1. Donate unwrapped toys and food.
will collect unwrapped toys and food to help the locals who need it. Community members in need are identified to the sheriff's department through various local organizations. For more details, call (818) 236-4021 or visit the station, 4554 Briggs Ave., La Crescenta.
2. Cook a meal for the homeless.
Join with friends and make dinner for the five families living at Door of Hope in Pasadena. The transitional housing program is for homeless families and volunteers are always welcome. Find out about more opportunities here. And here.
3. Be Santa for a local senior.
Home Instead Senior Care Network, and the are working together to provide gifts and companionship for seniors who might be lonely during the holidays. Organizations will identify people in need or isolation. Check the Christmas trees at Crescenta-Canada YMCA before Wednesday, Dec. 14, for ornaments with names of the seniors and their gift requests. Volunteers can pick out an ornament and return it to the YMCA with an unwrapped gift. Find out more information on the website.
4. Provide toys for children in need.
in association with Glendale Fire Department, organized a Toy Drive for the "Firefighters' Spark of Love Toy Drive." Donations will be accepted at the center, 2633 Honolulu Ave., Montrose, through Friday, Dec. 9. Unwrapped gifts can be dropped off at the big wrapped box from 6 to 9 p.m.
5. Donate Thanksgiving, Christmas or Hanukkah fixings to a food pantry.
Put together Thanksgiving meal items, canned vegetables, cereals, pastas and tuna for donation at Salvation Army in Glendale at 801 S. Central Avenue. To donate and for more information, call (818) 246-5586.
6. .
Glendale Humane Society is collecting used towels for shelter animals. Towels help keep dogs warm, dry and clean. They are used as bedding and often as chew toys since the dogs love to shred them. Contact the Glendale Humane Society at 717 W. Ivy Street, Glendale, by emailing Monica Baltazar at mbaltazar322@mac.com or calling at
