PHILANTHROPY/OUTREACH

BWC provides services to more than 5000 children, youth, young adults and families in Santa Clara County. In addition, they reach more than 30,000 clients through street outreach and crisis line programs. Bill Wilson Center is committed to working with the community to ensure that every youth has access to the range of services needed to grow to be healthy and self-sufficient adults. Our Chapter collects items needed for residents and provides monetary support in the form of quarterly donations.

Relay For Life is a community-based fundraising event for the American Cancer Society. Each year, more than 5,000 Relay For Life events take place in over twenty countries. Events are held in local communities, university campuses and in virtual campaigns. Our Chapter volunteers participation in the Santa Clara Relay for Life event held annually, usually at the end of April. We staff Registration as required. We host the Survivor/Caregiver tent, and we participate in the very moving Luminaria ceremony where bags are decorated to honor Survivors and memorialize those we have lost. We also provide monetary support via sponsorship of this event.

This County Agency offers paid work opportunities during elections. Several of our members work, usually as carriers and strategic appointments. They pay hourly fees and mileage reimbursement. The money earned from our volunteers is then rolled into our dollars for support of charities. It provides opportunities for our members to work together and stages our Eastern Star organization in the community.

In a Valley where one in three people experience food insecurity, Hunger at Home was created to connect the food and goods with those in need Hunger at Home partners with local convention centers, hotels, and sports stadiums throughout Silicon Valley to collect excess food and goods. This food and goods are then distributed to hungry and homeless individuals through a robust nonprofit network. To date, Hunger at Home has donated 9 million meals locally and helped distribute much needed goods like towels, blankets, kitchen items, and hygiene kits. This effort results in tens of thousands of pounds of excess food diverted from our landfills and ensures the one in four people facing food insecurity in our community do not go hungry. Our Santa Clara Chapter 195 members work at the distribution center sorting and packaging the food and at PayPal Park for the distribution. We generally work two days per month with multiple volunteers. It is a good opportunity to work together and display OES to the community.

One of our members has a granddaughter in the Service. We have connected with her and we send packages with needed supplies. This program is expandable and we plan further engagement.