If you're looking for inspiration to guide your holiday giving this year, Silicon Valley Community Foundation’s community impact team has created a list of local nonprofit organizations that work directly with nearby communities to provide critical services. Given increased local need, the list focuses on safety net organizations within the two counties SVCF serves.
“We chose to focus this list on safety net organizations as more people struggle to make ends meet given the high cost of living in our region,” said SVCF Senior Program Officer Valerie Cuevas. “The Core Services Agencies in San Mateo County and Emergency Assistance Network in Santa Clara County both play critical roles in our communities by extending the reach of government-funded programs to assist vulnerable children, families and seniors.”
SVCF believes we can make a significant, positive difference for families and local economies by improving how low-income individuals and families access and obtain public benefits and support. Both networks listed below partner with county governments to deliver services to residents in need, and we invite you to support their critical work in Silicon Valley.
"We know many Silicon Valley residents give back to their local community this time of year and we hope this list will inform and inspire your giving. We're grateful for our family of donors, large and small, and celebrate the support they provide to organizations working on the ground in San Mateo and Santa Clara counties," said SVCF Chief Philanthropy Officer Misti Sangani. Happy holidays!
San Mateo County’s Core Service Agencies provide individuals and families with basic emergency and support services to stabilize their living situations.
- Coastside Hope, www.coastsidehope.org. Serves Half Moon Bay, Montara, Moss Beach, El Granada.
- Daly City Community Services Center, www.smc-connect.org. Serves Daly City, Colma and Broadmoor.
- Fair Oaks Community Center, www.smc-connect.org. Serves Redwood City, North Fair Oaks, Portola Valley, Woodside and Atherton.
- Pacifica Resource Center, www.pacresourcecenter.org. Serves Pacifica
- Puente de la Costa Sur, www.mypuente.org. Serves Pescadero, La Honda, Loma Mar and San Gregorio.
- Samaritan House, www.samaritanhousesanmateo.org. Serves San Mateo, Belmont, Burlingame, Foster City, Hillsborough, Millbrae and San Carlos.
- Samaritan House South, www.samaritanhousesanmateo.org. Serves East Palo Alto and Menlo Park.
- YMCA Community Resource Center, www.ymcasf.org. Serves South San Francisco, Brisbane, San Bruno
Santa Clara County’s Emergency Assistance Network provides a variety of services to prevent homelessness and act as a safety net for residents facing eviction, utility disconnections and hunger. The EAN also offers assistance to help families and individuals recover from emergency situations.
- Amigos de Guadalupe, www.amigoscenter.com. Serves the Mayfair region of San Jose.
- Community Services Agency, www.csacares.org. Serves Mountain View and Los Altos
- LifeMoves, www.lifemoves.org. Serves Santa Clara and San Mateo counties.
- Sacred Heart Community Service, www.sacredheartcs.org. Serves Santa Clara County.
- St. Joseph’s Family Center, www.stjosephsgilroy.org. Serves Gilroy.
- Sunnyvale Community Services, www.svcommunityservices.org. Serves Sunnyvale.
- The Salvation Army, www.siliconvalley.salvationarmy.org. Serves Santa Clara and San Mateo counties.
- West Valley Community Services, www.wvcommunityservices.org. Serves West San Jose, Los Gatos, Monte Sereno, Saratoga and Cupertino.