In the Community

By Jane Clifford at October 1, 2011 | 7:50 am | Print

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We highlight various organizations here monthly. Some are looking for volunteers. Some may provide a service you need. The goal is to create an ever-growing list.

San Diego County Farmers’ Markets
Check out this list from the San Diego County Farm Bureau to help you find the places near you to buy fresh and local fruits and vegetables and more.

A Reason To Survive (ARTS)
This nonprofit group works with children and youth, ages 3-22,  who are experiencing homelessness, domestic violence, socioeconomic, terminal or chronic illness, foster care, severe physical, mental, emotional and behavioral challenges, incarceration, bereavement or parents in the military. Roughly 95 percent are from minority, low-income families. The group serves those kids who are artistically, musically, and creatively inclined, as well as those who have never experienced the arts to come and see if it is “their thing.” Kids may drop in at any level or progress through each level in their development over a period of years. You can help by donating your skills, time or money.

Big Brothers Big Sisters of San Diego County
Big Brothers Big Sisters of San Diego County lists its mission as “to improve the lives of children by creating and supporting one-to-one mentor relationships with proven results. Being a Big Brother or Big Sister does not take a superhero, it is about sharing simple, everyday moments with a child. Community Mentoring volunteers (“Bigs”) are matched with one child (“Little”) and they determine their activities based on mutual interests and their own schedules. Amachi is a community mentoring program that matches volunteers with a child of an incarcerated parent. Matches meet once a week for at least one hour. Bigs in Schools volunteers will meet with one child once-a-week for one hour at the child’s elementary school to play games, sports or share interests.

Canine Companions for Independence
This nonprofit organization enhances the lives of people with disabilities by providing highly trained assistance dogs and ongoing support to ensure quality partnerships. Volunteer puppy raisers across the nation sign up to provide socialization and obedience training. Between the ages of 15-18 months, the puppies return to one of five CCI Regional Training Centers across the country for six months of training.

 

San Diego County Office of Education
Here you can find information on all the school districts in the county. There’s also information for parents on everything from PTA and college to preschool, health and academic guidance.

San Diego County Public Libraries
This site provides locations for library districts throughout the county and links to go to their Web sites, where you can reserve books and find activities, including summer reading programs.

Note: the corrected links for the City of San Diego and City of Chula Vista libraries are here.

American Red Cross of San Diego/Imperial Counties
Go here for information on everything from swimming lessons and CPR classes to babysitter training and providing care for a sick or elderly loved one at home.

If you have an organization you’d like us to consider for the community listings, please e-mail the information to: jclifford@thinkplaycreate.org by the 20th of the month for us to include in the following month’s calendar. Also, please send any artwork that we can use with your listing.

Featured, In the Community