From October to December 2009, volunteers contributed over 13,800 hours of service at Sacramento Food Bank & Family Services (SFBFS). One of the top contributors during the busy winter season was volunteer Chris Suter. “He worked basically as an un-paid staff member for two weeks,” says Genevieve Deignan, Director of the Saca Community Learning Center (Saca CLC). She is referring to the last two weeks of December, when the Saca CLC collects donated gifts from the community and matches them to families in need through the annual Adopt-a-Family program. Chris organized the distribution of gifts to over 200 families who participate in programs at SFBFS. Chris volunteered every day for the las

As the rain came in with the cold front, News 10, Swansons Cleaners and The Salvation Army were on hand to deliver coats to those without. Wednesday marked the 19th annual Coats for Kids, and this year's drive raised over 33,000 coats that were handed out all over the region. Eight distribution centers were scattered from Stockton to Lodi, Fairfield to Roseville and Cal Expo. 15,000 coats were handed out at the Cal Expo distribution center alone. "This is our largest center by far," Sacramento County Salvation Army Coordinator David Bentley said. "By comparison, the Roseville center will only hand out approximately 1,500 coats." Long lines wrapped around makeshift rows at Cal Expo buil

A great idea emanating from a dream is a familiar theme. Erik Jorgensen, 32, can trace his current project, and what he describes as "the best experience of his life" to just this. Although the idea was his, the dream was his mom's. In early 2000, Jorgensen was visiting home from college. During that visit, his mom, Gale, woke up one morning unusually happy. Jorgensen inquired about her mood and she said that she had just had the best dream about him. Jorgensen's mom said that in her dream he was helping a lot of people. When he asked what he was doing, she told him that she wasn't going to tell him, but wanted him to know that this is what she wanted from him, that this is what makes her

Carrie, a retired Sacramento area elementary teacher, had always been interested in volunteering at SFBFS since she had several students over the years whose families benefited from Food Assistance and other SFBFS programs. After retiring, Carrie began volunteering in the Mother-Baby program at Oak Park, and her involvement grew over time. Starting off as a mentor to new families, Carrie would sit down and talk with new moms and dads about raising their babies. It became obvious that Carrie has a unique ability to bond with families and provide them the guidance needed. Her compassion and ability to really listen are the keys to her connections with the families. New parents appreciated C

TEAM MARIA set out early Saturday, September 12 on the fundraising bike ride from Carmel through Big Sur to Hearst Castle Beach in support of Best Buddies International, a community for helping people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. TEAM MARIA exceeded their goal to raise $30,000 for Best Buddies by earning $80,000 in only six weeks. TEAM MARIA had riders on each of the four distance legs of the race – all riders completed the Challenge. TEAM MARIA includes Capitol insiders: Former Speaker Fabian Nunez; Staff from Dewey Square Group and Lucas Public Affairs and First Lady Maria Shriver's friends, family and staff.  For more insight on The Audi Best Buddies Challenge an

Hoards of people walked and pedaled up to North B Street Saturday morning. Volunteers were more than ready for them, tools in hand, prepared to repair their bikes as part of Cycle 4 Hope’s monthly “Homeless Outreach Day.” Founded by Shawn Holiday in 2008, Cycles 4 Hope is a nonprofit organization that provides free bike repairs for the homeless. It operates entirely on donated bicycle materials and the help of volunteers. “The number one thing that I have learned is that a bicycle helps a homeless person not feel homeless," Holiday said. "It gives them the opportunity to be at par with everyone else. It helps them forget the bad situation they are in.” After Holiday spent a morning down

 On Wednesday night, members of the VIBE foundation's Youth Leadership Board met at their 3,000 square-foot future lounge site, a building donated to them by the Sacramento Housing Redevelopment Agency, to discuss their recent accomplishments and funding plans. The youth lounge, which is scheduled to open in August, aims to provide a safe and fun environment conducive to the success of its youth members. In addition to after-school tutoring, the lounge will offer a game area and career center with a network of resources to help teens find jobs, internships and apprenticeships. VIBE is an all-volunteer organization, and the entirety of its fundraising efforts have been conducted by the VI

As a new resident to the Sacramento area, I recently discovered and fell in love with Mckinley Park. Yesterday, was my third visit; unfortunately, it may also be my last.  What I witnessed yesterday was nothing short of appalling and disappointing—appalling because it appears that Sacramento residents do not care about wildlife or the environment, and disappointing because it appears that the City of Sacramento does not care about wildlife, the environment, or the residents of Sacramento. The above photos clearly illustrate what I witnessed yesterday at the duck pond.  Loaves and pieces of bread were left on benches, inside the pond, and all around the pond.  Empty plastic bags that once

