this year, One Warm Coat has provided social distancing tips and tools to help you make the process easy and fun. Register to hold a virtual coat drive. Follow the same registration steps for holding a physical coat drive, receive access to all of the great tools, but instead of collecting coats, collect only dollar donations. Every $1 donated warms 1 person through the Coat Drive Program. Contact: drives@onewarmcoat.org or call 877.663.9276 www.onewarmcoat.org Check out our featured Project of the Month!   EXPLORE our growing list of at-home projects you can do whenever you're ready, each with conversation starters, book ideas, and more! Follow along on social media as other families tackle this month's projects and share their stories! Simply join our Facebook group or find us on Instagram (@doinggoodtogether and #sharekindness)   Raise an Upstander with DGT's Big-Hearted Tools    It's never too early (or too late) to start big-hearted conversations with your children about the power of kindness and the importance of upstanding for others. We have tools to help parents engage with children about tough topics, including this eBook with one-of-a-kind worksheets, conversation starters, and a kindness challenge to help your whole family practice being "upstanders." Available for just $4.99 in our online store or free to members in our Membership Circle.        If you received this email from someone else and would like to subscribe, please click here. This list was compiled by Doing Good Together™ (www.doinggoodtogether.org)  When calling to volunteer for any of the opportunities listed above, please let the coordinator know you found it through this listing. You are encouraged to ask any questions you may have of the sponsoring organization before committing to a project. Disclaimer: This list is provided as a service to families. Inclusion of organizations in this listing does not imply affiliation, endorsement or quality assurance on the part of Doing Good Together.™ Doing Good Together™ bears no responsibility whatsoever for the activities and actions of the listed organizations.                                                                                                                                                                                    © 2020 Doing Good Together™

October 2020 NYC Family Volunteer Opportunities

October 2020 - NYC Meal Deliveries Citymeals on Wheels Date/Time: Monday - Friday ongoing, 9am - noon Location: Manhattan, Queens, or the Bronx Ages: Families with children of all ages are welcome to participate. Volunteers under 18 MUST be accompanied by an adult. Time Commitment: Three hours Citymeals on Wheels provides a continuous lifeline of nourishing meals and vital companionship to New York City's homebound elderly. Working in partnership with community-based organizations and senior centers, Citymeals prepares and delivers over 2 million weekend, holiday and emergency meals to more than 18,000 of our frail aged neighbors each year. Last year, more than 26,000 individuals volunteered over 90,000 hours of their time to Citymeals' mission. Volunteers are needed to deliver meals to homebound seniors' homes.  Deliveries are done on foot or using your own vehicle.   Contact: Sheila Clay, sheila@citymeals.org, or Vivienne O'Neill, vivienne@citymeals.org www.citymeals.org Handmade Card Project Citymeals on Wheels Date/Time: Ongoing need Location: Send your cards to: Liz Cantillo Citymeals on Wheels 309 Drake Street Bronx, NY 10474 Please list the number of cards on the outside of the envelope and write Handmade Card Project on the envelope. Inside the envelope, on a separate piece of paper, please write your full name, the name of your group, organization or company (if applicable), and your email or mailing address so that we may thank you for your support. Ages: Everyone can participate Time Commitment: Varies Citymeals works with student, community and corporate groups all over the city to craft handmade cards that brighten the days of isolated older New Yorkers. Each year, hundreds of students from local schools decorate cards for their homebound elderly neighbors to be delivered along with meals or food packages. Last year they created 76,106 cards. Please join us in reminding our frail aged neighbors they haven't been forgotten. Showing you care can be as simple as making a thoughtful card. Learn more here. Contact: Sheila Clay, sheila@citymeals.org www.citymeals.org Halloween Candy Give Back Operation Gratitude Date/Time: Collect your donations in October Location: Candy donations should be shipped no later than November 13 to: OG Candy Processing Center ATTN: Halloween Candy 8967 Oso Ave - Building D Chatsworth, CA 91311 Ages: Everyone can participate Time Commitment: Varies Operation Gratitude's mission is to lift the spirits and meet the evolving needs of our First Responder, U.S. Military Active Duty, Veteran, and Wounded Hero communities. We also seek to provide volunteer opportunities for all Americans to express their appreciation for these deserving Heroes through hands-on volunteerism, such as collection drives, letter writing campaigns, handcrafted "Made with Love" projects, and care package assembly events. The Operation Gratitude Halloween Candy Give-Back Program has been connecting communities with Military and First Responder Heroes each fall since 2007. While Halloween may look a little different this year, Operation Gratitude and our incredible volunteers are committed to continuing to give back in meaningful ways. You and your family can help by collecting and donating candy. Click here for more information about Candy Give-Back donation guidelines. Contact: candy@operationgratitude.org. This year, candy donors are asked to sign-up to participate. We will be sharing important information and updates via email that you'll need throughout the candy season. Click here to sign your family up to participate. If you'd like to participate as part of a larger group, sign-up here. https://www.operationgratitude.com/ Donate Halloween Costumes The Halloween Helpers Date/Time: Costumes are accepted year-round Location: Mail costumes to: 414 Penn Rd. Wynnewood, PA 19096 Ages: Everyone can participate Time Commitment: Varies Even if Halloween will look a little different this year, let's try and make it fun and special for kids and those in need! The Halloween Helpers distributes new and previously-enjoyed Halloween costumes to children in need throughout the world. We collect all sizes and styles (but not adult in content). All we ask is that each costume be individually bagged in a clear baggie, with a label on each identifying the gender (if relevant), type or style of costume and size. All costumes must be complete because what is a princess without her crown? Contact: info@thehalloweenhelpers.com http://www.thehalloweenhelpers.com/  Dear New York Food Bank for New York City Date/Time: Ongoing project Location: