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Law enforcement officials still haven't located the Grinch who stole more than $14,000 items worth of donated Christmas goods from the Sunnyvale Community Services' Community Christmas Center program. That's why the nonprofit organization that serves low-income families with food and emergency assistance needs help more than ever this holiday season.
In the true spirit of community collaboration, Sunnyvale schools, businesses and organizations got together and worked out the logistics for supporting the Christmas Center.
Representatives from Advanced Micro Devices, Analog Devices, two local churches, a Girl Scout troop, Sunnyvale School District, Network Appliance, the Sunnyvale Rotary and Leadership Sunnyvale, as well as many others, volunteered time and goods to help support the program.
For instance, Applied Signal Technology is giving the program a "white Christmas" by donating enough flour and sugar for 1,400 families. Analog Devices is donating peanut butter, and children at Ponderosa School will begin collecting cereal.
According to Nancy Tivol, executive director of Sunnyvale Community Services, the coordination of donations makes it possible for donors to give more efficiently by buying in bulk and saving money.
Donors also volunteered to help out at the Christmas Center, which is an extension of the food program.
For the Christmas program, Community Services takes over Washington Park for 12 days. Some 150 volunteers move all donated items to the park, and families-in-need get to walk through the center and "shop" for goods, receiving a two-week supply of food, new toys and gifts for infants through teens and practical gifts, including towels, blankets or basic kitchen items.
Winter is the organization's busiest time of year, says Tivol. "Utility bills are higher. Schools are closed during the holidays, which means one or two less meals for kids. Parents need to find daycare for their children as well," Tivol says.
With companies facing layoffs and budget cuts, donations to the center have slowed, but the clients' needs are greater than ever this year.
The organization is still depending on help from the community to stock the center.
The Christmas Center will run from Dec. 6 to 17. Sunnyvale Community Services will accept donations of food, new toys and household items during and after the holidays. For more information, call 408.738.4321 or visit http://www.svcommunityservices.org
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