Community Outreach
ALA Silicon Valley Chapter is committed to making a meaningful impact in our local communities through volunteer outreach initiatives.
Our members actively contribute their time, energy, and resources to support local volunteer organizations. We believe in the power of collective action to strengthen neighborhoods, uplift those in need, and promote a spirit of service among our professional community.
Our outreach efforts are listed below.
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ALA Gives Back | Coastal Cleanup Day from Michael Crocker on Vimeo |
Summary of ALASVC Community Projects
|
Year |
Organization |
Activity |
Activity |
Chapter President |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Walk to End Alzheimers | Walking to raise awareness and funds for Alzheimer’s care, support, and research. | Andrea Reid | Taylor Aston-Nielsen |
| Sleep in Heavenly Peace (SHP) | SHP builds and delivers beds to children in need, helping provide them with the safety and comfort of a real bed. | Jim Karkas | Taylor Aston-Nielsen | |
| 2024 | Cards for Veterans | Design and write letters for our veterans thanking them for their service to our country | Jim Karkas | Taylor Aston-Nielsen |
| Sacred Heart Community Service | Sort and organize clothing and food for those in need. | Jim Karkas | Taylor Aston-Nielsen | |
| The Teddy Bear Project | Assemble Teddy Bears to be delivered to children in need | Shelley Strong | Taylor Aston-Nielsen | |
| 2023 | Cards for Hospitalized Kids | Design and write letters to hospitalized children sending them well wishes and messages of positivity | Shelley Strong | Debbie Sanders |
| 2022 | CityTeam Youth Collective Program | Donation drive for young persons transitioning to adult living | Diana Medina | Shelley Strong |
| 2021 | Coastal Cleanup Day | The Silicon Valley Chapter joined with the East Bay and Golden Gate Chapters to donate our time picking up trash and recyclables at MLK Regional Shoreline in Oakland | Diana Medina | Shelley Strong |
| CityTeam House of Grace Women's Shelter | Donation drive for homeless women with children | Diana Medina | Shelley Strong | |
| 2020 | Ecumenical Hunger Program | Donation drive | Jim Karkas | Shelley Strong |
| 2019 | Coastal Cleanup Day | The Silicon Valley Chapter joined with the East Bay and Golden Gate Chapters to donate our time picking up trash and recyclables at Powell Street Waterfront in Emeryville | Jocelyn Abisia | Jocelyn Abisia |
| Silicon Valley Pride Parade | Participant in Pride Parade | Kevin Lee | Jocelyn Abisia | |
| 2018 | Coastal Cleanup Day | The Silicon Valley Chapter joined with the East Bay and Golden Gate Chapters to donate our time picking up trash and recyclables at Crown Memorial State Beach in Alameda | Jim Karkas | Shirley Laboy |
| Silicon Valley Pride Parade | Participant in Pride Parade | Jannelly Sussman | Shirley Laboy | |
| Sacred Heart Community Service | Sort food and clothing | Jim Karkas | Shirley Laboy | |
| 2017 | Ronald McDonald House | Prepare and serve dinner at the Ronald McDonald House for families with children in the hospital | Jim Karkas | Shirley Laboy |
| Coastal Cleanup Day | The Silicon Valley Chapter joined with the East Bay and Golden Gate Chapters to donate our time picking up trash and recyclables from Mavericks Beach in Half Moon Bay | Jim Karkas | Shirley Laboy | |
| 2016 | Pack-A-Back 2016 with Sacred Heart Community Service | Fill new backpacks with school supplies for low-income students | Jan Balli | Sarah Ferguson |
| Coastal Cleanup Day | The Silicon Valley Chapter joined with the East Bay and Golden Gate Chapters to donate our time picking up trash and recyclables from Poplar Beach in Half Moon Bay | Sarah Ferguson | Sarah Ferguson | |
| 2015 | Heart & Soles 5K Walk/Run | Proceeds benefit Silicon Valley and Santa Cruz County K-12 schools that want salad bars to promote healthier eating | Shirley Laboy | Heather Larrick |
| 2014 | Sleep Train Foster Kids Pajama Drive | Collect donations from members of new pajamas to local foster children | Shirley Laboy | Heather Larrick |
| Second Harvest Food Bank | Prepare food for distribution | Shirley Laboy | Heather Larrick | |
| Habitat For Humanity - Playhouse Program | Prepare materials for playhouses to benefit various organizations such as the Blue Star Moms | Shirley Laboy | Heather Larrick | |
| 2013 | RAFT (Resource Area For Teachers) | Assemble educational kits for science, math and art teachers | John Firth | Shelley Strong |
| Walk to End Alzheimer's | 3K walk for Alzheimer's treatment, prevention and support programs | John Firth | Shelley Strong | |
| 2012 | Family Giving Tree | Assemble backpack and school supplies in support of the children in East Palo Alto | Christie Alexander-Ernst | Debbie Piker Sanders |
| Second Harvest Food Bank | Prepare food for distribution | Christie Alexander-Ernst | Debbie Piker Sanders | |
| 2011 | Second Harvest Food Bank | Organize, separate, and bundle meals in bags and boxes to be distributed to those in need | Carol Altamirano | Jim Karkas |
| 2010 | Project READ | Help provide a fun night for families with puppet shows, songs, crafts, snacks and a book to take home | Shawn Derfer | Sally Downing |
| Sacred Heart Community Service | Sort and organize donations | Shawn Derfer | Sally Downing | |
| 2009 | On Bay Area’s (HOBA) Contribute to Literacy at RAFT (Resource Area For Teachers) | Assemble learning kits for students and sort supplies |
Shawn Derfer | Yvonne Mills |
| Career Closet clothing drive | Collect donations of professional clothing |
Shawn Derfer | Yvonne Mills | |
| 2008 | Bring Me A Book Foundation, Mtn View | Assemble book covers | Shawn Derfer | Helen Ferentinos |
| Sacred Heart Community Services, San Jose | Sort food | Shawn Derfer | Helen Ferentinos | |
| The Smile Train | Collect money donations | ALA Headquarters | Helen Ferentinos | |
| 2007 | Resource Area For Teachers (RAFT), Santa Clara | Assemble learning kits for students and sort supplies |
Shawn Derfer | Annette Ross |
| Pathways Hospice Foundation, Sunnyvale | Assemble flu kits | Shawn Derfer | Annette Ross | |
| 2006 | Second Harvest Food Bank, San Jose |
Sort food | Shawn Derfer | Jim Karkas |
| 2005 | Second Harvest Food Bank, San Jose |
Sort food | Bonnie Neary | Bonnie Neary |
| 2004 | Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation | Collect money donations | Jan Balli | Jan Balli |
| 2003 | Child Abuse Prevention Center (CAPC) | Collect donations | Jan Balli | Chavez |
| 2002 | Children's Shelter, San Jose | Sort food | Linda Cunningham & Debbie Sanders | Liz Tan |
| 2001 | KTEH, San Jose | Answer phones during public television fundraiser broadcast |
Liz Tan | Husam Hammad |
| 2000 | Children's Shelter, San Jose | Collect donations of new school supplies, toys, costumes, etc. |
Linda Cunningham and Debbie Piker Sanders |
Linda Cunningham |
| 1999 | OICW, East Palo Alto | Collect donations of professional clothing | Debbie Piker Sanders, Husam Hammad, and Linda Cunningham |
Debbie Piker Sanders |