Online activities Ages: Everyone can participate - great for both kids and adults! Time Commitment: Varies, volunteers can receive one hour of service for every three letters sent to our Community Kitchen and Pantry. During this challenging time, a kind note can make a huge impact! While we cannot currently accept volunteer assistance on site at our Community Kitchen, we are continuing to distribute emergency pantry bags to New Yorkers in need, and we are seeking volunteers to write brief notes to show our neighbors that we care. Thousands of clients visit our network of sites each week, so every note helps and the need is ongoing! Send one, or send a group mailed together! Since this program launched at the end of April, we have been grateful to receive over 2000 letters from volunteers across the country! We want to ensure every client can leave our Community Kitchen & Pantry with a personalized note during this difficult time, and we need more volunteer support to help make that happen! Write a brief note today to show a fellow New Yorker you care. See our online toolkit for details on how to get started. Looking for more ways to make a difference? Check out the Food Bank's "Spread Love: A Kids + Teens Guide to Supporting Food Bank's COVID-19 Response."  Contact: Volunteer Engagement Team, volunteer@foodbanknyc.org foodbanknyc.org Send Kindness to an Elder Letters of Love - Love for Our Elders Date/Time: Anytime and as often as you'd like Location: Mail cards to: Love for Our Elders P. O. Box 24248 Cleveland, OH 44124 Ages: Everyone can help Time Commitment: Varies Love for Our Elders is committed to fostering a sense of belonging and hope in our older, often vulnerable generation. One way they are doing this is through Letters of Love: collecting cards and mailing these to elders in senior communities across the globe. These include nursing homes, assisted living facilities, hospices, and senior centers. During the COVID-19 pandemic, it's more important than ever to fight loneliness with love for our elders. Please follow these letter writing guidelines: Letters must be legible (large print) and handwritten. Avoid religion. Please refrain from including anything religious in your letters, such as religious quotes, words like "God," etc. Exclude the date (day, month, and year). Embrace creativity! Recipients love it when the letters are personal. We encourage you to make your letters detailed, thoughtful and heartfelt. Be kind and thoughtful (more than talking about yourself). This is a one-way letter exchange, meaning you will not receive a letter back, so remember that no reciprocation attached is part of the beauty of your act of kindness, and the recipients don't feel burdened by feeling obligated or being unable to respond. Envelope your letters if you can! It's so much nicer to open up an enveloped card, don't you think? If you're sending more than 1 letter, leave your enveloped letters unsealed and unstamped and put them in a larger envelope or box to send. Share your act of kindness! Tag @loveforourelders Send as many cards as you'd like! Letters are accepted year-round, so there's no deadline for when you must send them by. Learn more here. Contact: https://loveforourelders.org/contact https://loveforourelders.org Virtual Peer-to-Peer Mentorship Program Including You Date/Time: Ongoing Location: Virtual Ages: Middle and high school students (ages 11-17) Time Commitment: Varies, but student mentors can expect to spend about one hour a week engaged in Including You mentorship activities and training sessions.  Including You is a peer-to-peer mentoring organization that celebrates inclusion and brings student volunteers together with kids who have developmental or physical disabilities or who face educational disparities due to poverty. After going through training, Including You student mentors will be paired with another student in need of support. Each week, the students will meet over Zoom, FaceTime, or a phone call and will get to know each other, work on homework, and do fun activities like trying out new recipes, learning TikTok dances, or reading together - all while building a lasting friendship. Contact: joinus@includingyou.org IncludingYou.org Virtual Fall Teen Internship Program DOROT Date/Time: Program runs from mid-October through the week of December 14. Location: Virtually, over ZOOM and by telephone Ages: High school students, grades 9 - 12. Time Commitment: One afternoon per week, Monday - Thursday. Interns volunteer for one and one-half to two hours depending on the activity. DOROT is a nonprofit organization addressing the challenges of an aging population. We deliver our programs and services through intergenerational connections with volunteers of all ages. Teen interns will choose one of the following options: Friendly Visits Visit with a DOROT elder once each week via zoom or telephone with a Teen Intern partner, and make a difference in their lives and yours. Bridge the generational gap through conversations, exploration of common interests and companionship. Interns can also play chess during friendly visits with older adults. There is a group orientation on the first day. Choose one afternoon per week: Mondays - Thursdays, 4 - 5:30pm Monday visit start date: October 19 Tuesday visit start date: October 13 Wednesday visit start date: October 14 Thursday visit start date: October 15 Intergenerational Discussion Group A group of 10 teen interns will plan, lead and participate in a weekly, intergenerational discussion group via zoom with older adults on topical issues. Bridge the gap between the generations through open conversation that engages all involved. Thursdays, 4:30 - 6:30pm Discussion group start date: Thursday, October 8, teen orientation. First session with older adults is Thursday October 15. Intergenerational Art with Nancy Katz Join a group of 10 teen interns and 10 older adults for an exploration through art of our current times.  Get to know one another while working with mixed media - paper, wood and color.  All art supplies will be provided by mail. No previous art experience required. Participants will work together online. Wednesdays, 4:45pm - 6pm Art program start date: Wednesday, October 14, teen orientation. First session with older adults is Wednesday, October 21. Contact: Read more information and fill out the application on our website, dorotusa.org/fallteenapp. A zoom group interview is required. Contact Quinn at qlockwood@dorotusa.org with questions. Applications for this program will be accepted on a rolling basis until October 6. https://dorotusa.org/  Check out our featured Project of the Month!   