Saratoga Holiday Toy, Food and Clothing Drives in Full Gear

CITY OF SARATOGA: Help those in need by donating to the City of Saratoga's annual holiday toy and food drive. Barrels for toy donations are located at the Saratoga City Manager's Office and at the Saratoga History Museum. Toys should be new, unwrapped, and nonviolent. Gifts for teenagers are in demand. Toys will be collected through Dec. 13 and given to Sacred Heart Community Service. Food donations can be dropped off at City Hall, Joan Pisani Community Center, Saratoga Prospect Center, and Saratoga Library. Donations will be accepted until Dec. 21 and given to Second Harvest Food Bank.

LOS GATOS CHIROPRACTIC AND WELLNESS CENTER: Dr. Jessie Young and Dr. Kate Fox from the Los Gatos Chiropractic and Wellness Center, 751 Blossom Hill Rd., suite B, are holding a toy drive to benefit the Love-A-Child Missions Homeless Recovery Shelter in the East Bay. The toy drive will run through Dec. 22, but organizers are hoping to get a majority of the toys before Dec. 13 so they can get them ready for an event at the shelter on Dec. 15. Details: Shannon, 408-891-8222.

COLDWELL BANKER SAN FRANCISCO BAY AREA HOLIDAY FOOD DRIVE: Help the hungry in the community this holiday season. Now through Friday, Dec. 10, you're invited to make a $5 (or more) monetary donation to the Bay Area Food Banks; all donations will remain in your local community. Coldwell Banker San Francisco Bay Area will match up to $10,000 in donations collected.

COLDWELL BANKER TOYS FOR TOTS PROGRAM/US MARINE CORPS RESERVE ONE WARM COAT CLOTHING DRIVE: Donate unwrapped toys for less fortunate children at all Silicon Valley Coldwell Banker offices in Los Gatos, Saratoga, Cupertino, Gilroy and Morgan Hill through Dec. 14. Branches are also accepting coats, sweaters, jackets, sweatshirts, hats, mittens, towels and blankets. Donations will be sent to local organizations in need. Founded in 1947, Toys for Tots has evolved from a small Los Angeles-area project to a nationwide campaign. Over the past 64 years, Marines have distributed more than 400 million toys to some 188 million needy children across the nation.

TREASURES 4 TEENS: a community holiday toy drive that serves teens ages 11 and older runs through Dec. 14. You or your business can donate new and unwrapped gifts or gift certificates at various locations around town. There is a drop-off box located in the Los Gatos Chamber of Commerce's office as well as donation forms. Details: info@treasures4teens.com or 408-356-8503.

SANTA CLARA VALLEY TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY teams up with the United States Marine Corps to “Stuff the VTA Bus” for the annual Toys for Tots Drive located next to Christmas in the Park in downtown San Jose. Last year, VTA and the Marines collected over 5,300 toys and $600 in cash. This year, they are challenging the community to stuff the bus until it bursts! Join the spirited effort on Saturday, Dec. 8, 8 a.m.-6 p.m. to collect as many unwrapped, new toys as possible for children who may not expect to receive a gift this year. Details: Brandi.Childress@vta.org.    

JEWISH FAMILY SERVICES OF SILICON VALLEY EMBRACE A FAMILY PROGRAM: It’s time for the fifth annual Embrace-A-Family Giving Program, which helps low-income families, homebound seniors, and holocaust survivors in the community who would otherwise go without gifts during the winter holiday season. Thanks to the community's support, Embrace-A-Family grows each year. Last year the program collected more than 1,400 toys, clothes household and goods; and more than $5,000 of gift cards. JFS staff anticipates even greater needs to fill for Hanukkah 2012.  Through Dec. 7, donors pull a dreidel tag from an Embrace-A-Family gift board, purchase the specially selected item on the tag, return the gift and tag to the JFS SV offices, and put a large smile on someone’s face. Embrace-A-Family Gift Boards are located at:

• Jewish Family Services of Silicon Valley
• Congregation Beth David
• Congregation Emeth (NEW THIS YEAR!)
• Congregation Shir Hadash
• Congregation Sinai
• South Peninsula Hebrew Day School
• Temple Emanu-El
• Yavneh Day School/APJCC Preschool Lobby
• Gan Yeladim Preschool
• Liat’s Family Home
• Smadars Daycare
• Gan Ronit
• Ktantanim BaEmek
• Kinderland Preschool

JEWISH FAMILY SERVICES OF SILICON VALLEY COMMUNITY TOY DRIVE: Help brighten the holidays with a new toy for a child. Beginning in November, drop a new unwrapped toy into the bin on the Levy Family Campus main lobby, 14855 Oka Rd., suite 202, Los Gatos.