Holiday giving Holiday giving (December 19, 2003)

Schools show compassion Schools show compassion (December 19, 2003)

At Valley View Elementary, parents and children individually adopted 37 families from within the school's own community. Coordinated by teacher Phyllis Mendoza with the help of parents Jody Adams and Michele Phillips, a giving tree was created and adorned with cutout decorations, each anonymously representing someone from one of the 37 families and listing gift ideas. Parents and students each took a cutout and purchased gifts for that person. The response was amazing, said Principal Pam Lear, adding that one generous benefactor donated four $100 Costco gift certificates.

At other schools, Toys for Tots was the recipient for separate collection drives held at Hearst Elementary and Amador Valley High schools. First-grade students in Denise Morgan's class at Donlon Elementary adopted a family for the holidays in a service-learning project. Lydiksen Elementary student council officers purchased toys for Shepherd's Gate, a shelter for abused women and children, with funds collected at the school's student store.

The technology classroom workshop at Pleasanton Middle School participated in its annual outreach holiday ornament project, creating 200 ornaments for children at Children's Hospital Oakland.

Students at Pleasanton Middle School worked on a different lesson Dec. 11, one in altruism, when they hosted and served lunch to about 65 of their senior citizen neighbors at Ridge View Commons. The annual luncheon, sponsored by the California Junior Scholastic Federation, is a community service project for the middle schoolers. Held in the multipurpose room, 60-some students escorted the seniors to the school, took their lunch order and served them, while other students, playing strings and jazz, provided entertainment.

Kiwanis adopt family Kiwanis adopt family (December 19, 2003)

Pleasanton Sunrise Kiwanis adopted a family for Christmas through the school district's Adopt a Family program, giving $500 to a family with three children.

Socks and toys Socks and toys (December 19, 2003)

Pleasanton Presbyterian Women report that its Socks for the Homeless and Toys for Underprivileged Children were a huge success, making Christmas a bit brighter for underprivileged children in 2003. The group stuffed several hundred socks and collected toiletries, toys, blankets, clothing, gift cards and other items and gave them to Tri-Valley Haven, Open Heart Kitchen, Buenas Vidas Youth Ranch, Bay Area Rescue Mission and Bay Area Crisis Nursery. Merchants also helped out with donations.

Aid after the fire Aid after the fire (December 19, 2003)

This holiday season, the Pleasanton Mothers' Club is "adopting" the Winborn family, Pleasanton residents in the Fairlands neighborhood, who lost their home and all of their belongings to fire just two months ago. PMC is providing items for the family from their wish list as well as gift certificates from select stores, said Jennifer K. Pearce, PMC Community Service co-chairwoman. For more information, go to www.pleasantonmothersclub.com.

Helping Hope Hospice Helping Hope Hospice (December 19, 2003)

Members of the P-Town Pushrods volunteered their services at three GoodGuys Car Shows throughout the year. Between this and selling T-shirts, they have raised $3,000 (not $4,000 as reported earlier), which they are donated to Hope Hospice last Saturday.
Tell us about your group's "Giving" by sending the information to Pleasanton Weekly, 4713 First St., Pleasanton 94566; fax 600-9559; or e-mail editor@pleasantonweekly.com.

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