Start a new holiday tradition of helping those in need. Get the entire family involved — young children love to help! Below is a sampling of ideas:
Can Your Fines
Serve your local community and reduce overdue library fines at the same time with the annual Can Your Fines event happening at the Paso Robles City Library, 1000 Spring St. Through December 31, $1 in overdue fines will be forgiven for every non-expired canned or non-perishable food item donated up to a maximum of $16 per library card account. For more information, see prcity.com or call 805-237-3870.
Donate to RISE
Help RISE during the holiday season by purchasing and donating gift cards from various merchants including grocery, shoe, and department stores and gas stations.
Donate items to the Safe House; see riseslo.org for a list of suggestions. Financial donations go toward providing crisis intervention and treatment services. Mail checks to: P.O. Box 630, Paso Robles, CA 93447. For more information, call 805-226-5400 or stop by the RISE office at 1030 Vine St. in Paso Robles.
Lights of Hope
Paso’s Lights of Hope benefits the Cancer Support Community of California Central Coast by raising funds and awareness for local cancer patients, survivors, and their families “so that no one faces cancer alone.”
More than 35,000 lights will adorn trees in the Paso Robles Downtown City Park throughout the holiday season. To sponsor a bulb, branch, or tree, click on the Lights of Hope link at cscslo.org or stop by the CSC office at 1051 Las Tablas Road in Templeton. Call 805-238-4411 for more information.
Day of Giving
The 24th Annual Day of Giving on Dec. 15 at the Paso Robles Event Center will provide toys, coats, and more to local families with children. Much has been donated but more is needed. Help the Salvation Army purchase food gift cards by sending a check with memo “Day of Giving” to P.O. Box 2654, Paso Robles, CA 93447. Place new toys in Toy Bank collection boxes or send monetary donations to: Toy Bank of Greater Paso Robles, P.O. Box 2801, Paso Robles, CA 93447.
Take gently-used coats, sweatshirts, and sweaters to Plaza Cleaners or Paso Robles Cleaners. Take new and clean coats to KPRL, Idler’s, Farm Supply, Strawberry Blonde Salon, El Paso Mini Storage, The Blenders, or North County Copy & Parcel. Or, send a check payable to the Toy Bank, with memo “Coats for Kids” to the address listed above.
Help the Salvation Army
Help by ringing bells and collecting funds during the Salvation Army’s holiday kettle campaign through December 24. Volunteer for two-hour shifts — call 805-835-6099 to schedule a time slot. Place donations in the paper kettles at Food-4-Less or send a check to P.O. Box 2654, Paso Robles, CA 93447.
Angels are needed! The Salvation Army’s Angel Tree creates toy-giving opportunities for families NOT participating in the Day of Giving. Call 805-238-9591 or stop by the Salvation Army Center at 711 Paso Robles St. Tuesday or Wednesday, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. for more information.
More Ways to Help
Loaves and Fishes: Send monetary donations to Loaves and Fishes, P.O. Box 1720, Paso Robles CA 93447 or via the PayPal link at
loavesandfishespaso.org. Call 805-238-4742 for more information.
ECHO: Donate to the El Camino Homeless Organization at echoshelter.net or send checks payable to ECHO, P.O. Box 2077, Atascadero, CA 93423. Call 805-462-3663 to learn more.
Hope for the Holidays: Add non-perishable food items to collection boxes through December 15. Volunteer to hand out item lists to grocery store customers, or host a money box at your place of business and donate the funds. Click on the Hope for the Holidays tab at slofoodbank.org or call 805-238-4664 for more information.
Christmas Gift Suggestions
To your enemy, forgiveness.
To an opponent, tolerance.
To a friend, your heart.
To a customer, service.
To all, charity.
To every child, a good example.
To yourself, respect.
Oren Arnold
From all of us at PASO Magazine,
MERRY CHRISTMAS
and HAPPY HOLIDAYS!
