"Our students feel strongly that we must help others in the community," says Frances Dampier, principal of Bishop Elementary School. "Many of our families frequent the center and there are so many people out of work these days."

Dampier says her school began this drive six years ago, when she became principal. Bishop, along with all the other schools in the Sunnyvale School District, embarked on a canned food drive to help low-income families through SCS. Thousands of food cans, loaded in trucks provided by the school district, arrive at the Christmas Center set up in the Washington Park building to be sorted and stocked by volunteers. According to Marie Barlahan, director of operations and volunteers, more than 200 volunteers were on hand on Nov. 30t o help unload the first truck.

Every year during the holidays, more than 600 volunteers move tons of food and equipment into the Washington park building and transform it into beautifully decorated food and gift store. The store provides a two-week supply of food, new gifts for children—from infants through teens—and a household gift for 1,000 low-income families.

According to Nancy Tivol, executive director of SCS, this year is by far the most challenging ever for the organization to raise enough money to meet their clients' needs,

"The need is higher than ever this year," Tivol explains.

The continued economic slump has caused a ripple effect, impacting companies, communities and individuals.

"It's been very hard this year," says Rita Guntern, senior engineering technician from Philips (formerly Philips Semiconductors) in Sunnyvale.

The company has laid off hundreds of employees, out of them several husband and wife teams, and is consolidating its workforce. Despite its financial troubles, Guntern says Philips is following through with its commitment to SCS.

Guntern says $37,000 set aside for SCS has been used to help the organization throughout the year in different ways: groceries for needy families, the Christmas Center and sponsoring events. Last year Philips provided presents for more than 225 seniors and staffed the silent auction, Tivol says.

Another company that did not cut back despite economic troubles is Applied Signal Technology.

"It's very important to our company to give to the community," says Ginny Conboy, senior human resources representative.

Conboy says the company donated $4,000 this year to SCS for a white Christmas; their money will buy 1,000 five-pound sacks of both flour and sugar. The company also provides a catered lunch for 70 Christmas Center volunteers and sets aside $1,500 so SCS can fill the gaps toward the end of the drive, she says. During volunteer night, at least 15 company employees help out by sorting and stocking shelves at the center.

Whereas some companies have made their commitment to SCS a reality, others are unsure about their financial capability.

Advanced Micro Devices in Sunnyvale launches a huge toy drive every year to help the SCS Christmas Center. According to Tivol, the company's toy drive was worth $40,000 in 2001.

However, after the company has laid off thousands of its employees, the pool has become much smaller this year, said Tammy Bigelow, health and welfare program manager.

Although the company will still have 30 to 60 employees helping, the size of the toy drive remains to be seen, she says.

Despite some company's problems, other organizations and schools, some from outside of Sunnyvale, continue to contribute. Homestead High School, based in Cupertino, conducts a large-scale canned food drive every year. Tivol says last year Homestead contributed $200,000 worth food to SCS.

SCS can use all the help it can find, because, according to Tivol, the organization faces skyrocketing needs in five different areas this year.

"We're in the year of the quintuple whammy," she explains.

The number of needy families that receive monthly food from SCS has increased almost 10 times in 10 years—from 80 in 1992 to 752 this year. This in turn has caused money spent on emergency assistance to increase from $34,000 in 1992 to $569,000 this year, Tivol says. The one-time post Sept. 11 funding of $105,000 has long gone and the economic downturn has also resulted in government, corporate and United Way funding cuts up to 45 percent.

Tivol adds two government actions will also increase need for financial assistance. In January 2003 the five-year lifetime welfare time limit will impact 1,500 families in Santa Clara County with more affected every month. The county has released more subsidized housing certificates, which requires certificate holders to pay full market-value deposits—sometimes between $2,000 and $4,000—in order to be able to pay $300 to $600 for rent.

"SCS tries to put together funding deals for these clients as it is their only long-term affordable housing solution," Tivol says.

Despite concerted efforts by Tivol, her staff and the community, SCS has an ever-growing clientele, whose needs have to be filled.

The SCS Christmas Center runs from Dec. 7 to 18. SCS, located at 810 W. McKinley Avenue in Sunnyvale, will accept donations of food, new toys and household items during and after the holidays. For more information call 408.738.4321.