A holiday wish list for our community
Editor: We live in an affluent area, but times are tough. Most folks I know are limiting consumption this holiday season and have little money to help local charities and nonprofits. As a Realtor, and from driving through neighborhoods on weekends, I would observe that a lot of people have garages bulging with useful items that they no longer use, but seem unable to part with. Disposing of these “treasures” is often a problem because they seem too valuable to throw away, have sentimental attachments or the owner is awaiting the arrival of someone who could put it to productive use.
In past years, a holiday listing of items wanted by nonprofits was published as a way to provide assistance to these organizations. I am unaware of any such program this year, and my personal contact with a few organizations appears to confirm this conclusion.
I believe this may be a worthy undertaking for our community, providing significant benefits, especially if undertaken in a cooperative spirit. As a model, I offer the analogy of the holiday movie classic Miracle on 34th Street. To me, the story line of the insanity trial of Chris Cringle, a man who actually believed himself to be Santa Claus, is not as important as what he accomplished for the retailers of New York City. As a Macy’s Santa, he informed children and their parents of where to find the best toys at the best prices, regardless of the store that carried them, and created immense customer loyalty in the process. Gimbals, the rival retail chain, had no alternative but to match Macy’s offerings, the two retail giants entering into further cooperative ventures, with the result that all benefited.
If our local media outlets quickly contacted our local charities and nonprofits requesting three to five items that they need and that may be found within in the community stockpile, such as food and warm clothing, office supplies and furniture, tools, used appliances or technology, donated labor for repairs, etc., a list could quickly be assembled and distributed throughout our community. Likewise, discussion of the topic might encourage our citizenry to contact their favorite charity directly to see how they might make a necessary donation of items they no longer use or need.
Norm and Pat Brown
Sonoma
Editor’s note: The Sun asked many local nonprofits for their wish lists (below). We encourage Sonoma Valley nonprofits to send us a list of three to five (non-monetary) items they need that community members may be able to donate. We will continue to run the list throughout December. Please include a phone number with your list. Below are the responses we have received so far.
Operation Youth
• Picture frames
• T-square and L-square
• Canvases
• Spray paint
• White paint
707.996.9697
La Luz
• Small wooden drop-leaf
kitchen table
• Park bench
• Picnic table
707.938.5131
Sonoma Community Center
• Coffee pots
• iMac computer
• Space heaters
• Fans
• Industrial two-door
refrigerator
707.938.4626
Sonoma Valley Museum of Art
• Plain envelopes (4 x 91/2)
• Coffee maker
• Good coffee
• Coffee mugs
707.939.7862
WillMar Center
• Outdoor planter boxes
• Entry mats
• Hammers, screwdrivers and woodworking tools
• Sofa or love seat
• Large coffee table
707.935.1946
Hospice by the Bay
Items for Camp Erin, a summer youth bereavenebt camp:
• Art supplies
• Journals
• Disposable cameras
• New stuffed animals
• Sunscreen/bug repellant spray
Sonoma Valley
Mentoring Alliance
• Art supplies
• Office supplies
707.938.1990
Sonoma Ecology Center
• Truck to haul water
• Lab filters
• Report paper
• Space heater for MUD lab
• Sample bottles
707.996.9744
Sonoma Garden Park
• Binoculars
• Taxidermy Chinook salmon or steelhead trout
• Small tractor
• Rakes
• Felco pruners
707.996.9744
Meals on Wheels
• New frying pans, kitchen
utensils and knives
• Canned meats (no spam)
• Volunteers to cook, shop or deliver meals
Drop off canned meats at Trinity Church, 275 E. Spain St.
FISH
Drop off at bell-ringer locations throughout Sonoma Valley.
• Nutritious non-perishable foods such as peanut butter, soups, canned items.
• Warm wearable clothing.
707.996.0111