By Eliza Ridgeway
 Community Services Agency Associate Director Maureen Wadiak and nutrition programs director Laura Schuster kick off the holiday food and toy drive. |
More than 3,500 pounds of food donations came through the doors of the Community Services Agency (CSA) last week from Almond Elementary School. “It was huge!” crowed Alison Hopkins, director of volunteers. The agency, which serves Mountain View, Los Altos and Los Altos Hills, is gearing up for a holiday season of giving with the help of donors and volunteers.
“Our holiday sharing program is a huge community effort,” said associate director Maureen Wadiak. “Our whole office literally turns into a toy store.” The organization, which serves low-income families and seniors, plans to prepare special holiday food bags, gifts, senior events and more in the next two months.
“The majority of the canned food that we give out throughout the year comes in during the holidays,” Wadiak said. The agency serves the diverse ethnic populations of the area by trying to target foods that they like to eat and cook with. She described the “Aha” moment for volunteers when they realize that clients at the agency could also use baking basics from different cultures.
“It respects the dignity of people to give them a choice,” Wadiak said. “The big thing is baking ingredients so that clients can make things themselves. People want to make holiday treats that they are familiar with from their culture. People make time, whether they work two jobs or not. People will do anything for their kids.”
The agency’s nutrition program is supplemental and seeks to add some fresh or special ingredients to a family’s pantry, as well as to provide a cushion for emergencies. “All of the resources of working-poor families are going to keeping their heads above water with rent and food, so they don’t have money for anything like a holiday luxury,” Wadiak said.
Local stores Safeway, Costco, Trader Joe’s, The Milkpail and Draeger’s, as well as the year-round Mountain View Farmer’s Market and Farm Fresh Produce all donate food. The agency started giving out Thanksgiving food bags today, and still needs volunteers and donations. It will begin collecting toys on Dec. 5. Last year, CSA served 1,164 local children and 70 homebound seniors.
“It’s really tough for seniors, particularly if they have family who are far away; some of them are outliving their children,” Wadiak said. This year, a donor has already bought and wrapped gifts for all of the seniors in the program. Volunteers pick up seniors to bring them to a holiday lunch at the Mountain View Senior Center, and the agency pays particular attention to any signs of the holiday blues.
On Dec. 13, CSA and Senior New Ways have scheduled a free presentation on “Holiday Blues: Stress and Hope” at 10:30 a.m. at the Los Altos Senior Center.
In December, volunteers at CSA will act as “personal shoppers” and assist clients in picking out the perfect donated gifts for their family. Every child gets an age-appropriate toy, as well as new pajamas, a game or puzzle for the family to play together, a stuffed animal and stocking stuffers.
“People usually shop for the little ones, but they forget that teens need pajamas too,” Wadiak said. Gift cards to stores such as Tower, Borders or Target make a perfect donation for teens, she said. “The greatest thing is, just ask your kids what they want. That’s probably what clients want.”
Children can get involved at CSA by picking out new toys to donate or organizing a pajama party at their school or church. “Let kids wear their pajamas, and also pick out a pajama for a kid their age,” Wadiak said. “It gets kids involved in the idea of giving.”
Families can volunteer together at CSA, sorting food, acting as personal shoppers or registering new clients, or they can gather donations to drop off at the agency or at toy bins in local fire stations.
For more information, visit www.csacares.org or call 968-0836.
