Featured California Non Profit Organization:

Blue Mountain Coalition for Youth and Families
West Point, CA

From the BMCYF website:

"Summer is in full swing, and so is the West Point Community Garden on Spink Road!  Our garden boxes are full of tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, squash, and other plants which will soon be ready to pick and enjoy.  Laurel has worked hard to start this wonderful garden, but now it is time for the community to pitch in.  We need volunteers to water, weed, and care for the crop.  And soon, we will need families to help us eat the food we are growing.

Remember, community gardens can grow more than fresh, delicious produce- they can also provide new friendships,  family time, learning opportunities for kids, and so much more! Community Garden Parties will be held Tuesday evenings from 6 to 7pm, beginning July 27th, 2010.

If you are interested in getting hands-on in our community garden, please call 209 293-4500, and feel free to visit the garden any time!"

"The mission of the Blue Mountain Coalition for Youth and Families (of West Point, CA) is to maintain a youth and family center that serves the citizens of West Point and surrounding communities. We strive to improve the quality of life for the children and families of the area. The center provides a clean, comfortable and safe environment to gather in as a community. Activities and services promote healthy choices for healthy living. We are dedicated to using art as a lasting and powerful community building tool, and, for instance, for the last year or so have been offering free mask making workshops to all members of our community , creating a new and meaningful web of relationships. We provide a space and an outlet for the development of the many human tools needed to correct the imbalance of poverty."

2010 WISH LIST:

acrylic paints- this includes leftover acrylic latex house paints
paint brushes
scissors
glue
watercolor paints
ribbons
clay
clay tools
sponges
low fire glazes
gently used basketballs, soccer balls, frisbees, etc.
soft balls for toddlers
percussion instruments
musical instruments
plant donations for our garden
heirloom seeds
quality wood

And of course, financial donations are appreciated as well.

For more information: www.bmcyf.org

Are you looking for a great California charity to donate to this year?  Here is a list of many different kinds of services that would be happy to have your contribution.  It will make you feel good and it will be doing a great service to your local community!  Challenge your family, friends and co-workers to match your donations or to make a donation of their own!
 

Animal Place
Vacaville, CA
www.animalplace.org

Audubon Canyon Ranch
Stinson Beach, CA
www.egret.org

Boys and Girls Clubs of San Marcos
San Marcos, CA
www.boysgirlsclubsm.org

The Family Giving Tree
Milpitas, CA
www.familygivingtree.org

Goodwill of Silicon Valley
San Jose, CA
www.goodwillsv.org

Guide Dogs of the Desert
Palm Springs, CA
www.gddca.org

Mama's Kitchen
San Diego, CA
www.mamaskitchen.org

A Place Called Home
Los Angeles, CA
www.apch.org

Raphael House
San Francisco, CA
www.raphaelhouse.org

The San Francisco Foundation
San Francisco, CA
www.sff.org

Shoes That Fit
Claremont, CA
shoesthatfit.org

Tri-City Homeless Coalition
Fremont, CA
www.tricityhomeless.org

www.CaliforniasHarvest.com