How and Who to Give this Holiday Season

In the holiday season, many people rush to stores to buy gifts for family and friends; while others rush to open their schedules and wallets for charity.

Whether you volunteer or give to charities at the end of the year to get on Santa's "nice," for some karmic balance, to teach your kids to help others, or for charitable tax deduction, the organizations welcome donations of both time and money.

Here's a list of local businesses and organization that you can help this holiday season:

• Scott's Seafood has partnered with Community Services Agency (CSA) for its annual holiday toy drive. Drop off warm PJs, a good book and gifts for families to the restaurant at 420 Castro St. until Dec. 15 and CSA will distribute to hundreds of families in our community.

• Sunnyvale-based Reach Potential Movement, an organization that helps prepare children to graduate from high school and get into college, currently has a 10 day matching campaign to sponsor tutor & mentor relationships. RPM works closely with Castro Elementary.

• The Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital through the 99.7 Helping Kids NOW! donation drive, you make a difference in the lives of sick kids and expectant mothers.

• Don't forget to help a foster child by dropping off an unwrapped gift to the Sleep Train store at 804 E. El Camino Real.

• Stop by Sports Page Bar and Grill on Dec. 14 and drop off a gift for Toy for Tots!

• Volunteers needed by the Community Service Agency for help during the last two weeks of December. Contact Alison Hopkins for tasks and times at ahopkins@csacares.org.

Do you know of other local holiday fundraising efforts? Share with Patch readers in comments!

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