EXPLORE our growing list of at-home projects you can do whenever you're ready, each with conversation starters, book ideas, and more! Follow along on social media as other families tackle this month's projects and share their stories! Simply join our Facebook group or find us on Instagram (@doinggoodtogether and #sharekindness)   Raise an Upstander with DGT's Big-Hearted Tools    It's never too early (or too late) to start big-hearted conversations with your children about the power of kindness and the importance of upstanding for others. We have tools to help parents engage with children about tough topics, including this eBook with one-of-a-kind worksheets, conversation starters, and a kindness challenge to help your whole family practice being "upstanders." Available for just $4.99 in our online store or free to members in our Membership Circle.        If you received this email from someone else and would like to subscribe, please click here. This list was compiled by Doing Good Together™ (www.doinggoodtogether.org)  When calling to volunteer for any of the opportunities listed above, please let the coordinator know you found it through this listing. You are encouraged to ask any questions you may have of the sponsoring organization before committing to a project. Disclaimer: This list is provided as a service to families. Inclusion of organizations in this listing does not imply affiliation, endorsement or quality assurance on the part of Doing Good Together.™ Doing Good Together™ bears no responsibility whatsoever for the activities and actions of the listed organizations.                                                                                                                                                                                    © 2020 Doing Good Together™

September 2020 NYC Family Volunteer Opportunities

September 2020 - NYC Meal Deliveries Citymeals on Wheels Date/Time: Monday - Friday ongoing, 9am - noon Location: Manhattan, Queens, or the Bronx Ages: Families with children of all ages are welcome to participate. Volunteers under 18 MUST be accompanied by an adult. Time Commitment: Three hours Citymeals on Wheels provides a continuous lifeline of nourishing meals and vital companionship to New York City's homebound elderly. Working in partnership with community-based organizations and senior centers, Citymeals prepares and delivers over 2 million weekend, holiday and emergency meals to more than 18,000 of our frail aged neighbors each year. Last year, more than 26,000 individuals volunteered over 90,000 hours of their time to Citymeals' mission. Volunteers are needed to deliver meals to homebound seniors' homes.  Deliveries are done on foot or using your own vehicle.   Contact: Sheila Clay, sheila@citymeals.org, or Vivienne O'Neill, vivienne@citymeals.org www.citymeals.org Handmade Card Project Citymeals on Wheels Date/Time: Ongoing need Location: Send your cards to: Liz Cantillo Citymeals on Wheels 309 Drake Street Bronx, NY 10474 Please list the number of cards on the outside of the envelope and write Handmade Card Project on the envelope. Inside the envelope, on a separate piece of paper, please write your full name, the name of your group, organization or company, and your email or mailing address so that we may thank you for your support. Ages: Everyone can participate Time Commitment: Varies Citymeals works with student, community and corporate groups all over the city to craft handmade cards that brighten the days of isolated older New Yorkers. Each year, hundreds of students from local schools decorate cards for their homebound elderly neighbors to be delivered along with meals or food packages. Last year they created 76,106 cards. Please join us in reminding our frail aged neighbors they haven't been forgotten. Showing you care can be as simple as making a thoughtful card. Learn more here. Contact: Sheila Clay, sheila@citymeals.org www.citymeals.org Thank the Frontline Banner Project New York Says Thank You Foundation Date/Time: Throughout the month of September Location: From home Ages: Everyone can participate Time Commitment: Less than an hour Stars of HOPE is the world's largest and fastest-growing healing arts program. Started by New York Says Thank You Foundation in 2007, Stars of HOPE empowers people of all ages to transform individuals and communities in need of hope through the power of art and messages of healing. Families can create paper stars or digital stars from home that will be brought together to create banners to thank the frontline workers. People can send or email us their star picture and we will create the banner for a local hospital, EMT, Firehouse. If someone has family members in a hospital, we would gladly send the banner to their location. Contact: Fran Sheff-Mauer, fran@starsofhopeusa.org. Sign-up online at https://starsofhopeusa.org/digital-stars/ https://starsofhopeusa.org/ DOROT 9/11 Day of Service and Remembrance Cardmaking Program DOROT Date/Time: At your convenience Location: Mail your completed cards with a DOROT Cardmaking form to: DOROT Attn: 9/11 Day of Service Cardmaking Program 171 West 85th Street New York, NY 10024 Ages: Everyone can participate Time Commitment: Varies DOROT invites volunteers of all ages to join us in expressing gratitude and appreciation to our nation's veterans for their service. Even as we face an unprecedented health crisis, we can come together with other Americans to honor 9/11 and commemorate the tragedy through volunteer service. Make cards for veterans that offer reflection, thanks and heartfelt wishes for a better tomorrow. We welcome cards from across the country and from individual volunteers and community groups. Please make greeting cards using these guidelines: 9/11 Day of Service Cardmaking Guidelines. Contact: volunteers@dorotusa.org www.dorotusa.org Dear New York Food Bank for New York City Date/Time: Ongoing project Location: Online activities Ages: Everyone can participate - great for both kids and adults! Time Commitment: Varies, volunteers can receive one hour of service for every three letters sent to our Community Kitchen and Pantry. During this challenging time, a kind note can make a huge impact! While we cannot currently accept volunteer assistance on site at our Community Kitchen, we are continuing to distribute emergency pantry bags to New Yorkers in need, and we are seeking volunteers to write brief notes to show our neighbors that we care. Thousands of clients visit our network of sites each week, so every note helps and the need is ongoing! Send one, or send a group mailed together! Since this program launched at the end of April, we have been grateful to receive over 2000 letters from volunteers across the country! We want to ensure every client can leave our Community Kitchen & Pantry with a personalized note during this difficult time, and we need more volunteer support to help make that happen! Write a brief note today to show a fellow New Yorker you care. See our online toolkit for details on how to get started. Looking for more ways to make a difference? Check out the Food Bank's "Spread Love: A Kids + Teens Guide to Supporting Food Bank's COVID-19 Response."  