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November
21, 2005 
VOL.
43, NO. 20Oakland,
CA
Local
charities 
deliver their holiday wish lists
A
Friendly Place/Manor
A drop-in center for homeless women run by the Sisters of St. Joseph
of Carondelet.
Need: Christmas gifts for women, cold and cough medicine,
socks (new or clean used), wash cloths (new or used), safety razors, spray
deodorant, air fresheners, hotel size soap, shampoo and lotion.
Where: 2298 San Pablo Ave. Oakland 94612
Contact: Sister Maureen Lyons, CSJ
(510) 451-8923
Bay Area Crisis Nursery
A 24-hour care center for children (birth through age 11) whose families
are in crisis.
Need: Age appropriate books, games, puzzles and crafts
for ages up to 12; dolls, books, and videos (G-rated) that reflect all
ethnicities and nationalities; new, unused and nonviolent toys (no war
toys, guns, knives or violent materials including action figures); low-denomination
pre-paid phone cards (the Nursery requires parents who are homeless to
call the Nursery twice a day while their children are staying at the center).
Gifts must be unwrapped.
Where: 1506 Mendocino Dr. Concord 94521
Contact: Sandy Hathaway
(925) 685-6633
Birthright
An international pregnancy service that supports pregnant girls and
women who need help by providing positive alternatives to abortion.
Need: Cash donations for operating costs; office volunteers,
professional people interested in serving on board of directors; new baby
clothes, crib sheets, wash cloths, and size small maternity clothes.
Where: 857 Second St., Suite D Brentwood 94513
Contact: Rose Deitz, (925) 634-1275
Need: Crib and receiving blankets, sleeper bags, baby
towels, one-piece stretch outfits, diapers, cash donations and volunteers.
Where: 3043 Clayton Road
Concord 94519
Contact: Linda Easterday, director
(925) 798-7227
Need: Maternity clothes, baby clothes, layettes, cash
donations, and volunteers, including someone to be an office counselor
on Mondays between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.
Where: 1520 Catalina Court
Building C
Livermore 94550
Contact: John M. Kupski, director
(925) 449-5887 or
(800) 550-4900
Need: Volunteers, prayer support, cash donations, diapers
and infant layette items that are new or in very good condition, maternity
clothes, sturdy TV stand, grant writer.
Where: 1048 Grant Ave.
San Lorenzo 94580
Contact: Edith Krassa
(510) 481-9677
Casa Vincentia
A residence for single pregnant women who are homeless and/or in crisis.
Need: Financial assistance for operating expenses; volunteers
for special events; volunteer accountant; case of white copy paper; butcher
block cutlery set; 10 flashlights with batteries; comforter sets (twin
and full); new blankets (twin and full); bath towels and wash clothes;
new layettes for infants, hooded towels; socks, booties and caps; disposable
diapers (newborn, 1,2,3 and 4); inexpensive everyday watches for mothers;
sweat shirts (large and extra large); toiletries (i.e. bath gel, soap,
lotion, etc.)
Where: 3210 62nd Ave.
Oakland 94605
Contact: Barbara Jackson
or Theresa Chambers
(510) 729-0316
Catholic Charities
of the East Bay
Where: 433 Jefferson St.
Oakland 94607
Contact: (510) 768-3100
www.cceb.org
Care to Share
Individuals, parishes, businesses or schools adopt a family in need
throughout the year, helping locate furniture, bedding, clothing, housing
and job opportunities.
Need: Long-term sponsorship of a family; financial contributions,
payable to “Catholic Charities Care to Share Project,” 433
Jefferson Street, Oakland
CA 94607.
Contact: Victor Suarez, (510) 768-3101
Adopt-A-Family
A once-a-year opportunity to help families in need during the holiday
season by providing gifts of clothing, toys and household items (or certificates),
food, and a Christmas tree and decorations if you’d like. Every
family has different needs and they usually provide a wish list including
sizes and preferences.
