Holiday Helping (12/23/12)

Holiday Helpings is a list of organizations that sponsor programs for those less fortunate, inviting others to donate goods, services or money.

• SAVE MART HOLIDAY SHARES: The stores of Save Mart Supermarkets — Save Mart, S-Mart Foods and Lucky — are displaying four bags of groceries available for "purchase," with the funds going to local food banks. The bags provide shoppers a visual reminder of how much food can be provided to a food bank for their donation of $5, $10, $15 or $20 when checking out. The money collected is donated to each store's local food bank, guaranteeing neighbors are helping neighbors. Donations accepted through Jan. 2.

• BRADLEY MEMORIAL TOY DRIVE: The toy drive is in its fourth year and has grown from an idea into a wide-reaching effort for hospitalized children. They started with about 350 toys but last year collected around 2,000. This year's goal is to deliver toys to 5,000 children by Christmas Day. Call Lisa Pires at (209) 667-5666.

• "YES WE CAN" FOOD DRIVE: The Democratic Women's Club of Stanislaus County is sponsoring its fifth "Yes We Can" Food Drive in Stanislaus County, gathering nonperishables for distribution to food banks and community food drives. Through Monday, contributions can be dropped off at the Queen Bean Coffee House, 1126 14th St., Modesto. To contribute online, go to https://secure.actblue. com/contribute/page/fooddrive. To learn more, call Patty Hughes at (209) 303-4042 or email demwomensclub@gmail.com.

• RECOVERY HOME HELP: Life House Recovery Home in Newman, a facility for women, seeks donations of cash, gift cards, a working vehicle, bus passes, toiletries, linens and more. To donate, contact Melissa at (209) 947-5062 or email americanmcc@gmail.com. Or go to www.facebook.com/newmanlifehouserecoveryhome or http://newmanlifehouserecoveryhome.weebly.com.