Contact: Volunteer Engagement Team, volunteer@foodbanknyc.org foodbanknyc.org Playdates with a Purpose Repair the World Date/Time: Tuesday, September 15,  11 - 11:40am Location: Zoom link sent upon registration Ages: Recommended for 3-7 year olds, younger and older siblings are welcome! Time Commitment: Under an hour It's back-to-school time, and we're excited to launch our at-home packaging projects with September school supply kits. Playdates with a Purpose includes facilitated play, service and learning around issues of equity, created especially for children age 3 - 7! Join us on Zoom to play, serve and learn. Generously made possible by PJ Library, a program of the Harold Grinspoon Foundation. Contact: Registration is available online. https://werepair.org/ Virtual Intergenerational Chess DOROT Date/Time: Mondays, 4 - 5:30pm. Programs meets weekly from October 5 - December 14. Location: Online. Virtual chess platform. Ages: Middle school and high school students, grades 6 - 12. Time Commitment: One and one-half hours per week   DOROT is a nonprofit organization addressing the challenges of an aging population. We deliver our programs and services through intergenerational connections with volunteers of all ages. Strengthen your skills and make a friend across the chess board! DOROT's Intergenerational After School Chess program fosters a setting where wisdom and curiosity meet face-to-face, building mutually beneficial relationships in the process. This fall, join DOROT older adults once a week to play chess while also getting to know each other over a virtual platform. DOROT partners with Chess NYC to offer direct teaching by a chess master. Students must be familiar with the game of chess. Intergenerational Chess at DOROT is sponsored by the Targoff family and friends. Contact: Read more information and fill out the application on our website, dorotusa.org/chess. An interview is required to participate in this program. Contact Quinn at qlockwood@dorotusa.org with questions. Applications for this program will open the week of September 7 https://dorotusa.org/  Virtual Fall Teen Internship Program DOROT Date/Time: Program runs from mid-October through the week of December 14. Applications open on the DOROT website the week of September 7. Location: Virtually, over ZOOM and by telephone Ages: High school students, grades 9 - 12. Time Commitment: One afternoon per week, Monday - Thursday. Interns volunteer for one and one-half to two hours depending on the activity. DOROT is a nonprofit organization addressing the challenges of an aging population. We deliver our programs and services through intergenerational connections with volunteers of all ages. Teen interns will choose one of the following options: Friendly Visits Visit with a DOROT elder once each week via zoom or telephone with a Teen Intern partner, and make a difference in their lives and yours. Bridge the generational gap through conversations, exploration of common interests and companionship. Interns can also play chess during friendly visits with older adults. There is a group orientation on the first day. Choose one afternoon per week: Mondays - Thursdays, 4 - 5:30pm Monday visit start date: October 19 Tuesday visit start date: October 13 Wednesday visit start date: October 14 Thursday visit start date: October 15 Intergenerational Discussion Group A group of 10 teen interns will plan, lead and participate in a weekly, intergenerational discussion group via zoom with older adults on topical issues. Bridge the gap between the generations through open conversation that engages all involved. Thursdays, 4:30 - 6:30pm Discussion group start date: Thursday, October 8, teen orientation. First session with older adults is Thursday October 15. Intergenerational Art with Nancy Katz Join a group of 10 teen interns and 10 older adults for an exploration through art of our current times.  Get to know one another while working with mixed media - paper, wood and color.  All art supplies will be provided by mail. No previous art experience required. Participants will work together online. Wednesdays, 4:45pm - 6pm Art program start date: Wednesday, October 14, teen orientation. First session with older adults is Wednesday, October 21. Contact: Read more information and fill out the application on our website, dorotusa.org/fallteenapp. A zoom group interview is required. Contact Quinn at qlockwood@dorotusa.org with questions. Applications for this program will open the week of September 7. https://dorotusa.org/  Make a Blanket Project Linus Date/Time: Make blankets on your own at any time Location: Click here to find a chapter near you Ages: Everyone can participate Time Commitment: Varies Project Linus provides comfort to children who are sick, traumatized, or otherwise in need through the gift of a handmade blanket. Our blankets are lovingly made by adults and children from all walks of life, working individually or as a family or group.  No previous craft experience is required. Click here to learn how to make no-sew fleece blankets. The need for blankets continues and in fact may be greater now than ever before. However dropping blankets off at blanket drop-off sites has become more of a challenge as some stores and locations may have temporarily closed. Others that remain open may have temporarily removed our drop off bins due to COVID-19 concerns. In addition, some locations such as shelters and hospitals for which we supply blankets have placed restrictions on what our chapter coordinators can distribute to them. Please contact your local chapter coordinator to see what specific blanket needs they have before you make your blankets. Be sure to ask if they are accepting blanket donations now and if so, where they should be dropped off. All blankets must be new, handmade, washable, and smoke-free Materials used (fleece, fabric, yarn, etc.) should be new and odor-free.  All colors and patterns suitable for children are fine.  We accept tied fleece blankets, knitted and crocheted afghans, quilts, tied comforters, sewn receiving blankets, and any other kind of handmade blanket.  