Los Gatos Weekly-Times

Photograph by George Sakkestad

Tom and Maureen Albanese (center) visit Fisher Middle School where 8th-graders Josh Levin (left) and Megan Getman show them the kind of projects their donation of lumber made possible.

One person's junk becomes a nonprofit group's treasure

By Shari Kaplan

The Los Gatos Community Services Commission is not just another civic entity with a handful of members meeting once a month to read documents and talk about what's right and wrong about the town.

The commission exists to actively help local nonprofit groups network, obtain funds (mainly through local and Community Development Block Grants), secure donations and, in general, keep functioning.

"We're in the world of downsizing. We feel this not only in our places of businesses, but the nonprofit organizations in our community are hit hard. In some cases, federal, state and local funding are either downsized or stopped altogether," explains Chris Wiley, who has served on the commission for some six years and as the chairwoman for a year.

"One way to help out our local nonprofits is to help in nonmonetary ways. Currently, we're trying to match folks with 'extras' with those with needs," she says.

For example, Wiley says, Tom Albanese, who is converting the former Los Gatos Lumber Yard on Univesity Avenue to Campo di Bocce, was recently removing unwanted lumber products from the site. Through Community Services, he learned that the wood could be used by some industrial arts classes at Fisher Middle School, so he donated the lumber instead of trying to dispose of it all himself.

Wiley often matches donors with recipients by keeping abreast of changes in town, or by making herself and the commission's causes known to business people and individuals. For example, whether a business eliminates a whole department or just some old office equipment, unwanted items can be donated to help someone else as well as provide a write-off for the donor.

"Another example is when folks move from one home to another, such as changing from a large house with a garage and garden to a townhouse or apartment. They have items that won't make it into the new place or are of no need at all," she adds.

According to Wiley, the following "wish list" is a sample of the nonprofit organizations and needs that the Community Services Commission seeks to assist:

* A Place for Teens (The Outhouse)--ping pong table, copy machine, microwave, flood lights.

* Catholic Charities of Santa Clara County--VCR, portable slide projector.

* Disaster Aid Response Team (DART)--hand tools, power tools, ropes, ladders, helmets and other emergency rescue and cleanup items.

* Family Services Assoc. of Santa Clara County--TV/VCR combination, desk model copy machine.

* Live Oak Adult Day Care--toaster oven, bingo prizes.

* Los Gatos Neighborhood Center--round tables, decaf coffee.

* Los Gatos Photo Guild--postage for mailings, paper for newsletter publication, copy machine.

* Second Harvest Food Bank--conference chairs, turkeys and other food items for the holiday season.

* Teen Counseling Center of the West Valley--VCR, camera, filing cabinet, bookshelves.

* Volunteers in Policing (VIPs)--a crime-prevention display unit and a storage facility for props from the annual Haunted Forest fundraiser.

* Youth Science Institute--volunteers to teach about animals, plants and ecology, a gardener and a handyperson.

For more information or to donate, call Wiley at 354-7126.