As we move through the end-of-year holidays, traditionally regarded as the season of giving, we would do well to look at the circumstances of those in our community who, because of growing economic inequity or personal setbacks, are struggling now more than ever. They are the unemployed or low-wage workers trying to survive in a high-wealth area where housing costs have spun out of control. The shopkeeper stricken by illness, and medical bills so onerous she is at risk of loosing home and business. The low-income family whose parents each work two or more jobs, and whose children are in need of after-school supervision and academic support.
For 23 years, Almanac readers have pitched in to help their neighbors in need through our Holiday Fund, which supports 10 Peninsula nonprofits that help the hungry and poor, people in need of medical care they can’t afford, kids from disadvantaged families needing academic support or mental health services, and others who need help during difficult times in their lives. Last year readers and foundations supporting the program raised $180,000 for those nonprofits.
As in past years, donations are handled by the Silicon Valley Community Foundation, which doesn’t charge for administering the program. Matching funds will be provided by the Rotary Club of Menlo Park Foundation, the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation, and the David and Lucile Packard Foundation — community nonprofits that have supported the Almanac’s Holiday Fund for a number of years.
Please consider making a donation to this year’s program by using the coupon on Page 13 of this newspaper, or by going online at siliconvalleycf.org/almanac-holiday-fund.
Below are this year’s Holiday Fund beneficiaries:
Boys & Girls Clubs
With locations in Menlo Park, East Palo Alto and the North Fair Oaks neighborhood in Redwood City, this organization provides academic and after-school support, mentoring and activities for 1,800 at-risk K-12 kids.
Ecumenical Hunger Program
This program provides emergency food, clothing and household essentials, and sometimes financial assistance, to families, regardless of religious background. At Thanksgiving and Christmas time, the program provides baskets to more than 2,000 households.
Health Connected
Serves more than 5,000 students and their families annually through sexual health and education programs. Professionals work with students, who learn how to communicate with parents about health and sexuality issues, and to make informed decisions.
LifeMoves
With 17 sites on the Peninsula and throughout Silicon Valley, this program shelters some 670 homeless people every night, including families, and serves thousands of homeless families and individuals annually. It offers training in comprehensive skills so that its clients can achieve self-sufficiency.
Project Read-Menlo Park
Project Read offers free literacy services to adults in the Menlo Park area. It trains volunteers to work one-on-one with students wishing to improve their basic reading, writing and English language skills so they can achieve their goals and function more effectively at home, at work, and in the community. It also sponsors weekly conversation clubs and basic English classes, and volunteers offer computer-enrichment support to students.
Ravenswood Family Health Center
The center provides primary medical and preventive health care at a clinic in East Palo Alto. Most of the center’s registered patients, who number more than 17,000, are low-income and uninsured, and live in the Belle Haven, East Palo Alto, and North Fair Oaks areas.
Sequoia Adult School Scholars
Known as SASS, this program provides financial support, tutoring, textbooks and other assistance to low-income adults whose goals are to continue their education and improve their prospects in the workplace. This fall, SASS helped open the door to community college classes for nearly 200 participants.
St. Anthony’s Padua Dining Room
St. Anthony’s serves hundreds of hot meals six days a week to people in need. It also offers take-home bags of food, and emergency food and clothing assistance. Funded entirely through donations and community grants, St. Anthony’s is the largest dining room for the needy between San Francisco and San Jose.
St. Francis Center
The center’s mission is to “help low-income families live with dignity and become self-supporting members of the community.” It offers educational programs for children and their parents, and provides housing, food and clothing to address short-term needs.
StarVista
StarVista serves more than 32,000 people in San Mateo County with counseling, prevention, early intervention, education and residential programs. It also provides crisis intervention and suicide prevention services, including a 24-hour suicide crisis hotline, a parent support hotline, and an alcohol and drug helpline.
YouTube 'auditor' provoked, pepper-sprayed shopper at Mountain View Costco, police sayApril 8, 2026 12:23 pm