Need: Donors willing to sponsor a family during the holidays.
Commitment is approximately $250 per family. Placements are being made
in Brentwood, Concord, Oakland and Richmond areas. Financial contributions
are also accepted, payable to “Catholic Charities Adopt-A-Family,”
433 Jefferson St., Oakland, CA 94607
Contact: Akili Harrison, (510) 768-3137
Operation New Hope
Pre- and post-release educational program at Alameda County Camp Wilmont
Sweeney Juvenile Detention Facility.
Need: Volunteers to be trained as facilitators/mentors
to conduct life-skills educational sessions in juvenile detention facilities
and offer support to youth transitioning into local communities upon release
from incarceration.
Contact: Jacqueline Manibusan
(510) 768-3168
Project Joybells
An annual toy drive for children of our clients spearheaded by long-time
volunteers, Dorothy Buckley and Mary Moyce.
Need: Financial contributions payable to “Catholic
Charities Joybells,” 433 Jefferson Street, Oakland, CA 94607
Contact: Akili Harrison, (510) 768-3137
Turkey Fund
Distributes Christmas turkeys to agencies, community programs and
parishes for families in need.
Need: Financial contributions, payable to “Catholic
Charities Turkey Fund,” 433 Jefferson Street, Oakland CA 94607
Deadline: Wednesday, Dec. 14.
Contact: Joe Valor, (510) 768-3138
Contra Costa
Interfaith Coalition
A network of faith-based communities, including several Catholic churches,
which assist the needy in Contra Costa County by buying, preparing and
distributing food at the Concord Homeless Shelter, and by supporting transitional
housing programs that help the homeless to become self-sufficient.
Needs: Cash donations; new or washed blankets, box springs
and mattresses; clothing; Safeway or Albertsons gift certificates; sleeping
bags; volunteers.
Where: 3319 Deerpark Dr.
Walnut Creek 94598
Contact: John Krajcir, (925) 937-6742
Elizabeth House
The Catholic Worker house provides a one-year residence for single
women and women with children who have experienced the poverty of homelessness,
violence or addiction. Mission: to support women and children in their
transition to independence.
Need: Cash donations for rent and utilities; baby items:
monitors, safety gates, car seats, diapers; detergent and cleaning supplies;
new or nearly new vacuum cleaners; Safeway or Albertson’s escrip
registrations (www.escript.com); gift certificates or gift cards from
Toys R Us, Safeway, Albertson’s, Costco, Target, Home Depot, Best
Buy, Trader Joe’s, Berkeley Bowl and bookstores; tools and tool
box; paints and painters; passes for movie theaters; DVD player.
Where: 6423 Colby St.
Oakland 94618
Contact: Francel D’Andrea
(510) 658-1380
e-mail: franceld@oakehouse.org
web:www.oakehouse.org
FACE (Family Aid-Catholic Education)
Since 1978, FACE has provided tuition assistance to low-income families
who desire to send their children to Catholic schools in the Oakland Diocese.
Over 1,000 elementary and high school students are currently receiving
FACE grants, but more than 800 needy students remain on the waiting list.
Need: Financial contributions to help students on our
waiting list; donations of items for upcoming auction fundraiser; volunteers
to assist with mailings and annual auction/dinner event on April 8, 2006.
Where: 3014 Lakeshore Ave.
Oakland 94610
Contact: Anne Rynders
executive director
(510) 628-2169
Family Emergency Shelter Coalition (FESCO)
A local, grassroots nonprofit organization formed by a coalition of
churches and community members in 1986 to help serve homeless families
and children. The emergency shelter has 24 beds. FESCO opened four units
of transitional housing in 1999 for a 18-month stay, and a co-housing
facility in 2003 for a six- to eight-month stay.
Need: Monetary donations; gift certificates for groceries,
office supplies, shoes, household items, in increments of $10 —
$20; twin and full size sheets and comforters, new bath and face towels,
kitchen towels; postage stamps.
