Almaden Resident
Education
Local schools get into the spirit of giving with food and toy drives
By Anne Gelhaus
Almaden Valley schools are getting into the spirit of the holiday season with donation drives to collect everything from food and toys to socks and books.
In November, Williams Elementary School began its annual effort to collect nonperishable food items for the Second Harvest Food Bank of Santa Clara and San Mateo Counties. Run by the Williams PTA's Community Outreach Committee, the food drive brought in 1,653 pounds of peanut butter, juice boxes, canned fruits and vegetables and other items over 2 1/2 weeks.
The PTA also collected monetary donations for Second Harvest, which had yet to total up the amount received from Williams at press time. For every dollar collected, the food bank can provide two nutritious meals to local families.
Other Almaden Valley schools are still collecting food for Second Harvest. Castillero Middle School, 6384 Leyland Park Drive, is accepting canned goods through Dec. 8, along with toys for Toys for Tots. All toys must be in good condition and appropriate for children age 3-5.
Bret Harte Middle School's food drive runs through Dec. 13 and is one of four separate efforts at the school to spread holiday cheer throughout the community.
Students in Bret Harte's leadership class are working with the Family Giving Tree to collect gifts for Bay Area children who would otherwise go without. The Giving Tree Holiday Program works with more than 250 local social service agencies, which supply the names of children they serve year-round. A wish card is printed for each child, detailing their age, gender, first name and their wish for a holiday gift.
Bret Harte is among more than 900 Bay Area companies and schools participating in the program by displaying the wish cards, often on trees, in their lobbies and other public areas.
A former Bret Harte student asked her alma mater to help her help those in need in San Jose. For her senior service project at Notre Dame High School, Kelly Dawson is spearheading a book drive to benefit the women and children staying at InnVision's Georgia Travis Center.
To aid Kelly in her effort, Bret Harte is accepting donations of new and used books through Dec. 15. Books for any reading level can be dropped off at the school, 7050 Bret Harte Drive.
Melani Hiles, Bret Harte's assistant principal of instruction, said Kelly was motivated to put together the book drive by data that shows 20 percent of homeless children don't attend school.
"Sometimes a book is the best gift they can receive," Hiles said.
Other Bret Harte students are collecting both practical and not-so-practical gift items for teenagers served by Sacred Heart Community Service and the Bill Wilson Center, a local nonprofit agency that provides counseling and support services to youth and families.
Members of the California Junior Scholarship Federation at both Bret Harte and Leland High School are asking for items such as cosmetics, socks, games, movie tickets, jewelry, sports equipment, candy, watches and compact discs to reach their goal of 1,000 "Gifts for Teens."
On the heels of its food drive, Williams' PTA has set up its own giving tree to aid five students and their families. Through Dec. 13, donors can grab a tag off the "tree" in the school office, 1150 Rajkovich Way, and purchase a gift card from the store indicated on the tag. PTA members will include these cards in gift baskets they make for each family.
"We started out with about 40 tags, and we have seven left," said PTA Outreach Committee chairwoman Melinda Hammond. "It's an opportunity to lend a helping hand to some of our own Williams families who may need a boost this season."
Graystone Elementary School is also lending a hand to its families in need via a "giving jar" in the school office, 6982 Shearwater Drive. For the next two weeks the school will be collecting money to purchase gift cards from PW Markets, Safeway and Target for needy families at Graystone. Principal Dave Beymer is asking parents to encourage their students to do chores around the house to earn money for the fundraising effort.
This week also marks Graystone's third Winter Warmth Drive to serve the larger South Bay community. Families can drop off used jackets, blankets and sleeping bags outside Graystone's cafeteria to be distributed to area homeless shelters.
Local businesses give to local schools
While Almaden Valley schools are finding ways to give back to the community this holiday season, local businesses are also giving back to them.
On Dec. 7, both Barnes & Noble and Chevy's in the Almaden Plaza will donate a portion of their sales to Williams Elementary School. Diners who present the proper flier at Chevy's from 5 to 9 p.m. will get not only a belly full of Mexican food but the satisfaction of knowing that 20 percent of the cost of their meal is going to Williams.
Barnes & Noble is set to donate 15-20 percent of all sales made that day to Williams, provided customers show another flier from the school. Williams teachers will thank bookstore customers that evening when they converge on the children's area to read their favorite stories.
For those who want to send Williams some green while buying their holiday greenery, Almaden Valley Nursery, at 15800 Almaden Expressway, is donating 20 percent of its Christmas tree sales to Williams when customers present a green flier from the school.
Extra fliers for all these events are available in Williams' school office, 1150 Rajkovich Way.