SACSCUBA Dive for Earth Day continued at HURRICANE BAY LAKE TAHOE.  We will be making a Splash   Lake Tahoe, CA– This 21st day, 2009 June, SACSCUBA and community volunteers will join in the action for Project AWARE Foundation’s global Dive for Earth Day events continuation. More than 300 collective events will take place in over 100 countries around the world and SACSCUBA will make a local splash for this conservation celebration. Join SACSCUBA hikers, bikers, walkers, divers and snorkel volunteers to keep Lake Tahoe clean. Let’s start the summer off right! We will be meeting at 9am. Please stop by Sacramento Scuba World, Sacramento or Fisheye Scuba, Folsom. Each year, divers and water

The following is a news release from the office of Congresswoman Doris Matsui: Calls for Renewed Commitment to Service in Wake of Recession Sacramento - Rep. Doris Matsui (CA-05) renewed her call today for Americans to participate in community service in the wake of challenging economic times. As a Co-Chair of the National Service Caucus, Rep. Matsui has been an advocate and leader on national service issues. Congresswoman Matsui has continued to promote service locally, participating in numerous events with service members who build homes, tutor children, clean parks and assist first responders during fires and other natural disasters. Congresswoman Matsui also introduced House Resolut

 On Monday at the Boys and Girls Club downtown, I will be joined by the Rev. Jesse Jackson, Founder/President of PUSH/Rainbow Coalition, to kick off "Volunteer Sacramento." This new effort is designed to encourage greater volunteer participation in our community. Led by Honorary Chair Congresswoman Doris Matsui (D-Sacramento), this will be a "full-court press" with local nonprofits to strategize on how to harness the energy of more Sacramento citizens to held local nonprofits during this challenging economic time. More than 50 nonprofit leaders and agency heads will join us, as we discuss efforts to attract more citizens to participate in making our community a city that works for all of

In my previous article, I introduced the annual Martin Luther King, Jr, Day of Service. This year, people all over the country took part in more than 12,000 service projects that were organized locally by your friends and neighbors. As for my part, I spent the day the way I'd like to spend any holiday: outside in nature. Only this time I did it with a trash bag in hand. I joined a great group of people and cleaned up the Yolo Bypass Wildlife Area wetlands. You know, that area next to the causeway that’s flooded with water and teeming with migratory birds during the winter months. I often see the birds from the freeway, but was unaware of how accessible the area is to visitors. All you hav

"A day on, not a day off" There seems to be no shortage of bad news these days. From local and national budget crises to home foreclosures and job loss, our country and communities are falling on hard times. But we here in the central valley do have one reason to smile. While the rest of the country is experiencing record-cold winters, we have sunny skies and warm days. Spring seems to have come early to Sacramento. Tomorrow is Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, which means no mail, no school, and, for many of us, no work. But did you know MLK Day is also a national day of service? We have holidays that celebrate our country, our families, and the past and present service of our military, but

Its party time come this Second Saturday. You see the Sacramento Bike Kitchen has a new center and we are throwing a grandopening party. The Bike Kitchen otherwise known as SBK is a nonprofit org(501(c)3) with the intention of keeping you on your bike and more importantly creating more advocates who create a more bike friendly community, one bike at a time. Heres how it works. For a small fee you can have someone show YOU how to fix and maintain your bicycle. A sort of teach a man to fish philosophy. We survive on donations such as unused bikes and bike parts. Unused, tools, and bike stands are gladly accepted as well. 2 hats we are wearing is the recycler and educational center for all t

Did you know that Sacramento has a program that can help adults with basic reading and writing skills? Since its foundation in 1984, the Literacy Service of the Sacramento Public Library has offered one-on-one tutoring with English-speaking adults, helping them to improve the skills necessary to function in today's society. Let's face it—adults who have trouble with reading and writing face a daily struggle. Imagine the frustration involved with trying to do basic things like read street signs, order a meal at a restaurant or send someone a birthday card. Even more frustrating is that many of these adults may have children who are attending school. For these parents, reading a book to th

Due to dozens of urgent phone calls from seniors struggling with the tough economy,  Senior Legal Hotline, Meals on Wheels and the Volunteer Center of Sacramento and the City of Sacramento, have come together to create SENIOR CONNECT a direct service event bringing help to those who need it. The event will be held from 10am – 2pm on Friday, November 14 at the Oak Park Community Center, 3425 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd, Sacramento. No ordinary information and referral fair, Senior Connect will include more than 20 agencies, providing important information and on-site services including: SMUD with immediate utility assistance, consumer debt assistance from Senior Legal Hotline, HUD-Approved