Opportunity Center Needs and Volunteer Opportunities

All items except those for the Family OC may be dropped off at the OSC between 8am and 4pm, M-F(OC front door to right).  Items for the Family OC can be dropped off between 10am and 6pm, M-F (door to the left(always locked; guard or receptionist will let you in).  All donations are tax deductible and you can request a receipt when you drop them off.

Needs

• Top Needs: new socks and underwear; personal hygiene items; non-wool, weather-resistant winter coats; men's jeans; thermal underwear; backpacks; specifically for the Family OC: diapers, diaper wipes, and formula; healthy snacks for kids (non-perishable preferred); parenting books, healthy cooking books, and other books that help create an adult resource library; emergency non-perishable food supplies.

• The Clothes Closet: Please Note:  Very bright colors (yellow, orange, fire engine red, etc.) are avoided by our adult clients.   Many people feel it calls attention to themselves in a negative way.
  
  • Mens Jeans - We give out 20-30 pairs a week.  Size 30 - 40
    
  • Adult Sleeping Bags - Our Clients avoid the “mummy “ style of bags.
    
  • Backpack/Daypacks - Larger is best.
    
  • Men’s NEW Crew Socks/White  - We cannot give away colored socks.  Many of our clients feel white, uncolored socks are a better way to prevent foot diseases.
    
  • Men’s Weather Proof Jackets With Hoods - The longer the better.  Any coats made of wool or wool blends are useless for our clients.  A wet woolen coat is  heavy and uncomfortable.  Raincoats often show dirt and moisture and are not warm at night.
    
  • Knitted Men’s Watch Caps - Larger sizes and dark colors are the most requested.
    
  • Water Resistant Gloves - Women’s Large sizes and all sizes including XXL for men.
    
  • Tennis Shoes/Athletic Shoes/Workboots - We have a continual need for men’s sizes 10.5 - 14.
    
  • Men's Boxer Underpants - Especially sizes 30-38.
    
  • Women's Underpants - Especially sizes 4-9
    
  • Toiletries - The travel or sample sizes are the best.  Toothpaste, toothbrushes, deodorant, foot powder, bath soap, shampoo, body lotion.
    

• The Family OC: Family-sized toiletries, discretionary funds, emergency food supplies, such as (pasta sauce, pasta, mac & cheese, rice, canned stew, tuna, canned veggies/soups, juice, cereals, etc.; gift cards (Walmart, Target, Mervyns, sporting goods stores, Borders, Amazon.com, Costco

Volunteer Opportunites

• Top Volunteer Needs: help sort and organize donated clothes; help clients choose clothes; help with tasks at the OSC front desk; filing and organizing; tutoring, translation, ESL, cut people's hair(barber).  Special projects specifically for the Family OC: organize library, hold special parties for the kids, teens, and/or parents.

• The Clothes Closet: We need a compassionate and energetic volunteer weekdays to assist clients in choosing clothes and provisions, help sort and display newly donated items and assist donors. Help needed Tuesdays and/or Wednesdays. 3 hours a day, mid-day. Please call Elaine at (650) 473-1998 to volunteer.
• The Opportunity Services Center (aka Urban Ministry Drop-In Center): Volunteer to work with Gina at the front desk: sorting mail, filing and help with the food. 8am-noon is the busiest time and when the help would be the most useful.
• The Family OC: tutors, people interested in working with kids or adults, drivers' education training, translation of Family OC documents, volunteers to teach useful job-related skills to parents. Spanish proficiency is a real plus for volunteers working with parents, but most of the kids who come to the center speak English.
• Opportunity Health Center: someone to gather the paperwork from all the free clinics for referral purposes.