Like other counties across the nation, San Joaquin County struggles with high gas prices, unforgiving interest rates and enormous home foreclosures, leaving scores of families in dire straits. Luckily for those in need, there’s hope available through countless giving opportunities for people who are able to help in big and small ways.

The problem is many people have the time, funds and talent, but don’t know where to go. Others are leery of organizations with bad reputations. Here you’ll find local and safe ways to lend a helping hand by adopting families, driving cancer patients to and from chemo treatments, painting a homeless shelter room, or simply restoring a blind person’s confidence.

The act of giving has never been sweeter.


Stockton Shelter for the Homeless

Out of roughly 3,500 homeless in the Valley on any given day, special projects coordinator Linda Haworth of the Stockton Shelter for the Homeless says that they house 284 people daily. And it doesn’t matter if the person is from out-of-state or from Stockton, the Stockton Shelter for the Homeless keeps it’s doors and hearts wide open.

She says people feel the homeless situation is daunting and insurmountable.

“I firmly believe most people want to help the homeless,” says Haworth. “Unfortunately it seems like such a huge social issue that people feel they cannot make a difference. By volunteering, a person can offer support to a cause they care about.”

How can I help?
Volunteers can start by adding color and décor to one of the rooms of Stockton Shelter for the Homeless’ four shelters (five shelters during winter months) through a program called, “Adopt a Room.”

“The first step would be to view the room that needs adoption,” Haworth says. “At times a group will install new floor coverings if needed, patch any holes in the sheetrock, paint, design and enjoy a group project. And since we displace the occupants, the goal is to complete the room in two days.”

Stockton Shelter for the Homeless’ 30-day, non-profit emergency shelters receive 40% of its funding from the government, while the remaining 60% comes from public support. Volunteer work is always in high demand.

Other ways to volunteer include yard work, general house cleaning, beauty makeovers for the women, reading and tutoring and help with homework for the 46 children currently living in the family shelter, arts and crafts and a paper goods drive.

Volunteers should stop by the shelter to fill out a volunteer application. Once the application is on file, the person can start immediately.

“We love to consider a person’s talent when discussing volunteer projects,” says Haworth.


The American Cancer Society in Stockton

Molly Strobel, health programs manager for the American Cancer Society in Stockton, needs help too, with the Society’s free Road to Recovery program, which involves volunteers driving cancer patients to and from local hospitals for treatments.

Volunteer John Pulver has been donating his time for the last seven years as transportation coordinator. Every week he matches a list of 35 patients and with 25 volunteer drivers.

“The patients are very appreciative about it,” says Pulver, who calls the drivers his angels. “You feel good about doing something good. These are people in our society who need some help, and if we can help without breaking our backs, then why not? We can help our fellow human beings deal with this horrible disease.”

Strobel says an expected 2,245 San Joaquin natives will be diagnosed with cancer this year.

How can I help?
“One of the most important, if not the most vital aspect of beating cancer, is attending treatments and doctor consultations,” Strobel says. “Access to transportation is a huge factor in every cancer treatment, and this program provides people who have no means of transportation or are too ill to drive themselves a way to get to their appointments.”

She says drivers must possess a good driving record and a serviceable vehicle, but are not required to have special skills or education, just some free time and the desire to help save lives.


Family Resource & Referral Center in Stockton

At the Family Resource & Referral Center in Stockton, a non-profit organization which promotes and enhances child development to over 6,000 children per month and family well-being to over 3,000 families per month, volunteers may adopt a family over the holidays.

Tony Washington, public relations manger for the agency, says adopters meet the family in person, and find out how many children they have, along with their ages, gender, sizes and specific needs.

How can I help?

“There are at least 30 to 40 families who contact us every year with requests for toys, food, new clothes, etc.” says Washington. “Since our funding is restricted and cannot be used for such items, we encourage generous individuals in the community to donate gift cards, new clothes, grocery gift cards and new toys.”


Community Center for the Blind

A population of San Joaquin County residents often neglected is the 5,000 severely blind and visually impaired between the ages of 18 and 97. Community Center for the Blind, a private non-profit organization, serves over 200 visually impaired, comprised mostly of Caucasian females over the age of 65.

“Our programs, both social and rehabilitation, are designed to teach independence, to foster an atmosphere of ‘you are visually impaired or blind, but with some accommodation, you can do most anything a sighted person can do,’” says Bonnie Hamma, operations manager for the center.

She started out as a volunteer 17 years ago to help organize the office and was offered the office manager position within a few months.

“The main reason I enjoy my job is the clients,” Hanna says. “How they adjust to life after vision loss, how someone blind from birth plays beep baseball, raises their children, or overcomes obstacles, and knowing that in a small way I helped.”

Challenges for the blind, she says, are many.

“Crossing the street and having a driver yell or blow their horn to let you know what? Its okay or it’s not okay to cross? Or asking directions and the informant points or says ‘go that way,’” says Hamma.

“We are trying to teach the sighted world as well as non-sighted,” she adds. “Newly blind individuals are challenged everyday. Once they learn fundamentals such as orientation and mobility (white cane travel), it gets easier. The most important thing to a blind person is having someone verbalize.”

How can I help?

She says she’s always looking for volunteers in the Center’s weaving and sewing classes, music class, field trips, and social activities and fundraising events. So if weaving and music just isn’t your thing, you can help by attending the Center’s upcoming events such as their pasta dinner on Nov. 7, Matinee of Cinderella and High Tea on Dec. 13, or the Crab Feed on Jan. 24.

The giving doesn’t stop there. Below is list of more organizations eager to accept your volunteer talents and gifts this holiday season and beyond.