Please keep materials and blankets away from pets! The best sizes for blankets are between 30" x 30" and 40" x 60" but we accept any blanket in sizes suitable for infants through teenagers. Contact: Click here to find your local chapter. https://www.projectlinus.org/ Youth Service America #DoGoodFromHome Challenge and 9/11 Day At Home YSA has partnered with Design for Change and Hasbro to call on kids and teens to use their compassion and creativity to do acts of good from home. For every kind act shared through the #DoGoodFromHome Challenge, Hasbro will donate up to 25,000 toys and games to organizations providing care to the children of COVID-19 essential workers. Check out daily activities that you can do from the safety of your home. Download this toolkit with easy instructions, podcasts and activities for your students and children. Engage kids in learning more about COVID-19 and challenge them to be changemakers in their community. Take a picture or video, share it on social media using #DoGoodFromHome and challenge others! YSA is also proud to partner with the 9/11 Day organization to launch 9/11 Day At Home, a nationwide day of virtual volunteering, planned for the upcoming September 11 National Day of Service and Remembrance. We encourage you and your school or organization to participate. Request a free toolkit now at 911DayAtHome.org. This innovative initiative will provide a wide range of safe and relatively easy "good deeds" that your staff, constituencies, and supporters can do from home for #911Day. More than 30 nonprofits that have joined with us and 9/11 Day to help us build this amazing good deed list (to be unveiled at 911day.org on Sept 11) including our fellow national program leaders, World Central Kitchen, Points of Light, United Way, and the Corporation for National and Community Service. Now more than ever we need this moment to remember the importance of unity, and inspire Americans to dedicate time to helping those most in need. That's how we all keep the promise to #NeverForget. Check out our featured Project of the Month!   EXPLORE our growing list of at-home projects you can do whenever you're ready, each with conversation starters, book ideas, and more! Follow along on social media as other families tackle this month's projects and share their stories! Simply join our Facebook group or find us on Instagram (@doinggoodtogether and #sharekindness)   Share simple kindness tips with families in your school, faith group or organization. Let's encourage more kindness in the world with free kindness and service ideas! Does your organization have a newsletter or website geared to families? Our new set of Service and Smiles kindness tips (one for each week of the school year) can provide an uplifting opportunity for social-emotional development during times of hybrid and distance-learning. You'll find service projects, kindness cues, and other simple ideas that teach children about giving, caring, and compassion - and how to take action - right from their own homes. It's free - just acknowledge Doing Good Together as the source! To sign up, visit our Service and Smiles web page.       If you received this email from someone else and would like to subscribe, please click here. This list was compiled by Doing Good Together™ (www.doinggoodtogether.org)  When calling to volunteer for any of the opportunities listed above, please let the coordinator know you found it through this listing. You are encouraged to ask any questions you may have of the sponsoring organization before committing to a project. Disclaimer: This list is provided as a service to families. Inclusion of organizations in this listing does not imply affiliation, endorsement or quality assurance on the part of Doing Good Together.™ Doing Good Together™ bears no responsibility whatsoever for the activities and actions of the listed organizations.                                                                                                                                                                                    © 2020 Doing Good Together™

September 2020 Silicon Valley Family Volunteer Opportunities

September 2020 - Silicon Valley Coastal CleanUp Day(s) California Coastal Commission Date/Time: Every Saturday in September, 9am - noon Location: Your local happy place! Ages: Everyone can participate Time Commitment: Three hours This year, California cleans the coast by cleaning up our neighborhoods. California Coastal Cleanup is typically the third Saturday of September. This year, we are adapting to current circumstances to honor the spirit of the cleanup while maintaining strict safety precautions. For safety reasons, there are no large, centrally organized cleanup sites this year. Instead, cleanups will be self-guided and close to home. Volunteers can help by cleaning their neighborhoods, local parks, streets, and storm drains for this year's Coastal Cleanup. Trash travels through storm drains, creeks, and rivers to become beach and ocean pollution. Your family can help clean the beach by picking up litter in your community with your household. Cleanups are happening every Saturday in September. If Saturdays don't work for you, don't let that stop you! You can clean up any day, any time. All cleanups in September will be included as part of Coastal Cleanup Month. Report your cleanup to your local coordinator and/or record it on the CleanSwell app. Practice physical distancing, and strictly follow both local ordinances and this safety document. Remember, beach cleanups start at your door. Thank you for staying safe, cleaning your neighborhoods, and protecting the coast! Click here to learn more. Contact: coast4u@coastal.ca.gov. To learn more about cleanup efforts near you, contact your local county coordinator. https://www.coastal.ca.gov/ Back to School Drive Family Giving Tree Date/Time: Now through September 9 Location: Your own location Ages: Everyone can help Time Commitment: Varies There's still time to help with Family Giving Tree's Back-to-School Drive. We're always looking for people who want to have fun, are passionate about our work and love giving back to their community. You can help by leading your own donation drive. Click here for materials to help you get started. Don't have time for a drive? Your family can also help by donating filled backpacks. Browse this Back-to-School page and select the backpack(s) you would like to donate to local, low-income students. Contact: volunteers@familygivingtree.org. Click here to register to lead a drive. www.familygivingtree.org Rotary PlayGarden Workday Guadalupe River Park Conservancy Date/Time: Tuesday, September 1, 8, 15, 22 and 29, 9 - 11am. Volunteers are asked to arrive by 8:45am for a contactless sign-in, workday instructions will follow. Please arrive on time as the gate to the PlayGarden will be closed and locked promptly at 9am Location: Guadalupe River Park, 438 Coleman Avenue, San Jose. Please park at the Rotary PlayGarden parking lot at 490 Coleman Avenue. Ages: Families with children age 10 and older are welcome to participate. Chaperones are required for volunteers age 10-15. Time Commitment: Two hours The Rotary PlayGarden, the Rotary Club of San Jose's centennial gift to our community, opened in May 2015. The PlayGarden enables children with special needs to play alongside their siblings and friends. Many landscaping and maintenance tasks have been on hold while the PlayGarden has been closed. We are now looking for volunteers to help us get back into shape for when we are able to reopen. These opportunities are limited to the first 14 who sign up. We will be adhering to County Public Health recommendations, which include: You must bring and wear a face mask at all times during the volunteer event. If you are unable to wear a mask for any reason this event will not be a good fit for