Spread the holiday joy by helping your community, donate your time, food, clothes or make a financial contribution. Here is a list of local places you can support in time for Thanksgiving and Christmas.
DONATE YOUR TIME
Second Harvest Food Bank depends on the time and efforts of many volunteers to help them better serve our community. If you are interested to help, please email jvaughan@secondharvest.org or call Jessica at 209-239-2091.
Manteca Senior Center has transformed into a temporary heated center for homeless this week. They will need volunteers to stay overnight and monitor the shelter again when the temperatures drop. Please contact the Senior Center at 209-456-8650 if you would like to help in the future.
DONATE YOUR GOODIES
Canned tuna is at the top of the list when it comes to food donations. Why? Well, it’s rich in protein, low in fat and calories, and is an excellent source of omega-3 fatty acids, which science has shown to improve hearth health and brain function. And with a shelf life of over four years, canned tuna is affordable and versatile. Manteca Bulletin is organizing a canned tuna drive benefiting Second Harvest Food Bank. Bring your cans of tuna to the Bulletin office at 531 E. Yosemite Avenue from now until 12/20.
Ripon Rotarian with the help of Ripon Chamber of Commerce has set a coat drive barrel benefiting Interfaith Ministries. You can drop off your gently used jacket or coat in the Ripon Chamber of Commerce office, Save Mart or Jake’s Coffee and Sandwich Shoppe. The collection drive will continue through Dec. 23.
Toys, books and clothes are a great gift if you want to “adopt a child” from Lathrop-Manteca Firefighters Association Local 4317. Pick a tag on a Christmas tree standing in the Lathrop City Hall with information about a child (gender, age, their wish list) and get him or her something special, so every child in the community will have an unforgettable Christmas. The tags will be hanging on the tree from Friday, November 22nd until the main event on December 19th at Grace Community Church.
St. Vincent de Paul Society is collecting donations in form of non-perishable food, clothes, shoes, and socks for children. Donations in kind or cash may be dropped off at the St. Vincent de Paul office at 525 E. North St any time between 1 and 3:45 p.m. Monday to Friday.
BE GENEROUS
“Stuff the Bus” is MUSD bus drivers helping needy youngsters in the area with the collection of nonperishable foods and brand-new toys along with hundreds of new and gently used coats. This year’s event is planned for Saturday in the Golden West School parking lot, 1031 N. Main St., from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. The toys will go to the Raymus House and Hope Shelter, food collected is donated to the Second Harvest Food Bank of San Joaquin and Stanislaus counties. In addition, MUSD bus drivers have set up a drop-off box inside of Mountain Mike’s Pizza in Manteca at 1120 N. Main St. for those unable to attend “Stuff the Bus” but are looking to donate to the cause.
The Champions’ Closet at Brock Elliott Elementary School has an assortment of gently used clothes for toddlers, children and teens in need, so if you have any clothing you would like to donate, contact the school at 858-7260. Other schools in the district have similar-type stores, for example Hornets’ Clothes Closet at Shasta School (858-7400), the Clothes Closet at the McParland Annex (858-7290), and the Hawk’s Nest at Neil Hafley School (858-7215). Even the five MUSD high schools – East Union, Manteca, Lathrop, Weston Ranch and Sierra – have on-campus Clothes Closets. Please contact the respective school sites if you want to donate your gently used items.
HOPE Ministries is holding a Bakeless Holiday Bake Sale fund-raiser. Instead of baking a cake, simply count the price of materials, time and heat that you will need to bake something nice and donate that amount to HOPE Ministries. Your financial contributions will be used to keep two homeless shelters open for those in need of emergency housing assistance, HOPE Family Shelter on West Yosemite Avenue, and Raymus House on South Union Road. Send your tax-deductible donation to: HOPE Ministries, Inc., P.O. Box 841, Manteca, CA 95336. The non-profit organization’s tax ID Number is 68-0235846.
To make sure every family in San Joaquin County will have a turkey for Thanksgiving and Christmas; Turkeys R Us program at Second Harvest Food Bank is collecting monetary donations. They are graciously accepted at in Manteca at 704 E. Industrial Park Dr. or Caldwell Banker in Manteca at 1187 S. Main St.
EAT FOR A CAUSE
The Manteca Soroptimists’ 34th Annual Holiday Affair takes place at the Bank of Stockton, 660 N. Main St., Manteca, on Wednesday, Dec. 11, from 6 to 7:30 p.m. The $75 ticket holder and guest enjoy a complimentary cocktails and hors d’oeuvres reception along with a chance for many prizes. Tickets are available at Tipton’s Stationery & Gifts, 169 W. Yosemite, 823-7644. You may also contact Connie Meintasis at 823-5828, Danette Jarred at 601-4446 or any other Soroptimist member.
SHOP FOR A CAUSE
Manteca-Ripon Pentecost Society will be hosting the Holiday Boutique from Dec. 6 through 8. The annual event consisting of a variety holiday idea gifts will take place at the MRPS Hall, 133 N. Grant St. in Manteca. Cost is $125 for all three days. The Holiday Boutique is scheduled from 4 to 8 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 6; 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 7 (in conjunction with holiday parade); and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 8.