Where: 22245 Main St., #104
Hayward 94541
Contact: Nubia Giles
(510) 886-5473
Lasallian Educational Opportunities (LEO)
Center
An after-school tutoring and homework help center for students (grades
6-12) in north and west Oakland; English language and computer training
for adults. Operated by the Christian Brothers.
Need: Binder paper, pens, pencils, calligraphy pens,
ink cartridges, plain paper, money for magazine subscriptions, new books
for the library.
Mailing address: P.O. Box 3238 Oakland 94609
Contact: Brother Christopher
Bassen, FSC, (510) 450-0747
Loaves & Fishes of Contra Costa
The largest server of meals to the hungry in Contra Costa County,
providing over 250,000 meals per year. Over 60 churches, including Catholic
churches, synagogues, service and community organizations, provide the
majority of volunteer teams that prepare and serve daily meals at dining
rooms in Antioch, Bay Point, Concord, Martinez, Oakley, Pittsburg and
at the catering kitchen in Pittsburg.
Need: Cash donations, volunteers.
Where: P.O. Box 3335, Danville 94526
(925) 837-8758
Mary’s House
Residence for pregnant women who need a safe haven to carry their
babies to full term and homeless women who need a temporary home during
a difficult time in their lives.
Need: Cash donations; warm blankets, flannel sheets;
board games; gently used exercise equipment; volunteers to serve as mentors
and help create activities for residents; weekend house supervisor who
is a firm disciplinarian with “grandmotherly hands-on experience.”
Where: 1850 Church Lane
San Pablo 94806
Contact: Analyn Garcia
(510) 236-0383
Mercy Brown Bag Program
Sponsored by Mercy Retirement and Care Center, this program provides
bags of nutritious groceries to over 1,700 needy seniors twice monthly,
free of charge. Bags are distributed through 13 food distribution sites
throughout Alameda County.
Need: Cash donations, large-sized paper bags, plastic
produce bags, all sizes of Ziploc bags. Volunteers to take bags to homebound
seniors.
Where: 3431 Foothill Blvd.
Oakland 94601
Contact: Joy Clinton
(510) 534-8540, ext. 369
Next Step Learning Center
A literacy program and GED preparation program operated by the Sisters
of the Holy Names.
Need: Volunteer tutors; cash donations for literacy books;
financial assistance for students unable to afford a bus pass or to pay
cost of GED examination fees.
Where: 2222 Curtis St., Oakland 94607
Contact: Sister Cynthia Canning, SNJM
or Sister Rosemary Delaney, SNJM
(510) 251-1731
Nights on the Streets – Catholic Worker
Hospitality to the homeless and needy by providing food, clothing,
shelter assistance, counseling and referral; and assisting others who
do so.
Need: Many prayers for health, guidance and the support
of our continuing works; 3,000 blankets for direct distribution to those
living on the streets; financial support for our shelter operation, which
is run with staff from two Catholic Worker houses; volunteers to prepare
and service thrice-weekly winter “soup nights”; canned and
dry goods for our food pantry which serves 100-125 persons per month;
a structure capable of housing 8-10 workers and guests including an expanded
kitchen, a food storage area and extended bathroom/shower facilities to
supplement existing shelter facilities in the East Bay.
Mail address: P.O. Box 13468
Berkeley 94712-4468
Contact: J.C. Orton, (510) 684-1892
e-mail: noscwcw@sbcglobal.net
St. Andrew-St. Joseph Soup Kitchen
Serves daily free meals to the hungry in west and downtown Oakland.
Will distribute box lunches on Thanksgiving Day, 12 – 2 p.m., and
Christmas Day, 12 – 2 p.m.
Need: Cast donations, fresh fruit, food staples and Christmas
dinner fixings including turkeys, hams, yams, turkey stuffing, beans,
rice.
Where: 3220 San Pablo Ave.
Oakland 94608
Contact: Mary Lou Stelly
(510) 653-7411;
Shirley Weber
(510) 658-6622 soup kitchen.