you. Social distancing (6 feet apart) is required unless volunteers are from the same household. Please note, volunteers will not be able to play on the equipment within the PlayGarden under any circumstance. Playgrounds are not approved for opening yet and we are strictly working on landscaping and maintenance. In addition, please note that: You must bring your own work gloves suitable for working in a garden, we are unable to provide any. Please bring a full water bottle (the water fountain will be unavailable). The restrooms will not be available for use. We will be providing necessary tools for cleanup and maintenance efforts: Contact: Registration is available online. https://www.grpg.org/ Clean Up Your Neighborhood! City of San Mateo Date/Time: Flexible, at your convenience Location: Your own neighborhood or local downtown. Ages: Everyone can help! Time Commitment: Varies We are adapting our efforts this year for our annual cleanup. Due to the COVID-19 health orders, we are collaborating with our county partners to make it easy for San Mateo residents to organize their own neighborhood cleanup effort in September. We hope that our amazing volunteers will continue to take the initiative for cleaner neighborhoods, beaches, shorelines and boat ramp areas. For 35 years, volunteers from around the Peninsula join San Mateo's efforts to keep our shorelines free of garbage and recycling that belongs in recycling centers and landfills. Though this year will be different, we thank you for your efforts to keep San Mateo shorelines clean. Contact: Click here to register your cleanup. https://www.cityofsanmateo.org/1857/Bayfront-Cleanup Make a Blanket Project Linus Date/Time: Make blankets on your own at any time Location: Click here to find a chapter near you Ages: Everyone can participate Time Commitment: Varies Project Linus provides comfort to children who are sick, traumatized, or otherwise in need through the gift of a handmade blanket. Our blankets are lovingly made by adults and children from all walks of life, working individually or as a family or group.  No previous craft experience is required. Click here to learn how to make no-sew fleece blankets. The need for blankets continues and in fact may be greater now than ever before. However dropping blankets off at blanket drop-off sites has become more of a challenge as some stores and locations may have temporarily closed. Others that remain open may have temporarily removed our drop off bins due to COVID-19 concerns. In addition, some locations such as shelters and hospitals for which we supply blankets have placed restrictions on what our chapter coordinators can distribute to them. Please contact your local chapter coordinator to see what specific blanket needs they have before you make your blankets. Be sure to ask if they are accepting blanket donations now and if so, where they should be dropped off. All blankets must be new, handmade, washable, and smoke-free Materials used (fleece, fabric, yarn, etc.) should be new and odor-free.  All colors and patterns suitable for children are fine.  We accept tied fleece blankets, knitted and crocheted afghans, quilts, tied comforters, sewn receiving blankets, and any other kind of handmade blanket.  Please keep materials and blankets away from pets! The best sizes for blankets are between 30" x 30" and 40" x 60" but we accept any blanket in sizes suitable for infants through teenagers. Contact: Click here to find your local chapter. https://www.projectlinus.org/ Coat Drive One Warm Coat Date/Time: Flexible Location: Click here for a list of local drop off locations. Ages: Everyone can help Time Commitment: Varies One Warm Coat is the only national non-profit organization focused on coat drives. One Warm Coat supports individuals, groups, companies and organizations across the country by providing the tools and resources needed to hold a successful coat drive. Coats are distributed in the communities where they are collected, to children and adults in need, without charge, discrimination or obligation. This year, the need for coats will be greater than ever before. Your family can help by holding a Warm Coat Drive or a Virtual Coat Drive: Register to hold a coat drive in the coming weeks or months. While physically holding a coat drive might be different this year, One Warm Coat has provided social distancing tips and tools to help you make the process easy and fun. Register to hold a virtual coat drive. Follow the same registration steps for holding a physical coat drive, receive access to all of the great tools, but instead of collecting coats, collect only dollar donations. Every $1 donated warms 1 person through the Coat Drive Program. Contact: drives@onewarmcoat.org or call 877.663.9276 www.onewarmcoat.org Donate Your Hair! Wigs for Kids Date/Time: Ongoing need Location: Mail your hair donation to: Wigs For Kids - Hair Donations 24231 Center Ridge Road Westlake, OH 44145 Ages: All ages can participate Time Commitment: Varies Wigs for Kids is a non-profit organization that helps make wigs for children who have lost their hair due to illness. If you're interested in donating your hair to kids in need, your first step is to set a length goal. While we accept hair donations of 12 inches or longer, we encourage you to donate 14+ inches of hair; the more length you can donate, the more of an impact you will make. Please read the hair donation and how to cut and donate your ponytail information thoroughly to make sure that you meet the Wigs for Kids guidelines. Contact: Click here for the contact request form. www.WigsforKids.org  Virtual: Kids Reading to Kids Words Alive Date/Time: Ongoing Location: Your home Ages: Families with children age 10 and older Time Commitment: Varies Words Alive provides essential literacy services to underserved students and families. Their mission is to open opportunities for life success by inspiring a commitment to reading. Kids Reading To Kids is a wonderful way for children to volunteer to help other kids during this time of need! Help bring comfort, normalcy, and storytime to children without access to books at home. When you read to other kids, you are a role model for kids just like you! They will feel your enthusiasm and joy for reading, and they will share it with you as you read. When you're reading, the most important guideline in reading aloud is to have fun and enjoy yourself! Want to watch an example? Click here! You can record the storytime using the device of your choice (computer, cell phone, tablet). Volunteers can view additional instructions, information on what books you can read, a script to start and wrap up your storytime, and a media release form to complete here. Contact: Robyn Grand, robyn@wordsalive.org http://www.wordsalive.org Bag Lunches Samaritan House San Mateo Date/Time: Saturdays and Sundays in September, 9am - noon Location: 4031 Pacific Blvd, San Mateo Ages: Volunteers must be age 12 or older and be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian. Time Commitment: Three-hour shift Samaritan House is leading the fight against poverty in San Mateo County. Parent and child teams of volunteers are needed to help to fill brown grocery bags with supplies to give to our clients when our pantry opens on Mondays. Contact: Ricky Davis, rdavis@samaritanhousesanmateo.org 650.294.4331. Spaces for this role are very limited so please confirm that there is space available before you volunteer. www.samaritanhousesanmateo.org Check out our featured Project of the Month!   