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This holiday season, spreading the love is easy.
No one should miss out on feeling the holiday spirit. That's why we created the Joy Fund, now in its second year. We've carefully identified a collection of 22 local nonprofits that are doing something special to care for our Marin neighbors this season.
They represent every part of the County, from Marin City in the south, to Novato in the north, coastal West Marin and all points between. They serve newborns, toddlers, teens, parents and older adults. They cover every race and background and recognize every holiday tradition.
Everyone is included.
To spread the joy even further, MCF and generous donors are matching donations up to $300,000. This means that when you give through MCF, your donation to the Joy Fund will go twice as far in supporting these organizations at this time of year.
All donations received into the Joy Fund will be distributed equitably among the following nonprofit organizations in the new year. Here's how each organization plans to spend their holidays:
Adopt a Family's Holiday Program supports hundreds of families by matching their wish lists with community donors. This allows families to enjoy the holidays, while prioritizing rent. This Holiday Program is unique in the number of families it serves and the community support it requires to deliver its depth of services.
During the holiday season, Bread & Roses spreads festive cheer with special performances by their Holiday Chorus—a dynamic group of 15+ singers and musicians including volunteers, staff and community members. This ensemble delivers heartwarming holiday music in festive dress to a variety of audiences, from convalescent homes and centers for disabled adults to facilities for the visually impaired, detention centers, and homeless shelters. In over a decade of holiday performances, the intention of the chorus is always to be as inclusive as possible in celebrating the season with Marin audiences of varied backgrounds.
Cedars supports nearly 200 adults with developmental disabilities. During the holidays, Cedars artists, weavers, gardeners, and other craftspeople sell their handmade items for an annual holiday sale. Cedars staff plan and host parties and celebrations for Cedars residents and give holiday gifts. For those who don't have a family close by, or those who don't have any family members, these holiday celebrations are very meaningful.
Serving 600 people nightly, Homeward Bound's programming during the winter holiday season aims to provide community, connection, and warmth to people overcoming homelessness in Marin County. The families and individuals served often have few close family or friends, and the holidays can bring about feelings of isolation or loneliness. To bring the spirit of the season to residents, Homeward Bound’s program staff plan festive holiday meals and celebrations for shelter and housing residents in November and December.
Jewish Family & Children’s Services
The Jewish Family & Children Services provide approximately 250 holiday bags to older adults in facilities and in their homes, including cards and an assortment of food items. They also hold virtual holiday celebrations. Additionally, they offer gifts to low-income families and gift cards to clients of the agency.
During the holiday season, Griot Theater offers unique opportunities for community members to participate in theater and production. This includes stage and costume design, participation in cultural plays like “How The Grinch Stole Kwanzaa”, special opportunities for community members to engage with cast members, and for community members to learn, engage and network with others about cultural, arts, and theater.
Marin Center for Independent Living
Marin Center for Independent Living offers two inclusive holiday events. They offer Inclusive Santa, a holiday event hosted in Petaluma, for children living with disabilities in the North Bay, featuring Santa as the guest of honor. Last year's highlight was a sensory petting zoo, and the event typically attracts over 150 children. Their second event, Holiday Open House, is a holiday mixer for people living with disabilities in Marin, which includes older adults. This event is hosted at their location in downtown San Rafael.
The Marin Foster Care Association provides 3-5 holiday gifts from wish lists that each foster child submits, including stocking stuffers and larger items such as skateboards, iPads, bikes, and Barbie dream houses. They also host a holiday party that is free for all foster families, where kids and adults can enjoy a festive afternoon celebrating the season. For many foster children, this is often their first real holiday experience, allowing them to create wish lists and receive presents they truly desire. All gifts are customized to ensure that each child feels seen and loved.
Mundos De Colores offers in-home high-quality childcare services and hosts three delightful, themed activities for parents and children during the holiday season: Winter Wonderland Workshops, which engage children in arts and crafts in preparation for the holidays, culminating in the creation of an art gallery corner featuring their artwork and masterpieces; Festive Storytelling Circle, where families gather to share stories about their home countries with the children and Fiesta Navideña, a holiday celebration that includes traditional food, musical performances, and presents for the children attending the program.
North Marin Community Services
For 52 years, North Marin Community Services has offered the Holiday Share & Toy Drive. This event has grown to provide the gift of the holiday season to 400+ children and 200+ families of low-income households.
Our Sister's Keeper is a women's community service organization in Marin City that organizes two events each season. The first is a Holiday Toy Drive, which provides toys and gifts to children from economically disadvantaged families and those facing challenging circumstances. The second event is Feed The Community, which offers warm, home-cooked meals to families and other Marin City residents who are unable to access such meals during the holiday season.
