The holidays are a wonderful to time give and finding the perfect present for your loved one is a good feeling. While in the holiday mood, it is a good time to look at the many nonprofits in the community.

Volunteers are always the number-one-requested item on a nonprofit's wish list, but if time restraints are a problem for you, there are other things you can do to help these hard-working organizations.

Toy drives and canned food donations are a common sight during the holiday season and residents of Santa Clarita are a giving group. The SCV Food Pantry, for example, receives 40 percent of their goods for the entire year during the months of November and December, according to Executive Director Belinda Crawford.

"We have many individuals in this community who are grateful for what they have and they also realize there are those in the community who are in need," Crawford said. "You think we are an affluent community, but there are pockets of poverty."

The SCV Food Pantry helped over 950 families last year. More than one half of their clients are children. The Pantry also helps a significant number of senior citizens and is looking to expand that program as well as add another satellite station in the Castaic/Val Verde area. With two part-time paid employees, the Food Pantry is always in need of volunteers to pick up groceries and help distribute them.

Crawford said the Food Pantry will take "everything and anything," but items that are the first to be depleted are peanut butter, canned fruit, canned tomatoes, canned beans of any kind and hygiene products such as bars of soap. To make it even easier, the Pantry is accepting grocery cards in $10 increments for families looking to buy certain specialty items.

"Every family has different traditions during the holidays," Crawford said. "One mom might want to bake sugar cookies with her children or cook a special meal and carry on the traditions their families may have. These cards will help them with this special time of year."

The Food Pantry works closely with the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff's station's annual Toy Drive, which will be held on December 7 through the 10.

And let's not forget the other nonprofits in the community that can always use our help. For some, it's as simple as a new fax or copy machine. For others, raising a semaphore. Okay, a semaphore is a train crossing sign and the Santa Clarita Valley Historical Society has been anxious to put this up.

"The semaphore project gets a little more complicated every time I turn around," said Pat Saletore, executive director of the SCV Historical Society. "It isn't as sexy as a fax machine, but I am going to need a couple of cubic yards of concrete each for two large foundations."

The Historical Society is anxious to start giving tours again to third graders who study local history as part of their social studies curriculum. Original train station artifacts are hard to come by, but Saletore has been persistent and recently found several pieces of china once used in the train station restaurant. Another big project for the society is getting telephone rewiring. According to Saletore, the phone lines will take a lot of phone wire, not to mention the trenching involved.

Carousel Ranch is a therapeutic horseback riding facility for handicapped children and adults. The directors recently purchased land to house the program and horses. They can always use horse-related materials such as fencing and corrals, as well as volunteers to help run the program.

Want a really fun project? How about volunteering to write letters to local children from Santa Claus? Or working with preschool children or at the Toy Library?

When it comes to volunteers, every nonprofit organization in town can use an extra hand or two. Kathleen Fletcher from the Santa Clarita Valley Resource Center said the need is great and people who volunteer are healthier and made to feel a part of the community.

"We need to get more people involved," Fletcher said. "Volunteering is a wonderful opportunity for growth and mental stimulation."

The Resource Center, which opened in 1996, is a one-stop center for local nonprofits. Just log on to the website www.volunteerinscv.org and state your volunteer goals and passions. You will be contacted by Fletcher from the Resource Center and find that perfect volunteer position.

"We are really excited to be one of the hub cities in the state," said Adele McPhereson, superintendent of Community Services for the City of Santa Clarita. "The objective of the program is to substantially increase the number of volunteers. It also allows students to track their volunteer hours."

Whether its trains, horses or just the general feeling of helping people, find your passion and get on board. Helping a nonprofit is a great way to get that holiday feeling and it can be just as good, if not more so, than finding that perfect present.


"Drive By, Lend A Hand" Charity Event - December 2, 2006 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Click here for more information


Help make the Holidays Brighter
Listed below are a variety of volunteer and donation opportunities currently available. For a complete list, visit www.volunteerinscv.org.

Santa Clarita Valley Food Pantry
Over 50 percent of the Pantry's clients are children. Help make sure that no child in the SCV goes to bed hungry by donating food (peanut butter, canned beans, canned fruit, macaroni and cheese, bar soap and toothbrushes are especially needed), grocery store gift cards or checks made out to the Santa Clarita Valley Food Pantry; 24133 Railroad Avenue, Newhall, 91321.

Santa's Helpers
On December 18, teens will write letters from Santa to local children. Materials are provided; Susana Campbell, 661-286-4165.

Jaycees' Santa's Helpers Toy Project
With a goal to provide toys for over 200 local kids, the Jaycees need your help. Make a secure donation online at www.scvjaycees.com (monies go towards gift certificates for older kids, the cost of the party venue, kids' crafts, etc.) or donate a new unwrapped toy; Diane Stacy, 661-803-1952.

Carousel Ranch
Teens 15 and older, plus adults, are needed to help groom horses, assist in riding lessons as spotters, maintain the ranch and more. A minimum 20 hours of service are required; Eileen Johnstone, 661-268-8010.

New Leash on Life
Teens (accompanied by a parent or guardian) and adults are needed to assist in mobile pet adoptions, to socialize and play with dogs, help with fundraising campaigns, staff informational booths and more; 661-255-0097 or volunteer@nlol.org.

American Cancer Society's Road to Recovery
Adults are needed to drive cancer patients to their medical appointments. A valid driver's license, current registration and auto insurance are required; Heather Warrick, 661-298-0886.

Golden Valley High School Tutors
Teens and adults are needed with a thorough knowledge of algebra, geometry, science, history, English, Spanish or French. Bilingual skills are helpful but not necessary; Lori Bryant, 661-252-1410.

Santa Clarita Valley Historical Society
Teens 16 and older and adults are wanted for a variety of opportunities, including garden maintenance, assisting with historical site upkeep, entering historic photographs into the database and more; Patricia Saletore, 661-254-1275.

Child and Family Center Pre-School Aide
Teens 14 and up plus adults are wanted to assist with playground activities and in the classroom. Volunteers work with children 3 to 5 years in age in two-hour shifts with a 10 hour per week maximum; Maria Moreno, 661-255-6847, extension 3019.

Community Center's Homework Helpers and Toy Library
Teens and adults are needed to assist kids with homework, read to children, sort toy donations, assist with toy checkouts, clean toys and more; Yolanda Calderon, 661-286-4006.

Valley Trauma Center Sexual Assault Services
Adults are needed to work as rape crisis advocates. Volunteers attend a 60-hour state-certified training program and participate in a minimum of eight in-service workshops annually; 818-756-5330, extension 206.