EXPLORE our growing list of at-home projects you can do whenever you're ready, each with conversation starters, book ideas, and more! Follow along on social media as other families tackle this month's projects and share their stories! Simply join our Facebook group or find us on Instagram (@doinggoodtogether and #sharekindness)   Share simple kindness tips with families in your school, faith group or organization. Let's encourage more kindness in the world with free kindness and service ideas! Does your organization have a newsletter or website geared to families? Our new set of Service and Smiles kindness tips (one for each week of the school year) can provide an uplifting opportunity for social-emotional development during times of hybrid and distance-learning. You'll find service projects, kindness cues, and other simple ideas that teach children about giving, caring, and compassion - and how to take action - right from their own homes. It's free - just acknowledge Doing Good Together as the source! To sign up, visit our Service and Smiles web page.       If you received this email from someone else and would like to subscribe, please click here. This list was compiled by Doing Good Together™ (www.doinggoodtogether.org)  When calling to volunteer for any of the opportunities listed above, please let the coordinator know you found it through this listing. You are encouraged to ask any questions you may have of the sponsoring organization before committing to a project. Disclaimer: This list is provided as a service to families. Inclusion of organizations in this listing does not imply affiliation, endorsement or quality assurance on the part of Doing Good Together.™ Doing Good Together™ bears no responsibility whatsoever for the activities and actions of the listed organizations.                                                                                                                                                                                    © 2020 Doing Good Together™

August 2020 Silicon Valley Family Volunteer Opportunities

August 2020 - Silicon Valley Back to School Drive - Help Sort Supplies or Lead a Drive Family Giving Tree Date/Time: Flexible shifts are available throughout August Location: Back to School Drive Warehouse, 1311 Orleans Drive, Sunnyvale Ages: Volunteers under 12 must be supervised by their parents. All volunteers must be able to perform the tasks at hand. Time Commitment: Warehouse shifts are two hours Are you interested in volunteering as a family during the Family Giving Tree's Back-to-School Drive? We're always looking for people who want to have fun, are passionate about our work and love giving back to their community. You can support our mission by sorting donated materials or by leading your very own donation drive. We are deeply grateful for the more than 8,000 annual volunteers who give of their time to work hand-in-hand with the Family Giving Tree. Contact: volunteers@familygivingtree.org. Warehouse volunteer registration is available online. Click here if you are interested in leading a donation drive. www.familygivingtree.org Loaves & Fishes Family Kitchen Bag Lunch or Hygiene Kit Building (Socially Distanced) Date/Time: Every Wednesday, 1 - 3 pm. Register early as spaces are limited Location: SJCC Community Room, 1534 Berger Drive, San Jose Ages: Families with children 10 years and older unless otherwise cleared ahead of time with the Volunteer Coordinator. Time Commitment: Two-hour shifts Volunteers are needed to help create meals for the hungry in our community who need a consistent and stable food resource to rely on amidst the COVID-19 crisis. Help us feed the hungry in our community by coming together and making hundreds of brown bag lunches and/or hygiene kits! Here at Loaves & Fishes, we are all about safety and cleanliness. We will provide masks and gloves for all participants. Contact: angela@loavesfishes.org. Please confirm with Angela prior to your event. Registration is available online. https://www.loavesfishes.org/ Food Drive Samaritan House San Mateo Date/Time: Drop off donations Monday through Friday between 9am and 5pm Location: Samaritan House San Mateo, 4031 Pacific Blvd, San Mateo Ages: All ages can participate Time Commitment: Varies We always need help collecting items that we give out all year round. Samaritan House does not charge our clients for any items they receive. So, by running a collection drive, you are giving directly to your neighbors in need. Like other organizations, we struggle with not enough storage so we can only accept items we are legally able to give out within a short time. We survey our clients regularly so we know what is needed and who is looking for something specific. Contact: To start your own food drive or if you have a general question about donations, please email info@samaritanhousesanmateo.org or call us at 650.294.4331 first. https://samaritanhousesanmateo.org/volunteer-type/drives/ Half Moon Bay Beach Clean Up TLC Locals Date/Time: Sunday August 23, 9 - 11am Location: Tunitas Creek Beach, Half Moon Bay Ages: All ages can participate with proper adult supervision. All volunteers must be able to carry their own supplies and focus on the tasks. Time Commitment: Two hours Tunitas Creek Beach is a hidden gem to the South of Half Moon Bay. Due to its' secluded and challenging location, it has historically been pretty badly polluted by visitors. Being such a long stretch of beach with a steep cliff at one end and long hike along and creek crossing at the other, it makes collecting and removing trash and debris even more difficult. We need all hands-on deck for our monthly clean-ups to keep this beach beautiful and its sea life safe and healthy. Please bring your own bucket and gloves. We have buckets and gloves in limited supply, but they go quickly! Water is provided, but we do ask you bring a reusable bottle to fill-up. We also have zero-waste snacks such as bananas, tangerines, and pistachios, plus hand sanitizer and sunscreen at all events. A change of shoes/socks is highly recommended as certain times of year the creek and lagoon on the beach may need to be crossed. Contact:  Please email aloha@tlclocals.org with any questions. Registration is available online. www.TLCLocals.org Back-to-School-Drive County of San Mateo Date/Time: Drop off hours are Monday - Friday, 8am - 4pm Location: 