Opening the World (OTW) participants and youth on Probation are provided structured opportunities for community service, such as: providing turkeys for low-income families; gift-wrapping books to raise funds to donate to families and organizations; cooking and serving a meal for unhoused residents and working in San Jose Middle School garden. OTW participants also raise funds to put together and distribute gift bags for unhoused residents. All of these activities help participants to learn that they can be of service and that they matter. OTW also hosts a holiday party for participants who often do not have a family celebration to participate in.
Parent Services Project organizes a Holiday Gift Drive for families with young children living in the Canal/San Rafael area who attend their developmental playgroups. They co-host a large event that includes gift distribution, lunch, gift cards for parents, gifts for kids, activities, music, a bike raffle, and more.
Performing Stars provides toys and gift cards to 300 children and youth, ranging from infants to teens. They also offer gift cards for food, living essentials, and transportation for adults, as well as assistance with phone bills, car payments, and basic emergency financial needs.
During the winter holiday season, Play Marin host their annual Snow Day/Ski and Snowboarding Trip for youth participants, organize several field trips with partnering organizations, and hold basketball clinics. They also collect and distribute backpacks filled with essentials for the homeless and shut-ins.
The Postpartum Support Center provides Christmas gifts to all children in need in Marin County. They also have a special Thanksgiving distribution, where they provide gift cards to local families in need. Their goal is to provide additional supplies during the holiday season and to make families feel appreciated and valued. They involve local families with means and hundreds of volunteers to help wrap and distribute gifts to children in need. They also hire Santa and take numerous pictures by their Christmas tree. For Thanksgiving, they invite five families to dine with them at the center, as well as their main volunteers to a holiday appreciation potluck.
Ritter Center organizes giveaways of cold and wet weather gear for both homeless and low-income individuals, providing items such as tents, ponchos, umbrellas, sleeping bags, and warm coats. They also host a holiday dinner for people experiencing homelessness. Additionally, their Hope for the Holidays program helps low-income and homeless individuals and families receive gifts during the holiday season.
San Geronimo Valley Community Center
San Geronimo Valley Community Center facilitates the Toys for Joys program, which supports low-income families with holiday gifts. They also provide special holiday meal distribution, including turkeys, hams, and other higher-cost items often associated with holiday meals. Additionally, they offer a holiday camp for kids during the break, supporting families where parents must work during this time. Their senior lunch program serves a festive meal during the holiday season, which is sometimes the main holiday meal experienced by isolated seniors. They also host a holiday craft fair event where local artisans can sell their goods and earn income for their small businesses.
Side By Side hosts a holiday toy drive at Marin Country Mart, providing a holiday "shopping" experience for clients. For many of the youth they serve, the only gifts they receive during the holiday season come from this toy and gift drive, as well as the holiday shop the nonprofit holds.
St. Vincent de Paul Society of Marin County
On Thanksgiving Day, St. Vincent's free dining room prepares a full traditional hot Thanksgiving dinner for homeless and hungry neighbors, ensuring that no one is turned away. On Christmas Eve, they host a full Christmas lunch for less fortunate neighbors and present gifts to their friends—typically toys for children, stuffed backpacks for school-aged kids, and warm gear for homeless adults. The celebrations include music and caroling, making both holidays festive and uplifting.
To ensure the community's elders feel cherished during the holidays, Vivalon hosts Operation Thanksgiving, delivering special holiday meals to homebound Meals on Wheels clients and offering a festive luncheon in their café for those who may be alone. During the end-of-year season, they collect small gifts and cards for Meals on Wheels clients to spread warmth and joy. At the Healthy Aging Center, they celebrate with a winter luncheon and decorating event. To keep spirits bright in the weeks leading up to the New Year, Vivalon offers casual yet engaging activities to ensure seniors feel supported and connected while classes are on their winter break.
West Marin Community Services hosts their annual Holiday Food and Gifts program for low-income families, seniors, and the unhoused. They are revitalizing the Abriendo Caminos Program, which is designed to empower and engage the Latino community. They will be hosting their first Community Healing gathering in mid-November to honor the Miwok people who resided in West Marin.
Each of these organizations are MCF grantees that are trusted and valued members of the communities they serve. We encourage you to explore these nonprofits to learn more about their work. Thank you for showing your love for our community!
Should you choose to support this organization or project, your contribution will be made to Marin Community Foundation, a California nonprofit public benefit corporation that is a tax-exempt public charity under Internal Revenue Code Section 501(c)(3).
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