St. David’s Food Pantry
An outreach ministry that provides food for low-income families. Food
is distributed 9 – 10:30 a.m. every Friday behind St. Mary Church,
Richmond. Conducted by St. David Parish in Richmond in cooperation with
other area parishes and churches.
Need: Cash donations, volunteers, prayers for the ministry.
Where: St. Mark Church
159 Harbour Way, Richmond
Contact: (510) 237-1531
St. Mary’s Center
A multi-service center for the poor in downtown Oakland.
Need: Volunteers to “Adopt-A-Family”—will
arrange a match for individuals, families, or parishes interested in providing
Christmas gifts and dinner for a family in need; volunteers to prepare
and/or serve evening meals for 25 homeless seniors in emergency Winter
Shelter, December through April.
Where: 635 – 22nd St., Oakland 94612
Contact: Sister Marilyn Medau, PBVM
(510) 893-4723 ext. 202;
Patt Schroeder, ext. 215
St. Vincent de Paul Society of Alameda County
St. Vincent de Paul Free Dining Room
Daily free meals to men, women and children in downtown Oakland, 10:45
a.m. – 12:45 p.m.; also preparation of free lunches for serving
at 15 satellite locations in the East Bay.
Need: Volunteers, cash donations; turkeys, hams, macaroni,
cheese, #10 canned foods, spices, condiments, sugars, salt, pepper, beverages;
8 oz. foam cups, plastic sandwich and/or large sizes food bags, plastic
garbage bags, napkins; a new or used floor scrubber/washer, laundry soup,
disposable latex gloves,
Where: 675 – 23rd St., Oakland 94612
Contact: Ron Smith or Vinnie Furlong (donations), (510)
451-7676
Rebecca Jewell
(volunteers) (510) 636-4253
St. Vincent de Paul CHAMPION
Guidance Center for Men
Drop-in center for men, Tuesday – Saturday, 9:30 a.m. –
2:30 p.m., offering showers laundry, hair cuts, clothing, substance abuse
meetings, life skills training, medical care, mailbox service, Internet
access.
Need: Cash donations, volunteers, men’s clothing
and shoes, towels, hygiene items, disposable shaving razors, medical supplies.
Where: 2280 San Pablo Ave.
Oakland 94612 (between 23rd and West Grand)
Contact: Stephen Krank, (510) 444-0263
St. Vincent de Paul Visitation Ctr.
Drop-in center for women and children, Mon-Fri 9:30 a.m. – 3
p.m. Showers, laundry, distribution of infant, children’s and women’s
clothing, family violence prevention, health care, ESL and computer literacy
classes.
Need: Cash donations; new children’s clothes and
new toys for Christmas; hygiene items: shampoo, deodorant, toothpaste,
toothbrushes; disposable diapers, and socks for women and children.
Where: 2260 San Pablo Ave.
Oakland 94612
Contact: Sister Marion Bill, DC
(510) 444-3790
St. Vincent de Paul Food Locker
Food bank providing groceries and staples to 150+ churches, nonprofit
organizations and community groups.
Need: Repairs for refrigerated truck, donations of canned
food and food staples.
Contact: (510) 636-4250
SHELTER, Inc. of Contra Costa County
A charitable nonprofit organization that annually helps 4,000-5,000
individuals, almost half of them children, facing homelessness in the
county, moving the homeless into homes, preventing homelessness, and expanding
affordable housing.
Need: Food or gift certificates; twin or double beds,
sheets, blankets, pillows, bath and kitchen items such as clock radios
and can openers; baby blankets, diapers and training pants; volunteers
with trucks who can help move beds and furniture. We are able to coordinate
groups who would like to provide furniture and household items to help
a family move into a home in time for the holidays. Call (925) 335-0698
ext. 131.
Where: Administrative Office
1815 Arnold Drive Martinez
Contact: Theresita Ortiz
(925) 335-0698 ext. 101
theresitao@shelterincofccc.org