1 Davis Drive, Belmont Ages: All ages are welcome to participate Time Commitment: Varies The purpose of the Children's Fund's Back-to-School Backpack and School Supply distribution is to ensure that low-income and foster children in grades K-12 start the school year with the tools they need, feeling prepared and ready to learn. This year, we plan to serve more than 1,800 youth for the back-to-school season in San Mateo County. Each child in our program is given a backpack filled with grade-appropriate school supplies. We distribute the goods in time for the first day of school. Your family can help by donating the following new school supplies:   Backpacks (all sizes, but no red or blue please)  Crayons (boxes of 24)  Markers (boxes of 8)  Colored Pencils, and Pens (blue, red, and black)   Scissors, glue sticks, and rulers   Highlighters, pencil sharpeners, and erasers   College-rule binder paper (packs of 100) Composition notebooks and spiral notebooks Folders, dividers, and index cards Contact: 650.802.5152 or childrensfund@smcgov.org https://childrensfund.smcgov.org/backpack-and-school-supply-drive Have your Child Read Stories to Seniors Virtually Storiitime Date/Time: Choose a time that works for your family Location: All shifts are virtual, volunteer from anywhere! Ages: All ages can participate but the purpose of this activity is to have your child read to a lonely senior. Parents may read with their child. Time Commitment: Varies StoriiTime is a free project created by the team at Storii. During the COVID-19 outbreak the Storii team saw an opportunity to use the resources we have built to connect generations from around the world. StoriiTime connects seniors to children and their families to read them stories over Zoom calls. Your child can help by reading a story to a lonely senior! Click here to learn more.     Contact: team@storri.com. Fill out the volunteer request form and a member of the team will reach out to you to schedule your reading shift. https://www.storiitime.com/ Paracord Bracelets Operation Gratitude Date/Time: Ongoing opportunity Location: Ship your bracelets to: Operation Gratitude ATTN: Paracord Bracelet Program 9409 Owensmouth Avenue Chatsworth, CA 91311 Ages: Everyone can participate Time Commitment: Varies Operation Gratitude will be sending out 15,000 Deployed Troop Care Packages this summer, and they need volunteers to help resupply their stock of these cherished bracelets. Paracord gets its name from parachute cord and can hold up to 550 lbs. of weight. The bracelet provides 7.5 feet of cord in an emergency. Paracord "Survival" Bracelets can be used to: Secure camouflage nets to trees or vehicles Build a makeshift shelter Extend a security strap or rope to reach and haul heavy objects Create a harness to extract an injured person from a bad location Make a sling or splint Your family can help by making these paracord bracelets. Visit the Operation Gratitude Paracord Bracelets page for more details and to learn how to make the bracelets.    Contact: info@operationgratitude.com https://www.operationgratitude.com Love Rocks Kindness Rocks Project Date/Time: Anytime Location: Create at home Ages: Everyone can participate Time Commitment: Varies Have you ever found yourself walking down the street only to have a pop of color catch your eye? What's that? A rock. A colorful rock. With something nice on it that just made your day. This is a great family-friendly project to get those creative juices flowing while spreading some kindness. Supplies: Rocks! Preferably smooth river rocks, but any rocks of any size and color will do! Acrylic paint - bold bright colors and/or solid dark colors hold up best Paint brushes - various sizes Cup of water Newspaper or plastic drop cloth Acrylic paint pens (not necessary, but certainly fun!) Stencils (not necessary, but helpful!) Sealant - https://rockpainting101.com/best-sealer-painted-rocks/ Click here for more information on making your rocks. Then go ahead and share your rocks. Share photos of your rocks on social media at #thekindnessrocksproject. Then you can hide your rocks in your yard or when you take a walk for people to spot, or put them along your sidewalk for people to take and hide themselves. Make sure that you seal your rocks well. You want them to hold up to the elements until they are found. Never glue embellishments to rocks you plan on hiding. While they are beautiful, these additions are terrible for the environment and the animals. No matter how strong you think that glue is, a squirrel is going to be able to pick it off. Stick to paint on any rock you plan on hiding. Be kind. These rocks are meant to make people happy, so their phrases should always be positive. Stay clear of negative thoughts, bad language, or anything inappropriate. You never know who is going to find the rocks. Place your rocks in open spaces, not in places that will disturb nature or damage a lawnmower. Contact: thekindnessrocksproject@gmail.com https://www.thekindnessrocksproject.com/ Check out our featured Project of the Month!   EXPLORE our growing list of at-home projects you can do whenever you're ready, each with conversation starters, book ideas, and more! Follow along on social media as other families tackle this month's projects and share their stories! Simply join our Facebook group or find us on Instagram (@doinggoodtogether and #sharekindness)   DGT's Big-Hearted Parenting Director Sarah Aadland Featured in New Podcast "Connection in a Time of Distance"  The Moms that Lead podcast, hosted by Stronger to Serve founder and friend of DGT, Teri Schmidt, helps busy moms develop leadership skills to prioritize their purpose and become the healthy world-changers they were created to be. In this episode, Sarah and Teri discuss simple but meaningful ways that you and your family can connect with each other -- and with your community -- in difficult times. Tune in, get loads of great ideas, and share this important information with other big-hearted families you know!       If you received this email from someone else and would like to subscribe, please click here. This list was compiled by Doing Good Together™ (www.doinggoodtogether.org)  When calling to volunteer for any of the opportunities listed above, please let the coordinator know you found it through this listing. You are encouraged to ask any questions you may have of the sponsoring organization before committing to a project. Disclaimer: This list is provided as a service to families. Inclusion of organizations in this listing does not imply affiliation, endorsement or quality assurance on the part of Doing Good Together.™ Doing Good Together™ bears no responsibility whatsoever for the activities and actions of the listed organizations.                                                                                                                                                                                    © 2020 Doing Good Together™