Ventura, Oxnard, Camarillo, Ojai
View our NON PROFIT WISH LIST to see specific ways you can help this month's featured organization.
You may not be able to help the whole world, but you can make a difference in your own community. --Elizabeth P. Carter
See the list below of non-profits that could use your help! Families can make a difference in their community without it necessarily being a big time commitment or expense. Below are ways parents and kids can give back to our community. Click here to submit your own.
Foodshare, Inc. is dedicated to ending hunger in Ventura County. Volunteers are always needed to work in the warehouse or going out in the trucks to pick up and deliver food. If you want to volunteer in the warehouse, you must be 14 or older to volunteer during the weekdays. You can be 12 or older to volunteer as a group in the evening or daytime. Groups need only be 6 people and can work for a minimum of 2 hours. Gleaners are also needed to work in the fields picking fruits and vegetables, but they need to be 18. Call Meg, the volunteer coordinator, to volunteer your group!
Locks of Love is a non-profit organization that provides hairpieces to financially disadvantaged children under age 18 suffering from long-term medical hair loss. The longest pieces have to be 10 inches long, and you don't have to go to any special salon. Check the locks of love website for instructions. The majority of hair donated comes from children wanting to help other children, but anyone, regardless or race, gender, or age, can donate hair.
Submitted by Heidi G.: When my friend's daughter Remy Bamieh (4) passed away from neuroblastoma, I was completely paralyzed by grief. I wanted to do something for her parents (Jennifer and Ron), her sister (Ryanne), and for her, if I could. This is something positive I can do in her memory. I went to Michael Kelley Salon and got a haircut. Now I have 2 fat ponytails to donate to "Locks of Love" in Remy's memory.
1. Large photo albums to use as scrapbook of memories
2. Journals or "Wish" diaries to document memories of wish
3. One-time use cameras with flash
4. One-time use waterproof cameras with flash
5. Small hand-held video games with batteries
6. Backpacks, duffel bags, fanny packs, carry-on travel bags
7. Activity/coloring books with crayons (Crayola mess-free packs)
8. Age-appropriate card games, "mad-libs" and other travel games
9. Gift Certificates (movie passes, bowling, family fun activities)
10. Wrapping paper and medium/large gift bags
ABOUT THE MAKE-A-WISH-FOUNDATION
The Make-A-Wish Foundation grants the wishes of children with life-threatening medical conditions to enrich the human experience with hope, strength, and joy. With a staff of only four and the help of more than 80 volunteers, the Make-A-Wish Foundation of the Tri-Counties is celebrating nearly 800 heartfelt wishes granted to children in Ventura, Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo Counties. If you want to refer a child, volunteer and/or make a donation such as cash, airline miles or cars, please call 805-676-9474 [WISH]. For more information on these and other ways to help visit our website at: www.tri-counties.wish.org. Spanish information is also available at www.wish.org
Donate your gently-used clothing, toys, housewares, etc. to Place of Rest. Families can come and shop for needed items FREE OF CHARGE! This is a great way to help needy families.
Place of Rest is located at 1254 N. Ventura Ave. It is open on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays after 3pm.
Prototypes Women's Center is located at 2150 N. Victoria, Oxnard. It is a safe place where women can live with their children and receive intensive treatment for their addiction to drugs and alcohol.
They need supplies for babies and children such as high chairs, breast pumps, double and triple strollers, snap 'n' go strollers, sippy cups, baby bottles, pacifiers, and money to buy computers.
To learn more about Prototypes, you can attend a free tour and lite lunch on the 1st and 3rd Thursday of each month at 11:30 am. This program is a community outreach intended to educate attendees about Women and Addiction. It is very interactive and all your questions will be answered! You can RSVP by calling 805-382-6296 or email Vel: contactvellinden@yahoo.com
There are many children in Ventura County who have been abused, abandoned and neglected. HSA is committed to placing these children in safe loving homes in their own communities so they can attend the same school and maintain relationships with the important people in their lives.
Ways you can help: (Call Elaine Martinez for more info 648-9395)
- Become a foster parent: open your home and your heart to a child who needs help.
- Become a respite worker to provide a break for foster parents.
- Become a tutor to support foster youth in college.
- Offer a teenager a job training opportunity or a job.
- Make a donation to the Children's Services Auxiliary. (Pam Waldron at 654-3447)
- Make a donation to the T.E.A.Ch Scholarship Fund which awards scholarships to help foster youth continue their eduation (Lucy Maheney at 654-3726)
